TOPIC: Service/Servanthood

Has anyone ever told you that, "you're preaching to the choir"? That's never a good thing to do. It means you're telling someone something they already know and accept, like telling a mechanic that he ought to change his car's oil every 3,000 miles.

Here's a new phrase that means roughly the same thing: "Serving God in the Church." Sure, choirs need preachers, and churches need servants. But the real value of the preacher and servant comes when they take their ministry beyond the church walls into the world.

What Does the Bible Say?

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains a little of his methodology for taking Christ's message to the world: "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them" (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV).

Paul's mission wasn't just to those already inside the church, it was also to those who had never heard of Jesus. And he knew the best way to accomplish that mission was to actually be out and among the people he wanted to save.

Paul goes on, "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:20-23, ESV).

Paul's ministry was active every day of the week. Paul served the Lord everywhere he went, whether preaching in synagogues or singing in jail.

My Thoughts

As you read through 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, think about the following questions:

1. How does Paul balance being in the world, but not part of it?

2. What allows Paul to "become all things to all people"?

3. How has God equipped you to serve Him outside the church as well as inside?

My Part

As Christians we severely limit the impact God can have in this world if we serve Him only within the church walls. Pray today that God would show you one way to reach out and serve those around you today.