If you have been to a church on a Sunday morning, you know that it is quite the operation. It takes an army to make everything happen.
Children run rampant, most of the time being hyped up on sugary donuts. There are lights, sound, camera’s, transitions, greeting, and you can’t forget the coffee!
I haven’t even mentioned the ministries that happen outside of a Sunday morning.
Then one day you walk into church and hear the pastor say that the church needs people to help serve. You feel the conviction, and you want to be involved. With so many things going on, serving in the church can seem very intimidating – especially if you don’t know where you should serve!
I have been in ministry for 8 years and have served in every role imaginable within the church. It is no surprise that most churches never have enough help. I guarantee that there is ALWAYS a place for you to serve. Finding a place is truly up to you taking that step of faith.
None of this answers the question, though, of where you should serve or even how to start.
Related Book: The Power of Connection in the Church by Steven Chesnut
I can’t pretend to know the specific needs of your church, but I can give you some principles that will help you as you start this journey of giving your time to serve Jesus.
Know that you are signing up to serve.
This may sound obvious. I mean, the entire point of this blog is talking about serving in the church. It still must be addressed that serving in the church means serving – and serving doesn’t always mean getting what you want.
Most people want to serve, but only if it fits totally in their comfort zone and schedule. As little sacrifice as possible, please!
Let this not be your mindset. As someone who has to ask for volunteers, I understand how easy it is to fall to the comforts of other people. But if you want to sign up to serve, I encourage you to have a servant’s mindset and be willing to sacrifice some time (and some comfort) to really get the best out of it.
Just start serving.
You do not need to find the perfect opportunity. You do not need to know exactly what you are gifted in. You do not need to have tons of experience. You do not need to have your personal life fully together.
If you want to start serving in church – just start doing so! I promise you that you will figure out more of your spiritual gifts the more you get plugged in.
Don’t be tied just to the area of ministry that you signed up for. If you signed up for coffee making, but notice that a greeter is missing – go to the front door after your assignment is over and say hello to folks!
If you serve in children’s ministry and notice that the bathroom has a ton of water on the sink… wipe it up!
Serving is not about you – and having the attitude to help the church wherever there is a need is NOT the church taking advantage of you. While it is true that there are churches who overwork and underappreciate their volunteers, so much of serving comes down to your attitude about your own life.
You are a volunteer – therefore you are able to dictate your schedule, level of involvement, and attitude regarding the church.
Find friends to serve with.
Serving is so much fun with other people! It creates an engaging culture, and it helps with the workload.
If you have a family, bring them with you! It is important for your kids to see you serving in the church and learning the importance of self-sacrifice.
Friends may be wanting to serve just as much as you, and all it will take is you to ask them to join you for them to sign up as well!
Plus, inviting friends to serve alongside you will make it feel less intimidating. You won’t be the only person taking a step of faith.
JUST SAY YES.
I cannot emphasize this enough. There are so many opportunities to get involved through a church. There are actually hundreds of ways that you can use your time, money, energy, and relationships to serve God.
Serving the church is not just serving on a Sunday morning. Rather, that is just a vehicle to get you started living a life of service. Turn your rhythms into serving.
People will approach you with opportunities – it is up to you how often you say yes. If you are feeling lonely, yet are invited to fifteen social outings that you say no to, you will still feel lonely.
Your neighbor needs help moving? Yes.
Your mother-in-law needs help gardening? Of course!
Your friend is sick? No problem, let me grab you some soup.
There are people in your everyday life that could use your help. There are also ministries in your church that can use your help as well.
Related Book: Learning to Lead Like Jesus by Boyd Bailey
Don’t know how you feel about high school students? Say yes to leading a small group.
Have experience in technology? Say yes to production.
Have muscles? Say yes to a ministry helping widows and single moms take care of their house.
There are always things that you can say yes to. Will you start to accept the invites?
Serving is not necessarily what you are good at. It’s not even really about what you like to do. While those things are helpful – and I do encourage you to find a good fit that includes those two things – serving is more about your willingness to sacrifice your own comforts for the betterment of other people in order to glorify God.
Serving is not about you. However, I promise that as you serve more you will notice that you are more impacted and blessed by the people you serve. That is because you are doing what God has created you to do and He is working through you in that moment.
You will play an active role in helping change someone’s life. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to do that by continuing to make excuses.
So, I challenge you. Just start serving – I guarantee you that someone you know can use your help.
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