Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Is Serving Optional?

If you've followed this blog or the Anchor Children's Ministry Facebook page for very long, then you know how often I put messages out there about needed volunteer and service opportunities.  In fact, you may say to yourself, "Man, he sure is needy!"  LOL.  But, on top of trying to fill open service positions within Children's Ministry, there is a much bigger picture at stake here:  Our on-going relationship with Christ!

As Christians we are called to model our lives after Jesus - He is to be our Ultimate Example (among other things) in life!  He is the one we are supposed to pattern our lives after!  So, the question becomes "Why did Jesus come to earth in the first place?"  (You know where I'm going with this.....)

You remember the argument that James and John - and their mother - had with Jesus about who was going to sit  at the right and left hands of God???  The Sons of Zebedee wanted to know how to be great!  Jesus' answer would I'm sure have been rather shocking:  If you want to be great, you must become a slave / servant to each other!

"Huh!?!?!?  Jesus came to serve?  But, he's the Son of God - the One who created the world.  He shouldn't be serving anyone, but should be served by us!"  As followers of Christ, if we truly desire to be committed to Him, WE MUST SERVE!!!!!  There is no way around it.  In fact, the Bible is riddled with verses and themes about serving others.

Fellow Believers - Serving is NOT optional!  If you simply come to church every week, maybe give a little money, then go home - you are NOT following Christ.  You may be a Christian - but you are not a Christ Follower!  We are CALLED to serve!

Are you willing to step up to the plate?  Do you want to make a difference in the lives of your kids?  Service opportunities abound - will you answer the call?!?

2 comments:

  1. Great post. A while back I did a series about requiring parents to serve in kids church. I've gone back and forth on the issue for the past year. At my church we've taken a strong stance on highly encouraging every parent to serve in some capacity (not necessarily with kids) because that is what obedience looks like.

    I've enjoyed reading your blog lately. From what I read, you're really leading well in empowering your parents to lead their kids! Kuddos!

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  2. Kenny~thanks for stopping by!!! I've followed cmonline for quite some time via my reader... We too take the stance of highly encouraging parents to get involved, but most still use it as a time to "just get away."

    Our Family Journey in Faith ministry has been around for 4 years now and we are seeing some good fruit. We have take a bunch of Take It Home Events (Mark Holmen and Faith@Home movement), but are branching out and doing a seminar this February with Dr. Rob Rienow on Parenting Discipeship and hoping to do a Family Mission trip in summer 2012.

    God Bless you in your ministry!

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