Rick Warren writes in the Purpose Driven Life…
What happens when one part of your body fails to function? You get sick. The rest of your body suffers. Imagine if your liver decided to start living for itself: “I’m tired! I don’t want to serve the body anymore! I want a year off just to be fed. I’ve got to do what’s best for me! Let some other part take over.” What would happen? Your body would die. Today thousands of local churches are dying because of Christians who are unwilling to serve. They sit on the sidelines as spectators, and the Body suffers.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) says…
A Spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
Rick points out in the book that we are do not serve to be saved, rather we are saved to serve. One of the reasons Christ gives us new life is so that we can die to our old selves and live as Christ has called us to live. As Christ Followers we are given gifts and according to 1 Corinthians that gift’s purpose is to help each other.
Join the Conversation: Are you killing your church by sitting on the sideline and not serving? Or are you using your gifts and new life to help your church thrive by helping others, what does that look like in your life?
I recently heard someone tell a group that once you serve, the church becomes “your church” and you become part of the church… very true. Good post.
wow, this is good stuff. So true what you are saying. It takes every member doing their part for the body to function at it’s highest potential.
I am definitely doing my part. And I love every second of it! I love serving in the body of Christ. It brings so much fulfillment. More than any paycheck ever could.
Good stuff. I ‘m not using my gifts of laying the “smack down.” Maybe something will happen so I can layith (KJV).
Makes me think. Goooooooooddddd stuff.
I know that Im doing my part, but I long to do even more.