Church is more than a social event. It’s a place for the body of believers to learn and thrive. For many the Sunday service are the extent of their interaction with fellow believers. But the church doesn’t exist just to pour into us. A growing faith requires action, and that means pouring into others. Serving is the Christ followers ultimate reward. It is where the “rubber meets the road” and our faith turns into action!

1. Serving puts feet to your faith.

The apostle Paul advised the Galatian church to express the freedom of faith through service, saying:

But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)

Christ has brought us a beautiful freedom: the freedom to walk with God! Before Christ, we couldn’t commune with the Lord—we were impure. Now that we can walk with Him, we have a choice: use our freedom to go back to our old ways or serve one another.

Service is an expression of true faith. If we say we love Christ, but refuse to actively love our fellow Christ-followers, what do we think faith is about? Jesus Himself made a point of serving humanity everywhere He went—even to the point of death. Our “death” is far less than what He experienced. It is the awkwardness of learning something new, the uncomfortable adjustment to our schedule or the inconvenience of staying late. But that’s what love is: a sacrifice.

2. Serving connects you with others.

Serving your church connects you with fellow believers. If you attend a large church, it can be hard to meet people outside your immediate circle. Serving is a great way to find people you may otherwise never meet during or after the service.

At Place of Grace Campus there are hundreds of ways to get involved and our mission never stops! Working out your faith by serving will introduce you to wonderful men and women of God who will minister back to you in lasting ways. You never know who you’ll meet when you choose to serve!

3. Serving cultivates humility and love.

Finally, service is a reflection of God’s heart. From the beginning, God has been humbly and lovingly serving humanity: providing for our needs, bearing with our sinfulness and making a way for us to know Him. When we think we’re too good for service—or too busy, a more common excuse—we’re saying we won’t do something that God Himself does for us every day. Yikes!

You don’t have to have amazing skills to serve. You just need to be willing. But you do have a gifting—all of us do—serving is your opportunity to share it with fellow believers.

If you’re not already serving, start seeking an opportunity to make a difference in the world today. Leave an imprint where you are and you’ll see God make an impact on your heart.