Why We Serve
I’m tired. I’ve worked hard all week. I just want a break. I have small children. I’m not a morning person. I’m introverted. I’m new here. I’m too young. I’m too old. I’m too busy. I don’t know anyone. I’m not needed. I’ve served all my life and now it’s someone else’s turn.
Have you ever said any of those things as a reason not to serve at church? If you have, you’re not alone! We can come up with all kinds of reasons why we can’t serve. Sometimes, they are good and legitimate reasons. Sometimes, though, they’re just excuses.
New City is a growing church. We can’t explain it, but we are thankful. God just keeps sending people our way, and we absolutely love it. That growth means we will be switching to two services in January. Two services means our Sunday morning teams need to grow too. That means we need you!
We discussed a few reasons not to serve. Here are three simple reasons why you should.
1. It builds community.
Joining one of our Sunday morning teams can be a wonderful way to get to know people you might not have ever crossed paths with otherwise. Serving alongside someone naturally builds comradery through shared experiences, and the time you spend working together gives you the chance to learn more about each other. Strangers become friends. Each Sunday morning, our teams pray for each other and for the service. That is community! And that’s one of the things we love the most at New City.
2. It removes barriers to the gospel being heard.
We have first time visitors at New City nearly every week! By having Connect Team members directing parking and greeting inside, in addition to letting visitors know how glad we are they’re here, we help remove confusion and uncertainty about where to park and how to get around the building. By having classes for kids, parents can listen to the sermon without distraction, knowing their kids are being cared for and loved on. By having good, gospel-centered music and words on the screen, we help prepare hearts and minds to hear and receive the good news. With any of these missing, visitors may be frustrated, distracted, or just generally feel unwelcome, and they aren’t likely to come back.
One thing you can count on at New City is that the gospel will be shared in every sermon. That is why we gather! To share the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with some who have never heard it, and to remind ourselves that the gospel is relevant to every part of our lives. When we serve, we help make a visitor’s experience as smooth as possible, so that they will hopefully keep coming back and hearing the gospel week after week.
3. Jesus did it.
Jesus said in Mark 10, “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If there were anyone who could insist on being served instead of serving, it would be Jesus. But he made himself nothing, became a servant, and died so that we could be called children of God! Jesus did it, and we want to be more and more like Him in every way.
Do you have to serve to be loved? No way! In Christ, you are loved and accepted. You are a part of this family. You don’t have to do anything to keep your standing with him. But, you ARE invited to be a part of his work- seeing the gospel transform lives, cities, the world- and one of the ways you can do that is by showing up on Sunday mornings to serve. It is a joy and privilege. Don’t miss out.