Where Do You Believe God Can Use You
By Rick Warren
“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT, second edition)
You need to be connected to a church family so you can fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways. The Bible says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT, second edition).
Your service is desperately needed in the Body of Christ — just ask any local church! Each of us has a role to play, and every role is important. There is no small service to God; it all matters.
Likewise, there are no insignificant ministries in the church. Some are visible and some are behind the scenes, but all are valuable. Small or hidden ministries often make the biggest difference.
In my home, the most important light is not the large chandelier in our dining room but the little night-light that keeps me from stubbing my toe when I get up at night. In the same way, there is no correlation between size and significance when it comes to service in the Body of Christ. Every ministry matters because we are all dependent on each other to function.
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.
God calls you to a service far beyond anything you could ever imagine. He created you for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God.
Talk It Over
- Where do you believe God can use you and your abilities and interests best in the Body of Christ?
- What are some of the excuses people use to keep from serving in ministry? What do you think is at the root of those excuses?
- If salvation is based on your faith in Jesus Christ, why does God want you to do good deeds?