Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A life of service”
Our Bible verse for today: “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Everyone needs to be in service.”
At Oak Hill Baptist Church we have an annual tradition which goes a long way towards helping every member to utilize their God-given gifts and abilities in acts of service. First, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, every follower of Jesus is given at least one spiritual gift which they can and should utilize in acts of service to the Lord and to others. At Oak Hill Baptist we have a “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” tool that helps our members identify their spiritual gifts. God has also developed in us skills and abilities (such as carpentry, or bookkeeping, or mechanical skills), which can be used in acts of service.
Second, we ask our members to identify at least one spiritual gift, skill, or ability they have which they can and will use in a ministry activity in the church, and then commit to it for one year.
Then each summer at the end of the church year (the new church year begins in September), we give our members two months to think and pray about how they would like to serve in the coming church year. By asking them to only make a commitment for a year we’re giving them the opportunity to either renew their current ministry commitment or to change ministry activities and try something new. There are literally dozens and dozens of ways in which a person can serve in a church and while it’s helpful and appropriate to stick with one thing for a long time, it’s also fun and sometimes refreshing to change things up from time to time.
By approaching it this way we accomplish several things. For one thing, everybody knows that they have been equipped by God to serve in some way. Second, we end up with almost every person in the church actively involved in at least one ministry. And third, the church is alive with people who are serving well and loving it.
My main point in today’s devotional is that every follower of Jesus has been equipped by the Holy Spirit to serve in at least one way and therefore we all should be. We all need to be in service to Jesus and to others.
Also, our service to the Lord and to others is to extend for a lifetime. Since you’re still alive, the Lord has a purpose for you. Over the years your ministry activities might change, but everyone should always be involved in some form of serving. As a follower of Jesus ours is to be a life of service.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 