This insight is part of a series that questions the value of a Quiet Time, Christian Worship, Christian Mission and Holy Communion
While I have been preparing this insight I have just completed an invite to a local infants school to share about my life as a Community Minister and how I serve the local community.
The children I shared with were in Year Two, with an age range of 6 – 7 and totalled about sixty. The class comprised of many boys and girls from different ethnic, cultural and faith backgrounds so it was no mean task before me.
In preparation for my talk I choose to share my background as to where I grew up as a child and about my parents and siblings. It was fascinating because as a young teenage, where the school was situated, it included my paper round when I worked as both a morning and evening paper boy.
It is amazing as to where we start in life and where the Lord takes us in ministry and general living both near and far away. As we are obedient to his plan and will for our lives he guides, provides and equips us all for opportunities to serve in places we would never had planned or thought possible.
A Question Who is your Super Hero?
I asked the children who their Super Heroes were. To my delight quite a few said their parents were their Super Heroes because of their care and love for them.
That gave me the opportunity to say my Super Hero was Jesus Christ who was a real historical person, not an imaginary one and I shared very simply how I came to faith in Jesus as my Lord and Saviour at the tender age of thirteen.
One of the guideline questions I was offered by a staff member to speak about was:
What makes somebody a Christian and what do they believe?
I sought to speak at the children’s level and used a Power Point presentation. The first slide showed a photo of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas time.
I then shared an appropriate caption of Jesus being crucified on a cross at Calvary with his family and a Roman soldier with a spear in his hand. I added a further caption next to it that pointed out that ‘God loves you’.
It represented the simple gospel message of how Jesus, in obedience and love, gave up his life so that we may be forgiven of all our short comings before a Holy God and find a renewed spiritual life with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Another guideline question was: What makes some places sacred?
At this point I shared a picture of a local Methodist church and impressed upon them that the church was not a building, but consisted of followers of Jesus meeting, living and worshipping together as inspired by the Holy Spirt living within them. Within such a church family housed in a particular building, they seek to serve their local community, exploring new opportunities and meeting various needs
I then showed some photos of a local Hospital, Prison and Crematorium. I shared that as a Minister my role included pastoral care and visits to members of my own congregation but also to those living outside the worshipping community.
The Old Manchester Royal Infirmary
During this time my wife shared how she had worked within local hospitals, GP practices and worked as a Counsellor that included lots of listening. We also shared how we have always had an open home offering hospitality and support to family, friends and strangers in various ways.
Mission Trips
To widen the conversation I shared how I had been involved in many ‘Men for Mission’ trips to different countries for over thirty years. Such visits showed a practical side of faith and ministry in that we can build, clean, paint and dig so as to improve people’s life situations for Christians and those without faith or having a different faith.
We then returned to discuss not only what we thought about a physical church building but what happened inside it. We shared how people met to pray and worship God, study the Bible and listen to sermons and teaching from the Old and New Testaments. The people wanted to affirm and increase their faith so as to be equipped for Christian service wherever that might be.
The last few slides included a reference to Moses and his experience of the continual burning bush that signified the presence of God which is vital for all Christians to experience on a daily basis.
I also referred to a time when Jesus refused to allow the disciple’s to be inconsiderate to children and said “suffer, or do not hinder, the little children to come unto me” Mark 10: 14.
We ended the session by singing very heartily a well-known children’s song ‘Be bold, be strong for the Lord you God is with you’.
Thank you Spotify.
At this point I want to ask: Who may we be called to serve?
In recalling the words of Joshua we do have a freedom to serve or not to serve the Lord but as he pointed out we make daily choices to purposely serve the Lord or not. “Choose you this day who you may serve. But as for me I will serve the Lord!! Joshua 24: 15.
The psalmist guides us as to how we should serve the Lord. “Serve the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs”. Psalm 100: 2
Jesus sets the example for service when he said: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many! Matthew 26: 26-28. Jesus in Matthew 25 makes clear in reference to the King “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.
Another example of Jesus is when he washed the disciple’s feet. What a challenge for us to also wash one another’s feet either actually or symbolically as a sign of love and kindness. John 13:14-15
The Apostle Paul instructs us as how to use our freedom before the Lord. “Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love”. Galatians 5: 13. He gives clear instruction to the church: “serve whole heartedly as if you were serving the Lord not people”. Ephesians 6: 7
The Apostle John quotes the words of Jesus concerning the value of serving the Lord. ” If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him my Father will honour”. John 12: 26.
In 1 Peter 4: 10 we are taught that whatever gifts we are given from the Lord we should use them willingly to serve our community, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in all its various forms.
Takeaway
In our personal and collective service to all our family, friends and community, we can offer hospitality and make personal and pastoral visits to all those in particular need. It is important to share the teachings of Jesus and live it out in practical holy living both inside and outside the church.
It is vital to be loving and selfless in the care of others and be humble as we honour God. Let us be reminded of how much God loves us and has blessed us in so many ways.
I believe Christian service involves both our natural and trained passions, to meet the required needs the Lord calls us to care for. May we also follow the amazing examples of Jesus during his life on earth so being that daily ‘salt and light he wants us to be‘?
Selah: (Pause to think calmly on what has just been read) and check out A Time to Worship
Graham
Explore to Inspire 