Transformation Tuesday: Why You Should Serve in 2022
It’s almost January, so the diets are on, and the gym memberships are reactivated. For several years, we’ve had a January sermon on the spiritual disciplines. This list by Donald Whitney includes standard disciplines: Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, fasting, solitude, and journaling. If you’re a new Christian, the best thing you can do is to make the first three a habit of life. You should be daily in the Word and in prayer, and weekly worship at your local church should be a non-negotiable.
But let’s not stop there. We need all the disciplines, so let’s consider disciplines 4 and 5. Evangelism and serving are disciplines that every Christian should practice. At BBC, we do these corporately through our ACE ministry. If you are not currently serving the ACE ministry, here are 3 good reasons for you to consider doing so in 2022.
1. Learn to serve. Serving is a discipline, just like prayer and tithing. It’s not easy to give up work time or entertainment time, and it’s not easy to come out in the dark cold and snow of January-March. But you are called to serve, and this is how you can use and develop your gifts. We need teachers for ACE, and this semester you can be an assistant and learn how to teach. We need someone to bring and serve snacks one night each week. There are endless opportunities for advertising and curriculum development. We can organize community nights to share our talents with them. Many of our students are lonely (some have left all family and friends in another country), and they need someone to befriend them and invite them to lunch. When you are committed to a ministry, you will see needs and find new ways to serve.
2. Evangelize. If you grew up in a Christian community, you might remember evangelistic services or even door-to-door witnessing. Some of these methods no longer work (can you imagine door-to-door in the city?) One of the ways we fulfill our mission is through “creative evangelism.” That doesn’t mean we are creative with the gospel; it means we are creative in how to share it. ACE provides a program where people are walking into our doors and talking with us. It’s really an incredible opportunity. Be there. Come to the Bible Study and pray for them. Then join them for snack time and get to know them. Tell them why you’re there and how you became a Christian.
3. It’s fun. There’s no better way to give yourself joy than to stop thinking about yourself and serve someone else. Having a common goal and working toward that goal is a sure way to build friendship, so ACE is a great way to bond with your fellow members at BBC.
A new semester begins on January 18, 2022. Let’s work together to be and make disciples.