How Will You Serve?

By Al Felder

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

God never designed the church to be carried by a handful of people while everyone else watches. He designed it as a body—many members, one life, one purpose, one Lord. In that body, no member is unnecessary, no faithful work is wasted, and no Christian can thrive in isolation.

The question is not whether the church needs servants. The question is: How will you serve?

When the church sees itself as a body, unity grows. When members see themselves as independent, division grows. Paul pressed this truth on Corinth because they were acting like spiritual individualists. He called them back to shared identity and shared responsibility. The same correction is needed now.

God placed every member in the body to contribute. If one suffers, all suffer. If one is honored, all rejoice. That is not poetic language; that is kingdom reality. So every Christian must ask: What is my function, and am I doing it? 

You don’t need a title to serve

In Acts 1, two men were set before the apostles to fill Judas’s place: Matthias and Justus. One was selected. One was not.

Scripture does not record bitterness from Justus. It gives no indication that he is quitting, withdrawing, or resenting the outcome. The better reading is simple: a faithful man remained faithful even when he wasn’t chosen for a visible role.

That is a needed lesson for every congregation. You do not need a title to be effective. You do not need public recognition to be essential. Many of the greatest servants in the kingdom are not platform people—they are dependable people. They show up. They help. They strengthen. They do what needs to be done.

If your willingness to serve depends on position, your service is not about Christ—it is about status.

Serve through generosity when needs arise

Acts 2 shows believers sharing with those in need. Their generosity wasn’t performative; it was practical. People who had an abundance helped people who lacked. This was not merely institutional giving through a collection—it was personal sacrifice flowing from transformed hearts.

Paul later connected this spirit of giving to Christ Himself: though He was rich, He became poor for our sakes. In other words, generosity is not an optional personality trait for a few warm-hearted Christians. It is a gospel-shaped response to grace.

If God has blessed you with resources, one way to serve is clear: help carry burdens. Sometimes that means large needs. Sometimes small. But in both cases, giving reflects the grace you have received.

Serve with humility in ordinary, physical tasks

Some service opportunities are public. Many are not.

In Acts 5, young men were present and ready when a difficult task arose—they carried out a body for burial. In Acts 6, men were appointed to handle practical care for neglected widows. These were not glamorous assignments. They were necessary assignments. And faithful men did them.

That principle still stands: chairs must be stacked, meals prepared, rooms cleaned, people checked on, needs met. Kingdom work includes physical labor. Humility is willing to do what is needed without demanding the spotlight or applause.

A church that has many “leaders” but few servants is weak. A church with many servants—quiet, steady, humble—is strong.

Serve by encouraging others like Barnabas

Every Christian needs encouragement, especially in seasons when fear, suspicion, or failure make fellowship difficult.

When Saul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples were afraid of him. Barnabas stepped forward, stood beside him, and helped bridge the gap. That single act changed the course of fellowship and ministry.

Encouragement is not flattery. It is strengthening people toward faithfulness. Sometimes it is a kind word. Sometimes it is mentorship. Sometimes it is standing beside someone no one else trusts yet.

And encouragement includes courage. Barnabas encouraged John Mark when Paul had concerns. He was not spineless. He was principled. Real encouragement does not avoid truth; it applies truth with hope.

Churches need Barnabas-type members—people who build others up and still stand firm when conviction is required.

Serve by using your practical talents

Dorcas was known for her good works and the garments she made for others. When she died, the grief of the church testified to the impact of her service.

Not every talent looks “religious,” but every talent can become a ministry:

• carpentry

• repair work

• sewing

• cooking

• cleaning

• transportation help

• listening

• encouragement

• administrative help

What you can do with your hands, at home, in your schedule, or with your resources can be used to bless the body. Dorcas reminds us that practical service is spiritual service when offered to God for His people.

Serve through hospitality

In Acts 12, during fear and uncertainty, believers gathered in Mary’s home to pray. Her house became a refuge for God’s people.

Hospitality is deeply biblical. It creates spaces where saints are strengthened, fears are shared, prayers are offered, and fellowship deepens. A hospitable home does not require luxury. It requires a welcome.

One of the most overlooked ways to serve the church is to make your home a place where brethren feel safe, loved, and encouraged. That kind of service often sustains a congregation in ways that cannot be measured from a pulpit.

Serve with joy

In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer obeyed the gospel and rejoiced with his household. He was a new convert with limited knowledge, but he already had something valuable to offer the body: joy.

Joy is ministry.

A congregation marked by gratitude, hope, and spiritual gladness becomes a place where weary people can breathe. A congregation marked by constant negativity becomes a place people endure rather than love.

If you feel you have little to offer, offer holy joy. Let people see what grace has done in you. A joyful spirit can lift struggling Christians more than you realize.

Your place in the body is not accidental

The body image in Scripture gives two truths that must be held together:

1. You belong to something bigger than yourself.

2. You are uniquely placed within it.

No faithful member is redundant. No two members have identical functions. God places members by His wisdom and equips them by grace. That means your role is stewardship, not self-invention. The goal is not to compare yourself to others, but to faithfully do what God has enabled you to do.

So ask again: How will you serve?

Not, “Will I be seen?”Not, “Will I be praised?”But, “Will I be faithful to my place in Christ’s body?”

Practicing what is taught

• Choose one concrete service lane this week: encouragement, hospitality, physical help, benevolence, or follow-up care.

• Stop waiting on title or appointment: begin serving where need is obvious.

• Audit your impact on others: do people leave you strengthened or discouraged?

• Offer one practical talent intentionally: use a skill you already have to bless someone in the body.

• Protect congregational unity: treat the church like a body, not a platform for self.

  
  

Reflection questions

1. Have I been serving like a team member or thinking like a spiritual “lone ranger”?

2. Am I willing to serve faithfully even when I am not selected for visible roles?

3. How am I currently using my resources to help members in need?

4. Do I regularly encourage others like Barnabas—truthfully and courageously?

5. What practical talent of mine is underused in the church?

6. Is my home a place of hospitality and spiritual refuge?

7. Does my presence bring joy and strength to the congregation?

8. What is one specific way I will serve this week—no excuses, no delay?