Did you know that serving others is a vital aspect of how we grow spiritually? In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson shares how we can make room for this important part of our faith. 

Service is the act of helping others from a place of compassion in order to give glory to God. 

Compassion= Intention, 
Giving Glory to God = Purpose
 
Service is an essential part of your spiritual growth but it often gets the least amount
of attention. Worship, prayer, and bible study get talked about and implemented in most of our lives. But service is often viewed as extra or voluntary.
 
The reason that we struggle to make room for service is because our hustle culture is holding our time hostage. 

Maybe you want to serve more but fell you don’t have time for it.  Maybe you are burned out or were hurt during past times of ministry.  Maybe you are lazy? 
Lacking time and motivation to serve the Lord indicates that you are lacking in your personal spiritual health. Service is a spiritual discipline. Service is a part of how we take care of our spiritual health. 
 
Why Do We Serve?
1. To practice our righteousness.
If someone wants to get better at something, what do they do? They practice it.
We don't do good things to get saved. Because we are saved, we get to do good things.
Matthew 6:1, 1 John 3:17, 1 Peter 1:10

2. To share the gospel
When we make an effort to help others from a place of compassion we become conduits, or pipelines, for the Gospel message.
Matthew 5:16

3. To be good stewards of our time
Just like tithing teaches us to be good stewards of our resources, serving teaches us to be good stewards of our time.
Christians are not just consumers, we are contributors .
Ephesians 5:15-16, James 4:14
 
Who Do We Serve?
1. Other Believers
We place a priority on other believers. 
When we are prioritizing serving the church body we are ensuring the health of the Body of Christ so that the Body of Christ can minister to the broken world.
Galatians 6:10, 1 Peter 4:10
 
2. The least
We serve those who could never pay us back, because we serve a God who paid a debt we could never pay.
Matthew 25: 40-45, James 1:27
 
3. Everyone else
Who do Christians help? Any one that needs it.
Luke 10: 25-37, Philippians 2: 3-4, Ephesians 4:28
 
How Do We Serve?
1. Sign up to serve on a VFC Ministry Team
1 Peter 4:10-11
 
2. Serve those whose needs move you.
The Holy Spirit will often times lead you to help someone. Offer a helping hand to what moves your heart. You don't need permission to help someone. VFC wants to partner with you to equip you to do what God has called you to. 
 
How will you serve this year?