Spiritual Maturity Affects How We Serve

Spiritual Maturity Affects How We Serve but not in the way we might think. Read below from a Blog from Willow Creek.
-Derek

Chance to Serve

from REVEAL Blog by Greg Hawkins

I would like to resume the conversation I started last Tuesday about needs. Specifically about what people said they wanted from their church. [Got a bit sidetracked. Power out for 45 hours. Basement flooded.]

I last talked about the top needs. Today I want to discuss the two needs that increase the most across the spiritual continuum. And they are very related to each other. The two things that rise in importance the most are “Provide opportunities to serve in church ministries” and “Provide opportunities to serve people in need” (see below).

Survey Question

“Below is a list of benefits a church could provide. Please select the five most important to you at this time.”

	Exploring Christianity	Growing in Christ	Close to Christ	Christ Centered
Provide opportunities to serve in church ministries.	16%	26%	32%	35%
Provide opportunities to serve people in need.	22%	24%	28%	32%

So what does this mean? Well, as someone draws closer to Christ, the things of Christ matter more to them. They are willing to “die to self” in order to increasingly follow one of Christ’s central commands – to serve one another. They are willing to give of themselves for the good of others. That’s part of what I think it means. What do you think?

And what does it mean for the church. Are we giving people a chance to serve others? Are we helping them identify their gifts and passions so they can focus their energy? Are we challenging them to develop those gifts to the fullest? Are we encouraging and celebrating them?

Something to think about as you build a church that catalyzes people all along the spiritual journey. A journey whose final destination is a deep, abiding intimacy with Christ.

Greg