Acts
3:1-10
Serve: to work for as a servant; to do
services or duties for; give service to; aid; assist; help.
Too
often, we think of the “greatest Christians” in history as the leaders, the
voices, the movers and shakers. Jesus has a different definition of greatness
for us: ...Whoever wants to become great
among you must be your servant, and whoever
wants to be first must be slave of all. For even
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)
Jesus
sets the bar for us. We are to be a people who serve…who attend to the needs in
the family of faith, to the needs of the situations around us, to the needs of our
“neighbors” and others. This “faith thing,” this “church thing,” only works if
we serve—if we give of ourselves that others might have life, have food, have
hope, have something. This is not a new idea. In the Old Testament, we hear the
call to serve: Make a joyful noise to
the Lord, all the earth. Serve
the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. (Psalm
100)
So,
now the bar raised even higher—we are to be a people who serve…with gladness!
We are to serve with joy. At times we come to moments of service exhausted—from
the day, from the stresses of life, from whatever. Thankfully, we can determine
our attitudes; we can decide to be joyful or miserable. When I come to a moment
of service, of serving others, and I feel worn and weary, I force myself to
smile. I take a deep breath. And I offer a simple prayer: “God, let’s do this
together for the good of Your kingdom!” That turns everything around…every
time. Try it, and you’ll see!
A
Word of Warning—Interestingly,
the Scriptures have words of warning for those who serve reluctantly,
resignedly, without joy. We find these words that God speaks to the people of
God: “Because you did not serve
the Lord your God joyfully and with gladness of heart for the
abundance of everything, therefore you shall
serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and
thirst, in nakedness and lack of everything. [Your enemy] will put an iron yoke
on your neck until he has destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47-48)
When
we refuse to serve with joy, life is sucked out of us. We are left hungry and
thirsty for the very thing that could have given us life. In the same way, when
we refuse to serve, when we act like others should serve, when we cop an attitude,
we rob ourselves of life…as we’re robbing God and others of blessing. Peter
tells us clearly: Each of you should use
whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards
of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)
Conclusions—How about United Methodists serving
joyfully? We’re doing it. In 2025, over 7000 United Methodists Volunteers in
Mission served on almost 630 teams in 53 countries! Wow!
In
2025 at McAllen First UMC, we had 43 – groups and ministries in which people
stepped into 1125 serving opportunities…and served over 18000 people through
our community ministries…and we did it joyfully.
Let’s
get back to Peter and John entering the temple and seeing a lame man asking for
money. Peter speaks those words that should guide us in serving God and serving
others: “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you.” (Acts
3:6) “What I have, I give you….” We speak these words to God, to the family of
faith, to the community around us. That is where we start—with what we have. We
serve with our resources, our talents, our skills, our time, our presence. What
we have, we give to God and to others. With over 38 active ministries today
happening through our congregation—well, 39…we just started a monthly prayer
service—we have a place for everyone to serve (not just be spectators).
United
Methodists formed in Jesus and empowered by God’s Spirit love boldly and serve
joyfully. I am so glad to be a part of the family of faith here at McAllen FUMC
that serves like no church I’ve ever been a part of before. Let’s keep serving
God, serving one another, and serving our neighbors…joyfully.
Amen
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Disciples – Serving Joyfully
Watch/Listen: HERE
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