Devotional - Spring 2024

Serving and the Local Church
Dana Swieson

"… whoever would be first among you must be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:27-28

Jesus is the role model for us of what it looks like to know, obey, and please God perfectly. That’s why we often pray, “Lord, make me more like Christ.” In these verses from Matthew 20, to be more Christ-like means having an attitude of putting the needs of others first, above our own needs and wants, regardless of the cost, even when it feels like a big ask.

What does it mean to serve? In John 13 we are captivated by the scene of Jesus serving when He knelt down and washed His disciples’ feet. Back then, taking off your sandals and washing your dusty feet was necessary, especially when entering another person’s home. Most people had to wash their own feet; it was a luxury to have someone else wash your feet. Only wealthy people would have servants wash their feet. So, having your Master/Teacher, Jesus, wash your feet was unheard of, and probably embarrassing for the disciples. And yet, Jesus intentionally chose to humble Himself and serve them in this way. Why? He did it to show them how valuable and how important they were to Him. And He said to them, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)

Christ-like serving is doing something for others that will benefit them. Maybe it’s something they could do for themselves (wash their own feet), or maybe it’s something they can’t do for themselves. We remember that Jesus healed a desperate woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. Or, perhaps, that person just needs to know that they are valued and loved by God. Again, we think of Jesus who spoke to the shunned Samaritan woman at the well and gave her acceptance and dignity. But in all cases, to serve someone in a Christ-like manner, we first have to know what they need -- which means knowing them.

Serving isn’t easy because serving takes time, effort, and intentionality, and many of us feel that these things are in short supply in our lives. Sometimes serving requires humility (like Jesus washing feet), or involves sacrifice and death to self (like Jesus on the cross). Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “Jesus…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” How could Jesus view utter humiliation and a horrible death on the cross as joy? It could only have been because He knew that He was doing God’s will, and that His obedience was pleasing His Father. So, we shouldn’t allow excuses to prevent us from serving because when we serve with intentionality, and for the right reason, what may look like sacrifice to others doesn’t feel like sacrifice to us. Our obedience has brought us His joy.

Case in point: When our Ukrainian refugee family was due to arrive in the US, the Refugee Ministry Team decided that it would be best if they lived in someone’s home for a few weeks before moving into their own apartment. This would allow us to get to know each other, and learn about their specific needs; helping them assimilate to a new country, and the English language. It would give them an experience of living in an American home, and provide them a safe place during a tumultuous transition time. My wife, Lisa, and I hosted them for their first three weeks, and then Beverly and Scott Rothman did the same for a few more weeks. From the outside, our decisions to open our homes to complete strangers who didn’t speak much English could appear as big sacrifices, but for Lisa and me, and the Rothmans, hosting Roman, Yuliia and Melaniia was a joy. We didn’t serve them alone because the entire Refugee Team, and many other church members helped us. We felt privileged to get to know them intimately, care well for them, and be some of their first American friends.

What is the local Church? Is it a building, or a business, or a social club, or a place to go for religious education, or an entertainment venue, or something else? It is a community of Jesus- followers in a specific place who gather for the purpose of helping one another become more Christ-like. In Hebrews 10:24-25, we are asked to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, … encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

When we meet together as a local church, whether it’s on a Sunday morning in a classroom, or in the sanctuary, or on a weeknight in somebody’s home to study the Bible, or to share a meal, or it’s in Fellowship Hall for our Children, or Youth Group, or Women’s or Men’s Groups, or Coffee Café -- each of us comes to those gatherings with a common commitment to follow Jesus, and have the opportunity to serve one another.

So, what does serving in the local church look like? Think about what you enjoy doing; your skills and gifts, your schedule and availability, and what people you relate well to. We all have different giftings and personalities, so find your unique place to serve. “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans12:4-5) Pray and ask God to show you where and how He wants to use you in the church body.

There are many opportunities to serve with a team of people here at Springton Lake Church:

Are you good at working with children? Speak to Joni Mindrebo about Children’s Ministry.

Are you young at heart? Speak to Jake Bier about helping with Youth Ministry.

Do you like to prepare and serve food, and cleanup? Speak to Caitlin Corbit, or Tara Summers to help with Coffee Café.

Are you a greeter, welcomer and inviter? Speak to elder Dana Swieson about the Sunday Greeter, Visitor Welcome, and Usher Teams.

Do you have a heart for college students? Speak to Barb Goodwin about the College Team that keeps in touch with our college students.

Are you a good musician or singer? Speak to Dave Calamaro about the Worship Team.

Are you experienced teaching the Bible? Speak with elder George Daly about our Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, and area Community Groups.

Do you like to host events in your home? Speak to Pastor David about hosting a Community Group.

Do you enjoy spending time with and helping people from other countries? Speak with Dana Swieson about the Refugee Ministry Team.

Do you have a listening ear and a sensitive heart? Speak with deaconess Cris Clark about the various Mercy Ministry Teams.

In addition to serving on a team, each of us can serve others by simply taking the time to befriend someone. In our busy and hurried lives, making space for another person takes intentional effort. Creating bandwidth in my daily life to love people isn’t easy, but it’s an essential part of becoming Christ-like. Jesus served by making and giving time to others. At the Men’s Retreat, we were reminded that our time here on earth is fleeting, “like smoke,” so we should “number our days” (Ps 90:12) because everything we think and do each moment of our lives matters to God. John Alexander rocked all of us with this question,“On that day when Jesus returns, and you and He look back on today, how will you feel about the things He will see that you said, and thought, and did today?” Ouch! When you or your family goes on an outing, consider inviting individuals, or other families to join you. Invite people to your home for a meal, or go out for a meal with others after church or other events.

5-minute Challenge: Here is one way that everyone at Springton Lake Church can serve others. On Sunday morning, immediately after the worship service ends, spend the first 5 minutes talking to someone you don’t know or recognize before reconnecting with friends and family. I bet that if you look at everyone sitting in your row, and the row in front of and behind you, there’s somebody that you have never had a conversation with. It might be their first time at our church and they need a welcome. Or they might have been coming for a few months and are still meeting people to find their place in a new church community. Or they might have been coming for years and you have just never had a chance to talk with them. Introduce yourself, and then listen. Ask questions about them and listen. And don’t neglect our children and youth. They are people too who want to be seen and known as much as we adults do!

Let us each consider how we can become more Christ-like by serving others with joy, knowing that in doing so, we are pleasing our heavenly Father.

During the pandemic, New Zealand digital artist Jessica Bond started creating artwork of Jesus washing the feet of contemporary people. This collection has grown into The Footwashing Series which you can view and purchase on her website saltandgoldstore.com or her Instagram @saltandgoldcollection. Here’s some of the backstory to The Footwashing Series: Ukraine + Russia shown below.

"Jesus wept." Jn 11:35 When I asked the Lord what He thought about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, He didn't say anything, He just wept. So in this picture from the Series, the only one I intend on drawing this way, Jesus weeps. It always struck me as odd that Jesus wept over his friend Lazarus dying, when he was about to bring him back to life. Wasn't it a pointless waste of emotion? I don't presume to know the Lord perfectly, but I feel like war (and a million other things) are situations where Jesus is in control, still on the throne, and still weeps. He knows He can restore, He knows He can heal, He knows He can bring back to life, but He still weeps because grief affirms value…I drew Russia as well as Ukraine because it was the missing half of this set, and I don't get to decide who is worthy or ready to sit on that stool.