Back to the Basics: Returning to a Life That Reflects Christ

One of the clearest signs that a believer matures in their faith is when they move from being a consumer to becoming a servant. And let’s be real—somewhere along the way, the modern church has trained people to show up, sit down, and soak in. We’ve created a culture where “serving” often means signing up for a ministry role once a month and then checking that box off the spiritual to-do list.

But when I look at the life of Jesus, I see something entirely different. He didn’t serve out of obligation. He served out of love. He didn’t clock in and out. He lived a life of service. If we’re going to get back to the basics of what it means to follow Christ, then we’ve got to understand this: Serving isn’t just something we do at church—it’s how we live every day.

The world doesn’t need more flashy programs or polished performances. It needs to see the Gospel lived out—and serving is one of our most powerful ways.

Jesus said in Mark 10:45,
“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.”

That’s our example. Serving isn’t about a role. It’s about the heart behind it. When we serve others, we reflect Christ's love, humility, and sacrifice. Our lives look like the living Gospel—tangible, real, and impactful.

It Starts at Home
Serving begins at home, not with a church sign-up sheet. The first line of ministry is how we love our spouses, raise our kids, and treat our neighbors. We're missing the point if we aren’t serving behind the scenes in the places no one sees.

Washing dishes with joy, speaking kindly to your family, helping a friend move, showing up for someone who’s hurting—that’s the Gospel in motion. That’s where transformation begins.

Church Is the Training Ground, Not the Finish Line
Yes, serving at church is important. We need greeters, children’s workers, worship leaders, and tech teams. But that’s not the end game—it’s the training ground. What we practice within the church should overflow into how we live outside of it.

The goal isn’t just to serve in the church. The goal is to be the church—to live on a mission in the world around us. Every store, classroom, job site, and neighborhood is a field waiting for laborers.

The Call to Be Available
Here’s the truth: God doesn’t need your abilities as much as He wants your availability.
Are you willing to let God interrupt your plans? Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone to meet someone else’s needs? That’s what a servant does. That’s what Jesus did.

Romans 12:1 reminds us,
“Present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Serving isn’t separate from worship—it is worship.

Let’s Get Back to the Basics
It’s time we return to the simple, powerful truths of our faith. Serving isn’t a Sunday morning job—it’s a daily lifestyle. It’s waking up each day and saying, “Lord, use me.”
When we live this way, we become the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs to see Him.

So here’s my challenge to you:
Don’t wait for someone to hand you a title or give you a task. Start serving where you are, with what you have, for the glory of God.

Because when we live to serve, we live to love—and that’s what the Gospel is all about.

In Love,

Pastor Jody