The Christian young person knows they should be involved in the church. But the reality is that not many young people do that in our day and age. Many young people today are comfortable to just sit in the church pew and attend catechism like their parents want them to. And when it comes time for fundraisers and there are opportunities to serve, they do so grudgingly because their parents strongly encouraged them to do so. But as Christians we are called to use every one of our gifts for God’s glory.
1 Corinthians 12: 12-14 says this, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”
Each young person is capable of serving the church in some way. We each have received gifts and talents from God. Some young people are able to cook and bake for one another, others have a tender heart for messages of comfort to those in the church, some are capable of more strenuous work like raking leaves or house repairs. But the fact is this: We are called in scripture as members of the Body of Christ to serve those in the church. Colossians 3:17 tells us this, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Young people have a unique opportunity in the church. We have the opportunity to develop our gifts and talents in service of Christ and his Church. There are so many people struggling in our community, so many opportunities to serve, so many opportunities to develop our God given abilities.
Yet, the hardest part about serving in the church is finding time in our busy schedules. Start simple! Start with talking to a different person after church instead of the same group every time. Try to talk to someone who doesn’t have someone to talk to. Sing in the church choir. Help clean up after church. Offer to babysit for a busy family. Many churches have a helping hands committee. Offer your services to them by being willing to use your physical gifts and talents God has given you. Move forward in the knowledge of what Christ has done for his chosen people.
Find time for acts of kindness and words of encouragement towards a struggling individual in the church, find time for humble servitude in the church. Find time for loving the body of Christ so much, that you are moved to serve others. Remember what Christ did for you and for me. Think about how the church might be different if all of us young people were to serve in one small way in the next months?
By: Garret Eriks
Young Calvinists 