Automated Service

It is evident today that more and more of the service industry is becoming automated. All you need to do is pick up your phone and call customer service, and you will likely be greeted by a recorded list of options, instructing you to press a specific number for yet another recorded answer trying to help you with your problem. There is a big issue with this approach: a lot of times, you need help with something that is not on the list of common questions.

What if the church tried to implement this model? Imagine you have a problem and call your local congregation, only to be met with a recorded message: “If you are having marital issues, press one. If you are having financial issues, press two.” This response would feel cold and disconnected. That’s because the church is made up of people. The church is not a lifeless machine but a family. It was designed to be a group of people working together as a unit (1 Cor. 12:12-26).

The church depends on its members to love and care for one another. That means that the church depends on you. You may say, “I’m no preacher,” or “I could never teach a class,” and while those may be true, there is a whole list of services needed within the local church. You may be a great encourager, visit the shut-ins, or you may be someone who loves little children, volunteer to work in the nursery, or perhaps you are good with tools, help fix and build things on the church grounds. Countless areas of service rely on people like you.

The King of Kings Himself came not so people could serve Him but so He could serve people (Mrk. 10:45).

I challenge you to look within the church and see where you can serve.