The Big Serve is simply a Sunday that we take to serve our community and its local residents. We take the morning to have different rhythms, we meet as a gathered body for a short time, but then we head out in teams to work… But, this event is so much more than just a service day.
The work matters, getting a project done that makes a difference for a person or organization fills real tangible needs. When we take time to live out in concrete ways all our rhetoric about “loving people” we actively do love people. God smiles when things move from conviction to action among His people. People can feel the love Jesus has for them when Jesus’ followers take the time to show it.
The work really does matter but what matters just as much is the posture that this event puts us in. We can only give to others what we have received from God. Serving others is not primarily the strong helping the weak. It is actually or should actually be those who are plugged into Jesus following His leading to do good works. The need that some might have does not dictate our actions, though needs should never be ignored, rather Jesus' love should direct our action and meeting felt needs is a great way to do that. So we, those who look to serve, must be connected with Jesus so that we have something to offer. All the best skills under the sun are meaningless much like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13; if we don’t have love it don’t matter (Will Paraphrase Version). Serving people can show them love but it’s not a guarantee. Only being connected to Jesus’ love and then following Him in how He wants you to show it provides the surety that you are showing love.
Events like the Big Serve matter so much because we do them together. Working together with each other builds relationships in a different way than Sunday mornings. It’s not better or worse but when we build relationships with each other in different ways it strengthens our bonds. It also builds relationships outside of our fellowship when we serve other organizations. When we connect the love of Jesus to each other, to those we serve, and to organizations not like us we will see Jesus’ kingdom advance in our town. I hope you will all register for the Big Serve but I also hope you will each be prayerful, asking Jesus to fill you with His love and giving you opportunity to share it with others. That’s what life is about, and that's why we do the Big Serve.
-Will Regier