27/7/25

Make a Difference // John Pearse

Our Mission

‘Growing lives connected to Christ, His Cause & Community’

Our Strategy

Know God (and make Him known)

Find Freedom (and fellowship)

Discover Your Purpose (for life and ministry)

Make A Difference (by discipling and serving others)

Make A Difference

1. SERVING REFLECTS JESUS’ HEART

Matthew 20:28 (NIV):

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Greatness = Servanthood. Leadership = Sacrifice.

John Stott:

“At the heart of the Christian gospel is the humility of God—expressed most powerfully in the servanthood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”

2. SERVING FUELS SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV):
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

A 2022 Barna Study titled “The State of Serving” found:

76% of weekly church volunteers said serving deepened their relationship with God
82% said it made them feel connected to their church community
Volunteers were twice as likely to say: “My faith is thriving.”
(data citation for bottom of slide)
Source: Barna Group, “The State of Serving,” 2022.

Barna concluded:

“Service is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines. It draws people into the heart of God’s mission.”

Rick Warren:

“The church is not a place we go, but a people we are. Every believer has a part to play in God’s mission.”

3. SERVING MAKES THE CHURCH STRONGER

1 Corinthians 12:27 :

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Romans 12:4–6 (NIV):

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

When you serve, you don’t just fill a gap—you fulfil a purpose.

4. SERVING IS COUNTER-CULTURAL

Galatians 5:13:

“Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

“Jesus redefined power and glory through the cross and the basin and towel. That is what real kingdom leadership looks like.”

— *N.T. Wright, Following Jesus

BUT WHAT STOPS US FROM SERVING?

1. “I’m too busy.”

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

2. “I don’t know where I fit.”

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” — 1 Peter 4:10

3. “I’ve served before… and got burned.”