Growing Your Faith by Serving Your Community

The concepts of faith and community are inseparable. The Bible teaches that people are of the utmost importance to God; the very reason why Christ was sent into the world. So it stands to reason that serving a community is the heart of God, His church, and His followers. In fact, the Bible even teaches that one’s own personal faith will grow as we seek to serve the people around us the way Jesus did (Mark 9:35).

The Word of God teaches further that faith is also inseparable from action.

James 2:14-17 says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well-fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

So, we see that God’s Word actually goes as far as to say that faith is useless if it is not accompanied by practical action. As Christians, there is no doubt that serving our community is the action that we must take when we endeavour to follow Jesus Christ.

Benefits of Serving Your Community

Beyond aligning with Biblical teaching, serving your community also has personal benefits, including enhancing your relationship with the Lord. As believers, when we set our heart on the things that God deems important, we inevitably draw closer to Him. The Bible shows us with the example of Jesus’ disciples, that when we spend time working beside Him, we begin to learn more about Him and understand His heart toward us and humanity.

Unsurprisingly, serving your community also strengthens the bond between the church and the community itself. In a world where the pervasive social focus can be on serving oneself, many people are hesitant to trust that others have their personal best interest in mind. Many communities can also have a negative view of church and churchgoers based on previous negative experiences. This is all the more reason why the church should strive to serve the community without expectation of reciprocation. 1 Corinthians 9:19 puts it this way, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” Serving is not only a way to show the world the loving heart of Jesus, but it is a way to practice genuine care and ultimately win people to Jesus – transforming their lives for eternity.

The more we show kindness, compassion, and encouragement, the greater the chance the world will experience the life-changing power of God’s love.

Ways to Serve Your Community Through God

So, what are some ways you can serve? There are so many, but here are a couple of suggestions that can help you get started on your servanthood journey:

• Volunteer Work
• Charitable Donations
• Community Outreach Programs

At C3 Powerhouse, we have a ministry named C3 Community Care which exists to bring practical support to our community. Our aim is to shine God’s love with no strings attached. Our community initiatives include Red Frogs Australia, the Homeless Hub, our C3 Christmas Hampers, and Gateway Care.

Gateway Care is a local social enterprise that C3 Powerhouse is proud to support. They serve the community by distributing rescued food to low-income families at discounted prices. They rescue on average 40,000 kg of food each week, not only serving the community, but helping the environment by saving the waste from going to landfill. Volunteering, fundraising or even making a donation is a great way to make a difference in people’s lives.

And these aren’t the only groups or ways you can help. Serving in your own church community is another great way to get involved. Most churches are looking for volunteers to help them run programs that help people – anything from childminding to bringing food to a community event. You can visit our website for more information on how to get .

The key to effective serving is not so much what you do, but how you do it. When we walk in obedience to the Lord, trusting His guidance (found in His Word), we are sure to be practically helping people and showing the love, grace and hope of Jesus Christ.

If you’d like to get involved in any of the areas listed above, reach out to us at info@ourc3.com, and we would love to help you get started!