So what’s your approach on Sunday mornings? When you come to church, are you looking to serve or be served? Are you a giver or a taker? Do you take the initiative to connect with someone, or do you wait for someone to come to you? In Matthew 20:28, Jesus is described as someone who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

There are many obstacles to serving others, or even just simply interacting with them. Picture someone in your life that is not your favorite person to be around. How do you treat them? Do you avoid them or you seek to grow in your affection towards them? What about people you are more inclined to spend time with? What do you talk about with them? God calls us to love all people, especially His people, whether we like them naturally or we have to work at it.

On Wednesday nights, Eddie Durrett and I are teaching a class based on the book, Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners by Michael R. Emlet. The gist of the book is that Christians are all three of those things at the same time. They are saints, in that they have been saved through the work of Jesus Christ, sufferers because of what others do to them, and sinners because we all still sin, despite our salvation.

In the chapters about saints, Emlet emphasizes an approach to Christians that I think is worth noting and can be applied whenever you are with people, whether or not they are your favorites. You have probably talked to someone who talks this way to you. They are the kind of person that you like to be around because they build you up (I Thessalonians 5:11) in a Christ-like manner. Are you that kind of person? I hope so. I want to be. Do others want to be around you because of the way you encourage them? Here’s the list of ways to talk to others in a way that they are encouraged to grow in godliness:

Be zealous to find evidence of God’s grace in their lives.

Eagerly point out where they demonstrate the character of Christ.

Observe ways in which they are already living true to an identity in Christ and highlight them.

Rather than embarking on an idol or sin hunt, first embark on a grace hunt.

Highlight the good that you see.

Speak about how they have blessed and encouraged you as the aroma of Christ in your life.

Notice where the Spirit is at work.

Thank God for them in prayer.

Communicate your love for them and God’s love for them.

Identify the gifts of the Spirit in their lives.

Remind them of their destiny in Christ and the faithfulness of God in that journey.

So how do you put this into practice? When you come back to church tonight or Sunday, be ready to take the initiative with someone. Have one of these ideas ready to bless someone else as you interact. You could say something like, “I was hoping to run into you today. As I was thinking about you this week I wanted to let you know that…” You can take it from there. Encouraging others when you see God at work in their life is a great way to serve others.

Dave Kaynor

Administrative Pastor