Joy in Serving: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistryNäide

My Community: A slave for others Why are so many Christian congregations no longer growing and now in decline? It may be that the surrounding communities are unaware of any important resources there. It may be that the congregation is interested in gathering only people just like those already there. The sad truth is that even though neighborhoods may change outwardly, the same desperate, inward human needs are still there--loneliness, depression, guilt, sickness, and fear. When there is a communication gap between Christians and their communities, guess who adapts? “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19). Did you catch that? The one who knows God will adapt. The one who is stronger in faith will bend. The one more experienced in the Scriptures will take the posture of the servant. It is my belief and experience that when a congregation makes itself a slave to its community, it will have all the work it can handle and will never go out of business.