Pastor Thoughts: May 2026
Called to Serve: Finding Your Place at New Hope
One of the clearest pictures the New Testament gives us of the church is that of a body. Christ is the head, and every believer is a member of that body, each one with a role to play. That means the Christian life is not meant to be lived on the sidelines.
In 1 Peter 4:10, we are commanded, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Notice the assumption: each believer has received a gift, and each believer is called to use it. Serving the body is not optional; it is part of faithful obedience to Christ.
At New Hope, our mission is to worship God, grow in Christ, and share the good news with the world. But that mission is not something a handful of people carry out. It requires the whole church, which is why we have developed these serve teams.
They are not programs to maintain; they are pathways for participation. Each team is designed to help us live out our core values of Biblical Worship, Faithful Discipleship, and Kingdom Building in real, tangible ways. More importantly, they provide clear opportunities for every member to step into meaningful service.
A healthy church is not one where a few people do most of the work. A healthy church is one where the members are actively engaged, serving one another, building one another up, and laboring together for the advance of the gospel. So, the question is not if you should serve, but where you should serve.
Take time to pray. Consider how the Lord has gifted you. Then be willing to step forward. You do not need perfect clarity to begin, just a willingness to be used. We desire that every member of New Hope be engaged in the life of the church, not only gathering but also serving. As each part does its work, the body grows, Christ is honored, and the mission moves forward. Let’s be faithful to do our part.
In 1 Peter 4:10, we are commanded, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Notice the assumption: each believer has received a gift, and each believer is called to use it. Serving the body is not optional; it is part of faithful obedience to Christ.
At New Hope, our mission is to worship God, grow in Christ, and share the good news with the world. But that mission is not something a handful of people carry out. It requires the whole church, which is why we have developed these serve teams.
They are not programs to maintain; they are pathways for participation. Each team is designed to help us live out our core values of Biblical Worship, Faithful Discipleship, and Kingdom Building in real, tangible ways. More importantly, they provide clear opportunities for every member to step into meaningful service.
A healthy church is not one where a few people do most of the work. A healthy church is one where the members are actively engaged, serving one another, building one another up, and laboring together for the advance of the gospel. So, the question is not if you should serve, but where you should serve.
Take time to pray. Consider how the Lord has gifted you. Then be willing to step forward. You do not need perfect clarity to begin, just a willingness to be used. We desire that every member of New Hope be engaged in the life of the church, not only gathering but also serving. As each part does its work, the body grows, Christ is honored, and the mission moves forward. Let’s be faithful to do our part.
Pastoral Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for all the wonderful ways that You work in our lives and in the life of New Hope. Father, we ask You to lead each one of us to be clear on how You have gifted us to serve the good of Your church and for Your eternal glory. Help us to know where You would have each one of us serve and give us the grace to serve You well. Father, please use us for Your glory.
In Christ,
Pastor Ben
Thank You for all the wonderful ways that You work in our lives and in the life of New Hope. Father, we ask You to lead each one of us to be clear on how You have gifted us to serve the good of Your church and for Your eternal glory. Help us to know where You would have each one of us serve and give us the grace to serve You well. Father, please use us for Your glory.
In Christ,
Pastor Ben
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