Why do I serve at The Ridge?
 
1. I serve because God loves me and served me first.
 
“For God loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17)
 
Jesus came because of love. And it’s because of this love that I serve God. It’s a way to respond to God for loving me. And He loves me so much, so passionately, so fully, that He sent His Son to die for me, not to judge me, but to save me through His love.
 
God is all about serving. And He sent Jesus to perform the ultimate act of service when He died on the cross for me. Jesus came to serve. And to show my love to God, I serve, too.
 
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
 
All other reasons really come back to this reason. It must be first, and a foundational part of serving.
 
2. I serve because I love other people.
 
Loving others isn’t a new concept. I think, deep down, most of us probably know that we should show love to other people.
 
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (1 John 3:18)
 
Serving other people should be our natural, love-filled response to God, Who loved us first. So how do we love God? We love the people He loves. Which is all of us. (Even the people you don’t really like.)
 
3.  I serve because God uniquely gifted me to do so.
 
Did you know almost everything that happens on a Sunday morning is done or supported by someone serving? Most of the people on stage aren’t paid staff. None of the people on our production team and backstage crew are paid staff. They are serving, many of them using the way God created them to serve. 
 
But it doesn’t end with the production team. There are over 70 people who lead our life groups, serving with their gifts. There are people each week helping to create an incredible environment for our kids to learn about Jesus. There are people outside who actually enjoy helping people park cars!
 
“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (1 Peter 4:10)
 
Listen, God has gifted you in a specific way. God has uniquely, specifically for me, gifted me to serve. And because I love Him… and because He served me first… I serve Him with those gifts.
 
5. I serve because I believe in The Ridge.
 
Our vision statement at The Ridge is “to do whatever it takes to reach our community for Christ.” 
 
A big reason I serve is because, simply, I believe in what we’re doing at The Ridge. I want, with every fiber of my being, to do whatever it takes to reach my community for Christ. Reaching our community for Christ takes time, energy, effort, sacrifice. Serving is the way to put hands and feet to what we’re trying to do. We want to be a church who eats, sleeps, breaths, for reaching people for Christ.
 
Since it’s super hard to do – harder than I ever thought it would be – we need help. We need your help. We need all hands on deck. Because it’s worth it.
 
Interested in serving at The Ridge? Check out the serving opportunities, both at The Ridge and outside our walls, here.