This week, worship is about stepping out of inactivity and back into access. God didn’t just save you from something—He saved you for something. So worship is where you shift from being a consumer to a contributor again. Worship is where you thank Jesus for grace, for gifts distributed, and for access to purpose through the Spirit. Not just access to salvation—but access to function in the body of Christ. And as you worship, you declare again: I am not just attending church—I am part of what God is building.

THIS WEEKENDS SETLIST
SO SO GOOD- ELEVATION WORSHIP
GOD I'M JUST GRATEFUL- ELEVATION WORSHIP
REST ON US - MAVERICK CITY

Start by asking the honest question: have I become inactive, disconnected, or just consuming? Because Romans shows a progression—Romans 6, you died to sin. Romans 7, you feel the struggle. Romans 8, the Spirit gives you power. Romans 12, now walk in purpose so you don’t go back. So where am I in that progression?

Then ask: am I functioning in the body, or drifting in inactivity? Because when you stop functioning in the body, you start wandering in the flesh. And disconnected people relapse faster. Paul says we are one body with many parts, and every gift is grace distributed—so what has God placed in me that I’ve stopped using? What am I withholding that the body actually needs?

And finally, process this truth: inactivity is not neutral. Idle hands open old doors. Unused purpose becomes a breeding ground for old patterns. So what door has opened because I stopped walking in purpose?

Seasons of Serving

Over the 5 decades I have been a believer. How I have served the church body has looked many different ways. I have taken the spiritual gifts tests numerous times and have a pretty solid grasp on how the Holy Spirit has enabled me to help build and serve the Kingdom, yet the execution of those gifts has experienced different seasons.

Early on when I first became a believer, I served mostly through singing either in a choir or with my parents in our local church. Occasionally, we would visit area nursing homes and sing hymns with the residents and visit briefly, outings that lifted the spirits and souls of those who were unable to attend Sunday services. In my teenage years, service and mission trips in addition to singing became a regular part of my life. These evangelistic activities, which included spring break mission trips to Mexico or Jackson, Mississippi, feeding the homeless in Philadelphia or serving meals at a soup kitchen in Chester, PA planted seeds for a lifelong journey in that area, mostly outside of church walls but inside as well. I helped with Sunday School, cleaned up after events in the church hall, and served refreshments at the gathering time post services.

During and after college, aside from singing which was always a constant, I worked at a summer church camp where I helped write curricula for the lessons, taught small groups, and helped lead a college group Bible study for several years. I first started attending Fresh Start back in 1996 when it was Trinity Baptist Church and I joined the praise and worship team after a few visits.

There was a period of time when church took a pause when I began a new job that had me working on Sundays. NOT serving on a regular basis was not great for my soul or growth, and I agreed with what Pastor Tim said, “Disconnected believers become vulnerable believers”. I wasn’t growing until my work schedule changed; I began attending regularly again and serving.

In the last few years, aside from occasionally serving on the Praise and Worship team, the Holy Spirit continued to open new and different doors of opportunity. I’ve helped lead Journey classes, developed curricula and taught when we did Fresh Start University, led a LOOP, and have been able to help meet the financial needs of the church and others. There are areas of service within the body that will NEVER be a good fit for me, but I remain committed to being whatever is needed to further the Kingdom within and outside of our walls (like writing these weekly devotions!)

Reflect & Respond

What are you a “10” at?
In what area of service at our church do you find yourself most drawn to?
What will you commit to today to help serve as the hands & feet of Christ to help build the body of Fresh Start Church?

FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC

This week, don’t just think about purpose—step into it.

First, activate your gift. If your gift is serving, serve well. If it is encouraging, encourage. If it is giving, give generously. If it is leadership, take it seriously. Don’t wait until you feel ready—because serving is one of the ways God builds maturity.

Second, refuse isolation. Stay connected to the body. Because isolation feels like peace, but it becomes a prison. And a disconnected believer cannot function the way they were designed to. So stay in proximity, stay accountable, stay connected.

Third, replace inactivity with assignment. Don’t just stop being idle—start functioning again. Because when you don’t walk in your design, you drift back to your default. So choose rhythms that move you from spectator to servant, from consumer to committed follower of Jesus.