How many of you have stopped to consider that every invention humans have ever created—from the printing press to the light bulb to the smartphone—exists because a Creator designed the raw materials in the earth for us to discover and use? That’s the lens Pastor Josh White invited us to look through on Sunday as he opened a new sermon series on Faithful Service, the third core value of Grace Bible Church of Phoenix.
Why Does Faithful Service Matter?
Over the next two Sundays, the elders are walking the church through this value. This week focused on the why—four reasons faithful service ought to matter to every believer.
1. We Are Created to Faithfully Serve Christ
The Bible is clear: you and I were created to serve Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8–10 (NLT) puts it this way:
God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He has planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8–10
When you trusted Christ, your purpose changed. No longer living for yourself, you were re-created to join God in His purpose. Titus 2:11–14 adds that the grace of God trains us—literally disciplinarily shapes us—to renounce ungodliness and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives, zealous for good works.
Zeal. That’s an urgent word. Not casual interest. Not “I’ll get around to it someday.” Eager, passionate desire to serve. That’s what God redeems us for.
2. We Are Empowered to Faithfully Serve Christ
But God doesn’t just command service—He empowers it. In Galatians 5:22–23, the Holy Spirit produces faithfulness as part of the fruit of the Spirit. The same root word (pistis) that describes our faith in Christ also describes the faithfulness we are to demonstrate back to Him.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2
God produces within us the faith to believe, and the Spirit empowers that faith to result in faithfulness—in us being dependable, reliable, and trustworthy in the Master’s service.
3. We Are Gifted to Faithfully Serve Christ
First Corinthians 12:4–11 makes clear that the Holy Spirit has gifted each believer uniquely for the common good:
There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are varieties of service, but the same Lord. There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7
Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation—the Spirit distributes these as He wills. If you are in Christ, you have been gifted to serve. The question is: do you know what your gift is? And are you using it?
4. We Will Be Judged by Our Faithful Service
Here’s the one that should make every believer stop and think. Second Corinthians 5:10 says:
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10
Our faith in this life determines whether we will be with Christ in the next life. But our faithfulness in this life will determine what we do there. This life is the “little stuff”—the proving ground where God gives us time to demonstrate whether we will be faithful with little, so that He can trust us with more.
Jesus illustrated this in Luke 19 with the parable of the minas. A nobleman called his servants, gave them resources, and said, “Engage in business until I come.” When he returned, those who had been faithful were rewarded with greater responsibility. Those who had done nothing lost even what they had.
So What?
Pastor Josh closed with two probing questions:
- Are you willing? Are you willing to make Christ’s purpose your purpose? His priorities your priorities? To serve your Creator—not out of obligation, but out of love?
- Are you available? Have you genuinely made yourself available when opportunities to serve arise? Or do you stay on the sidelines?
Titus 2:14 captures it beautifully: Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, who are zealous for good works.”
May GBC Phoenix be known for our zeal to serve our Lord—not because we have to, but because we’ve been recreated, empowered, and gifted for exactly this. That’s why faithful service matters.
Scripture References
- Ephesians 2:8–10
- Titus 2:11–14
- John 15:1–17
- Galatians 5:22–23
- 1 Corinthians 4:2
- 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
- Luke 19:12–27