10 Ways to Serve Your Neighbors This Summer

By Sarah Austin

You know it's summer when LifePoint gets in a tizzy about serving. As a church this month, we're collecting food, giving blood, and serving the city of Ozark, but the serving doesn't have to stop there. With a little creativity, we can all serve our neighbors this summer, and here are ten ways you can start:

1. Babysit your neighbors' kids
2. Mow your neighbors' yards
3. Offer to check your neighbors' houses (feed pets, water plants, get mail, etc.) while they're on vacation
4. Visit with elderly or home bound neighbors
5. Support your neighbors' garage sales by stopping by, browsing, and maybe buying something
6. Share flowers and vegetables from your garden with your neighbors
7. Bring housewarming gifts (baked goods, plants, etc.) to neighbors who've just moved in
8. Invite your neighbors over for dinner
9. Volunteer at your neighborhood's polling place
10. Sponsor a neighborhood fireworks party

For me, it's easier to start a conversation and build a relationship when I have something in my hands or have something to do, which is why many of the items on the list above involve a gift or an activity. Did I miss anything? What are you doing to serve your neighbors this summer?

Whom Do You Serve?

by Donovan Dobbs

Jesus said, "Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'" —Matthew 25: 34–40

God has really been challenging me with this verse for about three months. It all began in the fall issue of Leadership Journal (published by Christianity Today). The entire issue was on churches and ministries that are reaching the "least of these." These churches were not serving the people as a "people group" to be reached nor as "souls to be saved" but as people created by God who needed to be ministered to for no other reason than serving Christ. The articles were filled with just ministries. No programs. No how to make your church grow. No fluff but only serving Christ!

Am I any different than any other group helping others this time of year? During the "holidays" many groups are helping the less fortunate or those in need. Everyone from bikers to the local schools. Even my community group helped a lady named Barbie with Thanksgiving dinner. There is nothing wrong with helping someone this time of year. However, the question that keeps coming to mind is "How am I serving the rest of the year?" Do I help or serve those in need January through October? Do I make the sacrifices that I so easily make during this time of year? Am I willing to buy someone shorts for the summer when I bought them a coat at winter? How would you answer these questions?

So do we just keep on doing what were doing or do we allow Christ to change us? Christ does call us to serve for the sake of serving (Matt. 6:1–4). When we serve people for his sake, we will be blessed (Luke 14:12–14). After the hype and good cheer of Christmas are gone, let us be different from the world. In January, let's bring warmth to someone. In February, share Christ's heart with someone. In March, let your actions thaw a person's heart that is cold because of this cynical wold. In April, spring to action by planting flowers in someone's yard. In May, as the sun stays out longer buy shorts for a family. In June, teach a kid to swim. In July, celebrate your independence from sin by sharing Christ over a hot dog. In August, work on providing school supplies to those in need. In September, help those in need prepare for the coming winter. In October, scare away depression by spending time with someone simply because they are there.

Even after the holidays are over and we slip into the new year, keep your heart open to serving those around you all year long.

Too Busy to Serve?

If you’ve ever had a to-do list show up on your refrigerator, you probably thought one of two things: “I wonder how my spouse/parent/roommate lost his/her to-do list and how it ended up on the refrigerator?” (This is what you thought if you were unwittingly on the verge of apartment hunting) or “I’d better chose one of these to work on before someone chooses for me.”

Last weekend, our church published its servant guide again. It’s a brief document that outlines all the fun ways to get involved with the church, like explaining the book of Job to college students or cleaning Saran Wrap and lip gloss off your car. The servant guide is a little subtler, while I am a little more honest. I’m on church service like ants on Pixie Stix (I’m also on Pixie Stix like ants on Pixie Stix). Teaching? Sounds fun! Leading a community group? I’ll help! Writing and recording? I’ll try it! In fact, I’m the worst at overextending myself. But this isn’t about me – it’s about you.

People are busy. At least, American people are. If I ask you what your daily commute to work is and you say “15 or 30 minutes,” you’re probably not that busy. If you say “21 minutes with lights, traffic, cops, and God willing,” you’re a busy person. Most people I know fall into the latter category. And in such a busy culture, a church that actually prints a guide for committing time to service must have some big brass bells in its steeple.

I’ve struggled with the amount of time I give in service to my church, and here’s what I’ve decided. If I don’t want to do it, I’m not going to do it. If I sign up to wrangle preteens for 3 hours a week and I hate it (which I don’t, but we’re speaking hypothetically here), what I’m really doing is contributing to hypocrisy in the church. I’m really building a Kingdom of Kit, not a Kingdom of Heaven. I’m really wasting my time. I think of Jesus saying “Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and still looks back isn’t fit for service in God’s Kingdom.” (Luke 9:62)

But if I agree to teach VBS for four straight nights and I find joy in that, even though I have to inhale dinner and essentially work 12-hour days for 8-hour pay, then I feel like the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. I have a picture from VBS by my work computer right now: Five students, one teacher, and me. In the picture, I’m tired, I’m soaking wet from a water fight, and I’m happy. My life is meaningful in that picture.

If you’re thinking about serving at you’re church, whether that church is LifePoint or First Methodist Kalamazoo, I encourage you to check out Lane’s sermon from August 26 on LifePoint’s website. Consider the cost, consider the value, and act accordingly.

--Kit