In this video, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson offers insights into meaningful church participation, emphasizing the importance a servant-hearted approach to church life.
How should Christians think about their participation in the local church? Probably the first level of answer to that is to say, “Go.” The letter to the Hebrews urges us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. And I think that means for us that we see the life of the church as absolutely fundamental to our lives. It’s not an added extra; it’s not second rate to the ministry of a parachurch organization. It is absolutely fundamental to our lives. When Christ calls us to Himself, He calls us nearer to one another. And so it seems to me to be bargain basement Christianity, that we actually attend the life of the church, and that we see that both as an ordinary privilege of being a Christian and a responsibility. So, we don’t pick and choose whether we are there or not. And I think every minister would actually say that the people who encourage him most and who strengthen the church most are not necessarily the people with the greatest gifts, but the people with that fundamental commitment to the body of Christ where they belong.
The second thing I would say for someone who is coming to a new church, how do I participate in a church? I’ve come from another town or whatever. I sometimes say to people, just sit down beside people. And if there’s time before the service begins, or especially if there’s leisure after the service, just ask them, “How did you get here?” Find some way of saying, “What’s your story?” Because most of us are actually quite interested in telling other people our story, and we all have a story. I think that’s a great way to learn the atmosphere of a church and to get to know the people who are members of it. And actually, if you are a younger person, I think that’s a really helpful thing to do, partly because older people are often surprised if younger people take an interest in them. And also because you will be really astonished by the stories of some of the people you meet. They seem completely ordinary, but God has given them very extraordinary stories.
And then I think the third thing I would say is this. When you see a need, try and meet it. When you see a need, try and meet it. Some people come to churches and ask the question, “Will this church recognize my gifts?” And the truth of the matter is the church is not there primarily to recognize your gifts. It’s not there to serve you. You are there to serve it. And so you keep your eyes open for any kind of need that you see that you may be able to meet. And in my observation, in most living churches where people see someone who has that servant spirit, whatever particular gift they may have room will open up for them to exercise that gift, and they’ll find their longer lasting place in serving.
I remember once being at a wedding reception in the United Kingdom and one of the waiting staff let slip a tray full of all kinds of plates and cups and saucers and everything and fell pretty near where I was sitting. And I turned to my neighbor, who actually was another minister and a close friend, and I said to him, “Somebody should do something about that to help.” And he just stared at me and said, “Well?” So I got up and helped. And I think we can often be like me in the church. “Somebody in this church should do something about that.” And maybe we need somebody to stare at us and say, “Well, you do it.” And if you do it, people will notice that servant spirit and embrace you and give you opportunity to serve in other ways. So I think that at least is a start to really getting plugged into a church.