5G The Ultimate Connection: Serving Connects Us to the Mission of Jesus

What if the thing missing in your walk with Jesus isn’t another Bible study, another Sunday service, or another podcast—but simply taking the next step and serving?

Throughout this series, we’ve been looking at the rhythms that help us grow closer to Jesus: spending time with God, growing in community, gathering together as the church, and now, go time—serving others and making a difference.

Serving isn’t just something we do for the church. It’s one of the ways God shapes us, connects us to His purpose, and allows us to make a difference in the lives of others.

We Serve Because We Are Connected

Jesus gives us a picture of what serving looks like in John 13.

Just before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples together for the Passover meal. These were some of His final moments with them, and He had important things He wanted them to understand.

So what did Jesus do?

He washed their feet.

This wasn’t a clean, comfortable task. The roads of Jerusalem were dirty, and people wore sandals. Washing someone’s feet was a humble job—something typically reserved for a servant.

Yet Jesus, the Lord and Teacher, took a towel, poured water into a basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet.

Then He told them:

“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

Jesus served because He was secure in His relationship with the Father. He knew where He had come from, who He was, and where He was going.

That’s important for us to understand.

We don’t serve in order to become connected to Jesus. We serve because we are connected to Jesus.

Our relationship with Jesus leads to transformation, and that transformation leads us into mission. As we step into mission, our relationship with Jesus grows even deeper.

It becomes a rhythm:

Connection → Transformation → Mission → Connection → Transformation → Mission.

You Are Part of God's Masterpiece

Ephesians 2:10 says:

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the things he planned for us long ago.”

You may not always feel like a masterpiece.

You may know your weaknesses, insecurities, struggles, and shortcomings better than anyone else. You may look at your life and think, God couldn't possibly have something significant for me to do.

But God sees you differently.

You are His masterpiece.

And the beautiful thing about a masterpiece is that every part matters.

The church is made up of people with different personalities, abilities, experiences, and gifts. None of us individually represents everything someone needs to know about Jesus. But when we come together and each play our part, something beautiful happens.

Without you, something is missing from the masterpiece.

God has been preparing you for a purpose long before you ever realized it. He has given you gifts, abilities, experiences, and opportunities that He wants to use to make a difference.

The question is: What are you going to do with what God has given you?

Your Gift Is Meant to Be Given Away

Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 4:10:

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them to serve one another.”

Notice the words “each of you.”

That means you.

God has placed something inside of you that is uniquely yours. Your personality, temperament, experiences, abilities, and passions all come together in a way that allows you to contribute something nobody else can contribute in exactly the same way.

Maybe your gift is encouragement.

Maybe it’s hospitality.

Maybe it’s leadership, generosity, compassion, teaching, organization, creativity, or craftsmanship.

There are countless ways to serve.

But whatever your gift is, it isn't meant to stay unused.

Your treasure gets wasted unless it's given away.

Serving gives you an opportunity to take what God has placed inside of you and use it to bless someone else.

Serving Makes Us More Like Jesus

When Jesus washed His disciples' feet, He wasn't just completing a task. He was showing them what it means to live like Him.

He said in John 13:17:

“Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

The blessing Jesus promised wasn't necessarily an easier life, more money, a bigger house, or fewer problems.

In fact, many of those first disciples went on to experience tremendous hardship and even death because they followed Jesus.

The blessing was something deeper.

Purpose. Meaning. Fulfillment. The joy of being part of something bigger than yourself.

And we can see that same thing happen when people serve today.

There is something different about walking through the doors on a Sunday when you know you're not just attending—you’re contributing.

You’re helping welcome someone who may be walking into church for the first time.

You’re holding a baby so a parent can experience the service.

You’re helping a child learn about Jesus.

You’re investing in the next generation.

You’re creating an environment where people can encounter God.

You’re helping the church reach the community.

You’re part of what God is doing.

And when you realize that, Sunday feels different.

You Don't Have to Have It All Together

Maybe you're thinking, I’m not ready to serve. I don't know enough about the Bible. I still have a lot to figure out.

That’s okay.

You don't have to have everything figured out before you take your next step.

When the journey of following Jesus first began, there were opportunities to serve even while still learning and growing. Serving became part of the process of becoming more connected to God, building relationships, learning Scripture, and discovering purpose.

And you don't even have to start big.

Serving might mean once a month.

It might mean helping in KidsLink, serving with students, welcoming people at the door, joining a team, or finding another place where your gifts fit.

The goal isn't to overwhelm yourself.

The goal is to take a step.

Stop Watching. Start Serving.

Maybe you’ve been attending Landing Place for a while.

Maybe you've been investigating who Jesus is.

Maybe you've given your life to Jesus but still feel like something is missing.

Maybe you used to serve but stepped away.

Or maybe you've never served at all.

The invitation is simple:

Stop watching. Start serving.

Not because the church is falling apart without you.

Not because we simply need more volunteers.

But because God has placed something inside of you that someone else needs.

When you serve, you become part of something bigger than yourself. You get to see lives changed, people encounter Jesus, the community impacted, and the mission move forward.

You may not be able to do everything.

But you can do your part.

And when all of us do our part, the masterpiece becomes complete.

So ask yourself:

Where is Jesus inviting me to stop watching and start serving?

And perhaps even more importantly:

Who needs the gift God has given me?

Your gift matters. Your contribution matters. And there is a place for you in what God is doing.