Build a Strong Family - Friday
Today’s Verse
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (NIV)
I don’t know about you, but when I pursue a goal—or if I’ve achieved a goal—I enjoy helping others succeed in their own goals. I believe spiritually strong families understand the importance of helping and serving others, just like Jesus did.
In Lead Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard shares that Jesus Christ is the ultimate leadership role model. Jesus’s leadership is based on servanthood, love, compassion, and humility; those who lead like Jesus prioritize the needs of others and empower them to reach their full potential.
As leaders of our families, we should strive to be intentional, as Jesus was in caring for and serving others. This focus on service illustrates to your children that giving back and caring for others is as important to your family as it was to Jesus, who impressed on His disciples the importance of caring for and feeding His sheep (John 21:15). When your family volunteers or gets involved in outreach projects, this will train your children to follow Jesus’ command to help others.
Did you know that throughout the year, Southland has many opportunities to serve both inside our walls and outside of them? For example, inside our walls, we have volunteers of all ages helping with our Children’s and Southland Students ministries. On Sunday, Scott shared a quote (that I love) from author Anthony Esolen, “Perhaps the sound that Satan hates the most is that of children laughing. Or maybe that of old people laughing along with children.” If you visit any of our children’s environments on a Sunday morning, you will hear a healthy dose of laughter—from both the children and their adult volunteers. Needless to say, based on Mr. Esolen’s comment, Satan doesn’t enjoy being near our Children’s or Students environments!
We also have many outreach programs in the five communities where we live and serve. A few examples include mentoring local elementary students, providing encouragement to seniors, and assisting local community partners.
You may wonder, “Do I really have the talent or time to help?” And the answer is YES! There are opportunities for all ages and different levels of time commitments, from 30 minutes to several hours. Don’t worry—we got you! Like any good coach, we’ll provide you with a schedule, training, and encouragement to help you succeed—and for our church family to grow stronger. Come join us!
REFLECTION
Would you and your family like to learn more about serving? Visit the Volunteer at Southland page to learn more and take your next step.