serve

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11, ESV)

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV)

We are available to God and want to live lifestyles that reach out to the broken and that speak the Gospel.

We do this by showing COMPASSION to those who need it.

We also serve by participating in the MISSION of Jesus and sharing the Good News with the world.

When it comes to service, we believe that the church should be more than just talk.  We need to support our words with our actions.

In John 14:12-14 Jesus said:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

That statement stretches the imagination and forces us to live lives that are only possible if we have God’s Spirit filling us.  Unfortunately many people settle for less.  Sam Storms tell the following story about John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard Church Movement:

As John told the story, he and Carol visited a church early in his spiritual journey, immediately after he had spent considerable time reading the gospel accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. Following the service, John approached the pastor and asked him:
 “So, when do we do the stuff?”
 “The ‘stuff’,” said the pastor. “What’s the ‘stuff’?”
 “You know,” John replied, “the stuff in the Bible, like healing the sick and casting out demons. The stuff!”
“Oh,” replied the pastor. “We don’t do the stuff. We believe they did it back in biblical days, but we don’t do it today.”
With a rather confused look on his face, John could only say: “And I gave up drugs for this?”

At CGS we aren’t perfect, but it is our constant goal to be doin’ the stuff.