At the core of every true disciple's life is unwavering dedication to serving God. We believe that service is not optional—it is the natural response to the mercy, grace, and transformation we have received through Christ. As Paul writes:
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
To serve God is to surrender our whole selves—our time, our talents, our thoughts, our ambitions, and our daily lives—as a living sacrifice. This isn’t just about volunteering occasionally. It’s about embracing a lifestyle where God has complete authority and our obedience is fueled by love.
Serving God begins when we lay down our own will to embrace His. We must not simply ask, "Do I want to serve?" but instead, "Lord, how would You have me serve?"
Luke 9:23 (NKJV)
"Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’"
This daily surrender includes:
Denying our selfish desires
Trusting God's plan over our own
Dying to sin and embracing righteousness
Living as a public witness of Christ
Surrender is not passive. It is active obedience that leads to transformation.
Romans 6:13 (NKJV)
"And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
We are tools in God’s hands. Our minds, words, and actions are to be instruments for His glory.
God is not impressed with religious acts that ignore His voice. Service without obedience is empty.
1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV)
"So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.’"
Obedience demonstrates our love for God and trust in His authority. We don’t serve on our own terms; we serve according to His Word and will.
John 14:15 (NKJV)
"If you love Me, keep My commandments."
A heart that truly loves God is one that obeys without hesitation.
We are called to live holy lives, distinct from the world and wholly devoted to God.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)
"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’"
Holiness in service means:
Rejecting worldly patterns
Embracing purity in heart and action
Reflecting God’s character in every area of life
We cannot serve God while clinging to the world. We are His—chosen, redeemed, and set apart for Kingdom work.
Service to God is a form of worship. True worship doesn’t just happen on Sunday mornings; it happens when we give our best to God in every moment.
John 4:23-24 (NKJV)
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Service that pleases God comes from a heart filled with the Spirit and aligned with the truth of His Word.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
We don’t serve for recognition or applause. We serve because we love Him.
Each of us is uniquely equipped to serve. Spiritual gifts are not optional additions to the Christian life—they are essential tools entrusted to us for Kingdom impact.
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
We are:
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Equipped for different roles
Called to build up the Church
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NKJV)
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all."
We must identify and use our gifts with humility and zeal, understanding that every gift is vital in the Body of Christ.
Jesus never promised that service would be easy. He promised it would be worth it.
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
To serve God faithfully means to accept sacrifice, hardship, and sometimes even rejection. But these costs are temporary, and the reward is eternal.
Matthew 10:39 (NKJV)
"He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
God doesn’t overlook faithful service. He multiplies it. What we sow in faith, we will reap in joy.
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV)
"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
Matthew 6:20 (NKJV)
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."
We serve with our eyes fixed on eternity, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain.
At Pennsboro Church of God, we are committed to raising people who serve God with passion, purpose, and perseverance. We believe every believer is called to:
Surrender completely to God
Obey His Word above all else
Live holy and set apart lives
Worship through every act of service
Use their spiritual gifts for the Body of Christ
Persevere through sacrifice and hardship
Rejoice in the joy of serving the Lord
This is what it means to be dedicated to serving God. Not as a task, but as a life of devotion and joy.