It’s easy to look at how far you’ve come and want to rest, but God’s people are called to press on until the work is truly finished. The tribes of Reuben and Gad saw the green pastures and wanted to settle, but Moses challenged them not to stop short of God’s promise. In our own lives, we may be tempted to become comfortable and stop serving or growing, but God calls us to keep moving forward, both personally and as a church. There is still more to do, more people to reach, and more ways to serve. Don’t let comfort or satisfaction keep you from the greater things God has ahead. [28:30]
Numbers 32:4-6 (ESV)
“The land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.” But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?”
Reflection: Where in your life have you grown comfortable and stopped short of what God is calling you to do next? What is one step you can take this week to move forward in faith and service?
Throughout history, followers of Jesus have made incredible sacrifices because they believed in the power of the gospel to change lives. From Jesus Himself, to the apostles, to missionaries like Adoniram Judson, and even to those who serve faithfully in unseen ways today, the common thread is a willingness to give up comfort for the sake of others. The call to serve is not about the size of the task, but about faithfulness and believing that every act of service matters in God’s kingdom. Your sacrifice, big or small, is part of God’s ongoing story of redemption. [35:18]
2 Corinthians 11:24-28 (ESV)
“Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”
Reflection: What is one area where God may be calling you to sacrifice your comfort or time for the sake of others? How can you take a practical step toward that this week?
God’s Word makes it clear that knowing the good we ought to do and not doing it is sin. The call to serve is not just a suggestion, but a command rooted in love and grace. We are not motivated by guilt or fear, but by the joy of salvation and the desire to honor Christ with our lives. Each believer has a role to play, and when we withhold our gifts, we miss out on God’s purpose for us and for the church. Let the grace of God move you from passive receiving to active serving, knowing that your obedience brings joy to God’s heart. [45:35]
James 4:17 (ESV)
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
Reflection: Is there a way you’ve been holding back from serving where you know God is prompting you? What would it look like to say “yes” to God’s call today?
You are not an accident or an afterthought; you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for a purpose. When you put your faith in Christ, you are made new, and God has prepared good works in advance for you to do. Your unique gifts, experiences, and passions are all part of God’s design to bless others and build His church. Serving is not about earning God’s favor, but about living out the new life He has given you. Step into the good works God has prepared for you, trusting that He will equip you for every task. [52:01]
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Reflection: What is one good work you sense God has prepared for you in this season? How can you intentionally walk in it this week?
The church is not just a gathering, but a family where each person’s contribution matters. When you serve, you are not only meeting needs today, but you are also building a foundation for future generations. Others have gone before you, making sacrifices so you could know Christ and be part of His church—now it’s your turn to let others stand on your shoulders. Whether it’s opening your home, leading a group, or simply welcoming someone new, your service helps create a community where people can encounter Jesus and grow in faith. [40:41]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your church family you can encourage or invite to serve alongside you? How can you help build a stronger, more connected community this week?
As we gather on this special Sunday, standing at the threshold of a new chapter for our church, it’s important to remember that our journey is not yet complete. The story of the tribes of Reuben and Gad in Numbers 32 reminds us that it’s easy to settle when we find comfort, but God calls us to press on until the work is finished. Just as these tribes were tempted to stop short of the Promised Land because they found good land for their livestock, we too can be tempted to rest when we experience blessings or reach milestones. Yet, Moses’ challenge—“Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?”—echoes to us today. We are called to take our place, not just for ourselves, but for the sake of the whole body.
Throughout history, the people of God have moved forward because individuals believed in the power of the gospel and were willing to sacrifice for it. From Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, to the apostles’ perseverance, to missionaries like Adoniram Judson, and even to those who faithfully served to keep this church alive when it seemed impossible—each has played a part in God’s unfolding story. We stand on their shoulders, and now others will stand on ours. The call is not just to receive, but to serve, to give, and to invest in the next generation.
Serving is not an optional extra; it is a vital part of our new life in Christ. To withhold our gifts and sit on the sidelines is, as Moses said, sin. But we are not motivated by guilt or fear, for we live under the new covenant of grace. God has given each of us the Holy Spirit, not just for our own benefit, but for the common good. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do. As we move into a new building and a new season, the needs will change, but the call remains: take your place with us. Whether it’s greeting, hospitality, leading a home group, or simply being present and available, every act of service matters. Let us not settle for comfort, but press on together, so that others may stand on our shoulders and the gospel may continue to change lives.
Numbers 32:1-23 (ESV) — (Selected key verses)
> 1 Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.
> 2 So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation,
> 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
> 4 the land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.”
> 5 And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.”
> 6 But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?
> ...
> 23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
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