Serving Together: Building a Family in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: You Were Saved to Serve in God's Family

God did not save you simply to take up space or consume resources, but to do good works and serve within His family. When each member of the church family does their part, the whole body thrives, and no one is left carrying a burden alone. Serving is not about earning God's favor, but about living out the purpose for which you were created—making a difference in the lives of others and experiencing true belonging in the household of faith. [36:32]

Galatians 6:10 (ESV)
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Reflection: Who in your church family could you serve this week, and what is one specific way you can step in to help lighten their load?

Day 2: You Were Shaped Uniquely to Serve

God designed each person with unique gifts, personalities, and experiences, not so we would all be the same, but so that our differences would help us grow, bless others, and bring Him glory. Instead of wishing you were like someone else, recognize that your distinct shape—your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences—are intentional and valuable for meeting needs in the family of God. [46:20]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (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."

Reflection: What is one unique aspect of your personality or experience that you can use to serve someone in your church this week?

Day 3: Serving Means Laying Down Your Preferences for the Family

Being part of God's family means laying down your own agenda, preferences, and comfort to meet the needs of others, just as Jesus laid down His life for us. True family is not always convenient, but it is marked by sacrificial love and a willingness to step out of isolation and into service, making the church a place where needs are noticed and met. [57:20]

1 John 3:16-18 (ESV)
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: What is one comfort or preference you can lay down this week to better serve someone in your church family?

Day 4: Your Greatest Pain Can Become Your Greatest Ministry

God uses not only your strengths but also your painful experiences to minister to others in the family of faith. The hardships and struggles you have endured can become powerful tools for helping others who are walking through similar valleys, as God redeems your story for the good of the church and His glory. [01:03:54]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reflection: What is one painful experience from your past that God might use to encourage or help someone else in your church this week?

Day 5: The Church Feels Like Family When You Step In and Serve

The church will only feel like a true family when you move from being a spectator to an active participant, using your God-given shape to meet real needs. When you step in to serve, you not only help others but also find deeper relationships, belonging, and purpose, as God uses your availability more than your ability to build up His family. [01:13:01]

Romans 12:4-6 (ESV)
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them..."

Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to move from attending church to actively serving and building relationships within your church family?

Sermon Summary

Home is more than a place—it’s where we truly belong. For those who belong to Jesus, that sense of belonging is meant to be found in His family, the church. Yet, finding real belonging in a church can be challenging. At Vaughan Forest, the invitation is open: whether you’re new or have been here for years, you’re welcome to step into family. But there’s a key to making church feel like family: serving. Just as in any household, when everyone does their part, the family thrives. When some don’t, others carry a heavier load, and dysfunction creeps in. The same is true in God’s family.

Scripture calls us to “do good, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” In the first-century world, the “household” (oikos) was the basic unit of society, and everyone had a role. In Christ, we are members of God’s household, and the primary place to learn to serve is right here, among God’s people. Serving isn’t about earning salvation—Jesus has already accomplished that. Rather, we are saved for good works, uniquely shaped by God to meet needs in His family. Our differences—our gifts, passions, abilities, personalities, and experiences—are not accidents. God designed them for our growth, for the good of others, and for His glory.

Too often, church can become like a restaurant, where we expect to be served, rather than a family dinner, where everyone pitches in. When we treat church like family and serve, it begins to feel like family. Each of us has a spiritual gift—a supernatural ability to meet needs in God’s family. These gifts are not for ourselves, but for others. When we withhold our gifts, the family suffers; when we use them, God is glorified, needs are met, and we grow.

The practical step is to discover your “shape”—your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences—and use them to serve. Don’t overthink it; trust that God has uniquely wired you for a purpose. When you step out of your seat and into service, you move from being a stranger to being family. Needs are met, relationships are formed, and the church becomes what God intended: a place of belonging, growth, and love.

Key Takeaways

1. Serving is Essential to Belonging: True belonging in God’s family is found not just by attending, but by serving. When each member does their part, the church becomes a place of mutual support and love. If you want church to feel like family, step into service and watch relationships deepen and needs be met. [36:32]
2. You Are Saved for a Purpose: Salvation is not just about being rescued from sin, but about being set apart for good works. God has uniquely crafted each believer to contribute to His family, and fulfillment comes when we step into the roles He’s prepared for us. Our culture may push us to seek significance elsewhere, but our highest calling is found in serving God’s people. [40:43]
3. Your Uniqueness is God’s Design: The differences in our personalities, abilities, and experiences are intentional. God uses our uniqueness to grow us, to bless others, and to display His glory. Rather than trying to fit everyone into the same mold, we should celebrate and deploy our God-given differences for the good of the family. [46:20]
4. Spiritual Gifts Are for Others: Every believer receives at least one spiritual gift when they trust in Christ. These gifts are not for personal benefit, but to meet the needs of others in the church. When we withhold our gifts, the family suffers; when we use them, God is glorified and the church is strengthened. [49:44]
5. Availability Matters More Than Ability: God’s ability to use us is not limited by our skills, but by our willingness to be available. When we lay down our own agendas and step into service, God meets needs through us and shapes us in the process. The church becomes a true family when each member is willing to serve, regardless of their perceived limitations. [01:13:01]
** [73:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Meaning of Home and Belonging
[02:30] - Church as Family: The Invitation
[04:10] - No Perfect Families—Including God’s
[07:00] - The Household of Faith Explained
[10:20] - Restaurant vs. Family Dinner: How We View Church
[13:30] - You Were Saved to Serve
[18:00] - Compensatory Injury: When Some Don’t Serve
[22:40] - The Problem of Sitting on the Sidelines
[27:00] - We Are Not Saved by Works, But for Works
[30:11] - You Were Shaped to Serve
[36:32] - God Uses Our Differences
[40:43] - Why Serve? For God’s Glory, Others’ Good, and Our Growth
[46:20] - Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
[49:44] - Serving with Your Shape
[54:03] - Laying Down Our Agendas
[57:20] - Getting Practical: The SHAPE Card
[61:27] - Abilities and Personality in Service
[63:54] - The Power of Experience
[66:22] - Stepping Into Family
[69:40] - The Animal School Story
[73:01] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 6:10 (ESV) — > So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (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 John 3:16-18 (ESV) — > By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Observation Questions

In Galatians 6:10, what does Paul say should be our priority when it comes to “doing good”? Who is the “household of faith”? ([07:00])
According to 1 Peter 4:10-11, what is the purpose of the spiritual gifts God gives to each believer? ([49:44])
In the sermon, what was the difference described between a “restaurant experience” and a “family dinner” when it comes to church? ([10:20])
What are some of the unique ways God shapes each person for service, as described in the SHAPE acronym? ([57:20])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasizes “especially” doing good to those in the household of faith? What does this say about the way we should view our church community? ([07:00])
The sermon said, “We are not saved by works, but we are saved for works.” How does this truth affect the way we think about serving in the church? ([40:43])
The pastor shared that when we don’t serve, others in the church end up carrying a heavier load. How might this reality affect relationships and the health of the church family? ([36:32])
The “Animal School” story was used to illustrate what happens when we try to make everyone serve the same way. What does this teach us about God’s design for diversity in the church? ([01:09:40])

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to move from being a “stranger” to being “family” by serving. If you’re honest, do you feel more like a guest or a family member at church right now? What is one step you could take to move toward deeper belonging? ([3982])
Think about your own SHAPE—your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. Which area do you feel most confident in, and which area do you struggle to see as valuable? How could you begin to use even your struggles or painful experiences to serve others? ([01:03:54])
The sermon said, “When we withhold our gifts, the family suffers; when we use them, God is glorified and the church is strengthened.” Can you think of a time when someone else’s service made a difference in your life? How might God want to use you in a similar way? ([49:44])
The message emphasized that “availability matters more than ability.” Are there any fears or excuses that keep you from serving? What would it look like to offer your availability to God this month? ([01:13:01])
The “family dinner” illustration showed that everyone has a role to play. What is one practical way you could “pitch in” at church this season, even if it’s something small? ([10:20])
The sermon talked about laying down our own agendas and preferences for the sake of the family. Is there something you need to let go of in order to serve others more freely? ([57:20])
If you’ve never taken a step to discover your spiritual gifts or SHAPE, what’s holding you back? Would you be willing to try a SHAPE assessment or talk with a leader about where you might serve? ([57:20])

Sermon Clips

The reality is, friends, when we don't do our part, it makes life harder on other people. The truth is when you look left and you look right, you look, one of you look directly in the eyes of someone who's feeling the pain. They're carrying the load. They're bearing the responsibility of life and God's family in a way maybe God never intended. [00:40:22] (21 seconds) #SharedLoadSharedLife

We are not saved by works but we are saved for works that's right we're gonna talk about that in the podcast this week we're gonna dive in there are several passages in the New Testament that says that God redeemed a people for himself who do good works so here's a little news flash here's a news flash friends you weren't put on this earth just to take up space consume resources and then just one day die you were put on this earth to do something and God in Christ is making you into something very unique and very special to do very unique and special things the question is are we doing those things because we live in a culture that tries to get us to look for significance and things like status or things like whatever success looks like or whatever our salary looks like or for some maybe in your sexuality or whatever but the reality is friends in Christ we have a higher calling in Christ we have a greater purpose in Christ we're being made very special to do special things are we doing them. [00:44:34] (57 seconds) #SavedForGoodWorks

You were also shaped to serve in God's family you were shaped uniquely that's that created in Christ Jesus as a creative expression uniquely that's your shape by show of hands how many of you know someone who got picked on for being different as a kid know anyone like that now truth be told raise your hand if that person you were just thinking about was actually you right reality is friends maybe maybe you got picked on when you were a kid for your height or maybe you got picked on for I don't know you know your hair or he got picked on for your teeth or the way you talk you remember those times you're right getting picked on for those things you're like yeah now I do thanks I took forever to get over him now you're bringing them all back up that's right here's a question why do you think God designed our differences like you're different I'm different we look different we're different why do you think why do you think we're designed differently and the answer is an all -knowing God designed you and all loving God and all caring all wise God he's the one that allowed our uniquenesses he's the one that allowed you to have your unique height or complexion or that unique voice that you have or or hair or whatever except except for the mullet God's not taking the rat for the mullet mullets got nothing to do it God that's that's strictly a demonic thing. [00:46:29] (83 seconds) #UniquelyShapedToServe

When you read first John 3 16 through 18 there is nothing convenient about what we're called to as Christ followers are all Jesus lay down his life so you can be saved and brought in the family okay now that you're in the family we lay down our lives for the sake of the family like our agendas our preferences we meet needs that's what we do and I would love to be involved in something like that we all would. [00:58:24] (21 seconds) #ServeUsingYourShape

We recognize we're all different. God has wired us different. He put us in the same spiritual family together. And the church will feel like a family if you serve. And the best way to serve is get some clues about your shape and then go meet some needs with those clues. That's what we're doing. We're just simply laying out the welcome mat, inviting you to step out of seats and into family. [01:06:18] (25 seconds) #StepIntoFamilyServe

We're just simply saying, hey, don't be a stranger. Be a family member. This is what it could look like to step into family. We want this church to feel like a family for you. But if all you do is kind of come and go, it won't feel like a family. But as soon as you step in to serve in any way, you're going to start to get to know people. They'll get to know you, and it's going to start to feel like a family. [01:09:09] (19 seconds) #WiredDifferentlyServeUniquely

All they produced were frustrated animals who never became what they were intended to become. Welcome to church, friends, where more often than not, we try to cram everyone into the same few things, like the animal school. And we recognize here at Vaughn Forest Church, God wired us differently. We're all shaped differently. We don't want to cram people into the three things we want everyone to do. We want to invite people to consider using their God -given uniqueness to actually meet needs in the family. [01:11:52] (34 seconds) #ServeForGrowthAndGlory

With the Holy Spirit in you, your capacity to be used by God doesn't hinge on your ability, but your availability. So there it is. Church, you'll feel like a family when you serve in the family. [01:13:09] (17 seconds)

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