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At times, the Lawyer household is like a ticking time bomb because all of our competitive spirits are engaged at the same time. It might happen when we're trying to pick a place to eat or determining who really buzzed in to give the answer in a game first. Sometimes it happens with who did the best job or even who's the most right.

It's kind of disheartening to even type that out; I have a very competitive spirit, so I know where they get it.

And so at times, it feels odd to bring that competitive spirit to church where the Word calls for gentleness, peace, and humility.

But recently Ray Ortlund brought to my awareness a passage that calls the church to be competitive with one another. I was listening.

Romans 12:10 says, "Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another." (CSB)

The ESV translation makes the competition even more clear: "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." 

Ortlund pointed out that to the best of his knowledge, it's the only place in Scripture where we're given a competitive command. A command to outperform, to do better, to win.

Y'all. It's on.

Each year in the month of May, our staff present to the best of their ability the volunteer needs they foresee needing over the next year. All of these opportunities are ways to serve within the ministries of Christ Community Church.

May 4th you'll hear about the need for adult group leaders and working with our teens.

May 11th you'll hear about the need in community kids.

May 18th you'll hear about a variety of needs for our Sunday gathering teams from coffee, to hospitality, to audio/visual, to cleaning, to worship leading, to van driving, to connecting with new faces, and more.

Here's what every volunteer need within the walls of Christ Community Church have in common.

It's a chance to compete. It's a chance to outdo one another in showing honor. To love one another well.

When you do the hard work of leading a group that includes logistics, and inviting people in, and preparing your heart in the word, it gives you the chance to honor the people who step into that.

When you invest in a teen, it gives you the chance to honor the effort their putting into growing their faith as well as encourage their parents!

When you sit and hold a baby, you get to honor the young mom who worked hard to get to church.

When you wrangle a small group of 10 year old boys, you honor them and the parents who have said their strength comes from the Lord!

When you hold the door open and smile and connect with someone on Sunday morning, you honor their very being.

When you serve with one of our teams that leads us on Sunday mornings, you honor the time of each person by helping us do our gospel-centered best.

When you arrive early and prepare coffee or clean the building, you honor and love those who gather to worship simply by saying doing this for you was more important than spending time doing something else.

So whether you're all but brand new or you've been around for a while and you need to change up how you're serving and honoring the body of believers you're a part of, get in the game. Outdo one another in showing honor. Love one another well.

Here's the encouraging part. It's our willingness to serve and love and honor one another well that spills over onto those far from Christ as we go outside. We learn to serve and honor and love one another within, so that as we go out, the love of Christ shines through. In other words, every volunteer opportunity we have within the walls is a part of the missional journey of joining Jesus in going out to make disciples!

As you hear the various opportunities over the next few weeks, ask the Lord to show you the right opportunity. Then take it. When the church competes in honoring one another, everyone wins.

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Each week you will have opportunities to respond to specific needs, at any time, you can respond in general by texting the word "SERVE" to 844-548-6405. This will put you in contact with us so that we can help you find your fit for outdoing one another in showing honor!