Serving the Homeless

As a Denver church we serve together once a month. We are serving 150-200 homeless people tomorrow. From a financial perspective and a church growth perspective this is suicide. You miss an offering and you miss a worship service that could build momentum. So why are we doing this?

Because our mission is to worship God, grow together and serve the world. We live in a fast paced society and if we do not take something off of the normal church schedule, such as a worship service, then many who would serve will not serve because of a lack of time.

Because we grow when we serve. Jesus told us that the greatest among us will be the servant of all (Matthew 20). Serving others is a spiritual practice that moves our hearts from self-centeredness to other-centeredness. Serving therefore makes us more like our teacher – Jesus.

Because we see Jesus when we serve. Jesus said, “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” A friend of mine visited Mother Teresa many years ago. He told her he wanted to see Jesus. She put the head of a man with AIDS in this lap and said, “Meet Jesus.” He was never the same after that and now leads an organization that helps the poor all over the world.

Because it costs us something. One of the words for worship in the Bible is liturgia. It means “service.” We worship God when we serve. King David once said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord, my God, burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” Serving others is an act of worship that requires sacrifice. It is deep worship.

Because this weekend is Palm Sunday. We remember that Jesus road into Jerusalem to save those on the margins of society as well as those at its center. Most of those who laid palm branches before him were poor. We will celebrate Palm Sunday weekend by ministering to those Jesus spent the majority of his time with.

Because it makes us feel good. Few things are more satisfying in life than having someone who has had a hard life look you in the eyes and say, "thank you for taking the time to listen to me." What a great feeling!