We don’t like going “all in.” Not at the poker table, not in life. It feels risky. What if I lose? What if I misread the situation? What if it costs too much?
But Jesus didn’t call us to play it safe. He called us to love people in an all-in kind of way. Here’s seven ways to do that:
1) Break the Cocoon
Faith Popcorn (yep, real name) wrote about America’s obsession with cocooning. Pulling the shades. Nesting at home. Netflix, DoorDash, AirPods… it’s all comfort-on-demand.
Problem is—Jesus didn’t cocoon. He stepped into the mess.
“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness…” (Isaiah 58:10, NLT)
When you break out of your cocoon and step into someone else’s need, the light of Jesus shows up.
2) Choose Discomfort on Purpose
Serving is uncomfortable. Always. It costs time, energy, maybe even money. But the Bible keeps pointing us back to this paradox: the uncomfortable path is often the most comforting one.
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” (Proverbs 3:27, NLT)
Comfort fades. But that moment of discomfort? God uses it to bring joy to someone else and grow something in you.
3) Make Someone Else’s Day Easier
Let’s be real—we all like ease. Nobody looks at a mountain of mulch in their driveway and says, “you know what would be fun? Carrying it by the shovel instead of using the wheelbarrow.”
If you love when life is easy, so does your neighbor. Which means loving them the way Jesus calls you to means making life easier for them.
Jesus summed it up:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31, NLT)
Ask: “How can I make this person’s day easier?” Then do that. It’s that simple.
4) Carry a Corner, Not the Whole Mat
Mark 2 tells this wild story: four friends carrying a paralyzed buddy to Jesus. The crowd was too big, so they climbed a roof, tore a hole, and lowered him down in front of Jesus.
Imagine if only one friend showed up that day. Impossible. But four together? They got it done.
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one falls, the other can reach out for help…” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, NLT)
Serving is hard. But it’s easier—and way more fun—when you carry your corner of the mat with other people.
5) Turn Your Stuff Into Love
We love our stuff. If you didn’t like it, you wouldn’t have bought it. But Jesus keeps pressing us: don’t let your stuff own you. Use it to love people.
Give away what you can. Share what you have. Open your hands.
Jesus said it like this:
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth… Store your treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19–20, NLT)
Your stuff won’t last anyway. But when you use it to serve, it echoes into eternity.
6) Let Your Light Shine Through Action
Last week we lit candles in worship as a symbol of God’s light in us. That’s not just church symbolism—it’s how serving actually works. People see Jesus when you act like Jesus.
“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16, NLT)
When you hand out water, help carry groceries, sit with the lonely, or love without strings—you’re literally holding up a lantern in someone’s darkness.
7) Schedule the Sacrifice
If it’s not on the calendar, it’s probably not happening. That’s why we do Go Big Day. One Saturday. Two hours. Matching shirts. 200 people serving across our community.
It’s not random—it’s intentional. We put it on the books because Jesus didn’t say, “Stay comfortable.” He said:
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19, NLT)
Serving isn’t a someday thing. It’s a scheduled thing.
Bottom Line
Serving will always cost you. Time, energy, comfort. But it’s never wasted. Because when you push all your chips forward—when you go all in—God multiplies it into something eternal.
Comfort fades. Serving shines.
Last modified: October 24, 2025
