You Were Made For This | Gene Appel

How Serving Others Changes Everything What if the key to joy, meaning, and purpose wasn’t found in chasing more for yourself, but in pouring yourself out for others? In this inspiring message, Gene shares why the most fulfilling life is one where we serve. He opens with a childhood story of climbing onto a high diving board for the first time—nervous, anxious, ready to turn back—until the voices behind him shouted, “Just jump in!” That first leap turned into hours of exhilaration, and it became a picture of life: some things you’ll never know you love until you jump in and try. Serving others is one of those things. From trying guacamole and sushi for the first time to stepping into your calling to serve, the principle is the same: you won’t know the joy until you take the risk and dive in. This message explores what the Bible says about your identity and calling: In the Old Testament, priests had the special role of representing people to God and teaching God’s Word. But after Jesus came, that calling expanded to every believer. 1 Peter 2 calls us “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” You don’t need a collar, title, or degree—if you follow Jesus, you’ve been given a new identity. Serving isn’t optional or part-time. There’s no such thing as a “part-time Christian.” Your baptism was your ordination into a life of service, wherever God has placed you—in your job, your neighborhood, or through volunteering at church. Real-life stories of serving: -Nursery workers hold babies so parents can hear about hope. -Students find mentors who walk with them through depression, divorce, and doubt. -Tech crews run lights, sound, and cameras so services can reach people across the world. Who does things like this? People who understand that rescued people rescue people—one life at a time. Gene also reminds us that even the smallest acts of service ripple outward. A drummer, a greeter, a camera operator, a small group leader—they are all “preaching the gospel” in their own way. Serving becomes a living sermon without words. Jesus’ unforgettable example: In John 13, hours before His arrest, Jesus shocked His disciples by picking up a towel and basin to wash their dirty feet—a job reserved for the lowest servant. At the moment He could have demanded honor, He chose humility. He washed the feet of the one who would betray Him, the one who would deny Him, and the ones who would abandon Him. At His greatest hour, Jesus was serving. Why serving matters for you: Studies show that people who volunteer live longer and healthier lives. Serving benefits your soul as much as those you serve. Trips to Kenya, Thailand, and Mexico showed hundreds of volunteers that serving others—eating unfamiliar food, giving up comfort, helping strangers—can actually be one of the best experiences of life. Serving takes your focus off status, possessions, and self-interest, and places it on people who matter to God. At the end of the day, serving is not about filling a church roster or checking off hours. It’s about stepping into the life God designed for you—the abundant, joyful life poured out for others. Maybe you’ve been standing on the edge, wondering if you should take the leap. Like that first time on the diving board, it feels high and scary. But behind you are voices cheering: “Jump! Just jump in!” So what about you? What gifts has God placed in you that you haven’t used yet? Where might you step into serving—guest services, kids, students, music, production, compassion, or simply helping where there’s need? What’s holding you back from the full life that comes when you serve? Don’t miss the thrill of letting God use your life to rescue others. Don’t go to your grave without that experience. Take the leap. Jump in. Serve. Scripture References: 1 Peter 2:4–9 | Royal priesthood, new identity 1 Peter 4:10 | Use your gifts to serve others 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 | Different gifts, same Spirit Acts 2:38 | Repent, be baptized, receive the Spirit John 13 | Jesus washes His disciples’ feet 👉 Serving isn’t something you have to do. It’s something you get to do. And it changes everything. For more information about Eastside Christian Church: 🌐 Website: https://eastside.com Connect with us: 👨🏾‍💻 Online Community: https://eastsideol.com/online 🎁 New to Eastside? Free gift: https://eastsideol.com/link 🙏 Need Prayer? Our team is available: https://eastsideol.com/pray 💌 Subscribe to e-news: https://eastside.com/enews 💙 Facebook:   / eastsidecc   📸 Instagram:   / eastside_cc   📖 Share your story at https://eastside.com/stories/ Take Your Next Step 👋 Join In Person: https://eastside.com/visit/ 🏆 Learn About Volunteering: https://eastside.com/volunteer/ 🧰Join a small group: https://eastside.com/groups 💧 Learn about baptism: https://eastside.com/baptism/ #ServeLikeJesus #ILoveToServe #YouWereMadeForThis