The church should serve people in need because Jesus did. He went around doing good, healing the sick, and caring for the poor, and the early church followed his example. Christians throughout history have carried that love forward, from caring for the sick to fighting slavery. And when we serve others, it paves the way for the message of Jesus. The strongest proof of our faith is often not an argument but practical love.
Following Jesus’ Example
When Peter explained the gospel to Cornelius, he summarized Jesus’ ministry in a memorable way.
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Jesus didn’t just preach about God’s love. He showed it. He touched lepers, fed crowds, and welcomed people others ignored. So it’s no surprise that his followers did the same. In Acts 3, Peter and John met a man who had been unable to walk from birth and was begging at the temple gate. They didn’t have money to give him, but they had something better.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Peter and John addressed the man’s deeper need, not just his immediate one. Most of us can’t heal someone instantly, but we can look past symptoms to the underlying conditions of people’s pain and offer what we have: time, skills, friendship, and the hope of Jesus.
A History of Christian Compassion
The early church quickly became known for its care for the needy. Believers shared their possessions so that no one among them was in need (Acts 4:34), and they organized care for widows (Acts 6:1-6). In the centuries that followed, Christians founded hospitals, cared for abandoned infants, and served plague victims when others fled. Bible-believing Christians also led movements to abolish slavery and protect exploited women and children. John explains why love for God and love for people in need always go together.
1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Serving others doesn’t earn our salvation. We are saved by grace, but we are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Our care for people in need is evidence that God’s love has changed us. For more on how grace and good works fit together, see If I’m Saved By Grace, How Do My Works Fit In?
Service Paves the Way for the Gospel
When the church serves its community, people notice. Practical love often opens doors that arguments never could. Jesus put it this way.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The goal of our good deeds isn’t to make ourselves look good. It’s to point people to God. When we serve with no strings attached, people begin to ask why, and that creates opportunities to share the reason for our hope. You don’t need a big budget to start. Look around your neighborhood, workplace, or church for someone who needs help, and ask God to show you how you can serve.
The Takeaway
Why should the church serve people in need? Because Jesus went around doing good, and the early church followed his example. Christians have carried that compassion throughout history. When we serve others with practical love, we reflect God’s heart and pave the way for the message of Jesus.
