What Does the Bible Say About Serving In Church? 11 Powerful Verses

Galatians 6:10

ESVSo then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
KJVAs we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
NASBSo then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
NIVTherefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
NLTTherefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Acts 20:28

ESVPay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
KJVTake heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
NASB“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
NIVKeep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
NLT“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.

Also see Bible verses about God the Creator.

Psalm 100:2

ESVServe the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
KJVServe the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
NASBServe the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.
NIVWorship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
NLTWorship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.

Also see Bible verses about cursing.

1 Peter 4:10

ESVAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
KJVAs every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NASBAs each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NIVEach of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
NLTGod has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Also see Bible verses about dying to self.

Colossians 3:23

ESVWhatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
KJVAnd whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
NASBWhatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
NIVWhatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
NLTWork willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

2 Timothy 2:15

ESVDo your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
KJVStudy to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
NASBBe diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
NIVDo your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
NLTWork hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

Hebrews 13:17

ESVObey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
KJVObey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
NASBObey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
NIVHave confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
NLTObey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

Ephesians 4:12

ESVto equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
KJVFor the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
NASBfor the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
NIVto equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
NLTTheir responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

1 Timothy 4:14

ESVDo not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
KJVNeglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
NASBDo not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
NIVDo not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
NLTDo not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.

1 Peter 5:2

ESVshepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
KJVFeed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
NASBshepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
NIVBe shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
NLTCare for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

Galatians 5:13

ESVFor you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
KJVFor, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
NASBFor you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
NIVYou, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
NLTFor you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Daniel Isaiah Joseph

Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.

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