Romans 12:11 – “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”
Mark 10:44 – “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”
On this blessed day of celebration dedicated to the ushers, and faithful servants of the Lord, we pause at this sacred desk to extend our deepest honor and heartfelt appreciation. We celebrate your unwavering commitment to God’s house and the vital role you play in advancing the ministry with excellence and grace.
As we punch in and go to work I must tell you that Church doesn’t just happen.
Ministry doesn’t move on its own.
Order doesn’t maintain itself. But instead behind every smooth worship service, every welcoming smile, and every prepared seat, there are people who quietly carry out the work of God.
And today, I want to talk to, and focus in a specific group of people who often get overlooked—the ushers and the servants of the house. Today, we’re going to say “Let’s Make It Happen!”
May I tell you that Ushers aren’t just people standing at the door to passing out fans, programs, and mints.
Instead they are actually the first line of ministry and the first line of defense. They are the gatekeepers of the sanctuary.
In the Bible, gatekeepers (also called porters or doorkeepers). These were individuals appointed to guard and manage access to the entrances of the temple, tabernacle, or city gates. Their roles were both practical and spiritual, serving to maintain order, holiness, and security.
They help establish order even before worship begins. And I can hear 1st Corinthians 14:40, backing me up “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Ushers help maintain that order. So when the service is flowing, and the Holy Spirit is moving, and everything seems seamless—it’s because someone made it happen behind the scenes.
They are the invisible hands, that are making visible things flow.
And let’s be real—it’s not always easy dealing with people, because people come in with attitudes. Children get restless. Someone didn’t get their usual seat.
But it is the usher that stands with grace and poise, and says with their presence, that “God still deserves order.”
1st point: We must understand that a usher position is one of the Heart of a Servant:
Jesus said in Mark 10:44, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”
That means greatness is not in your title—it’s in your towel.
In order for us to get a shout out of that statement, we must understand the function of a towel.
A towels job is to absorb moisture from surfaces, primarily the human body, dishes, or other objects. Sometimes the towel has to get into places that other materials don’t want to go. Sometimes the towel has to get down on the floor to wipe up the mess made by others.
And I know that there are different types of towels, that are designed for specific use, you have the bath towels, hand towels, dish towels, beach towels, etc.—but they all share the main purpose of is to absorb.
And usher I know that there are some days you have to absorb something you don’t want to, but that’s what a servant does.
And may I tell you that the usher with a heart to serve, is just as anointed as any other function in the ministry.
Whether you’re holding a door or holding a mic, or helping someone to their seat, if your heart is in it, God is pleased.
And when you do it Romans 12:11 says, do not be slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” That means when we are on our post we have to do it with passion, with urgency, and with joy!
Not dragging our feet but running to do His will!
Ushers should not be passive placeholders—they are active participants in the move of God.
2nd point: And may I tell you that there is Power of Showing Up:
Some people think the service starts when the preacher grabs the mic—but no, the service starts when the servants shows up.
Every usher that shows up early, every servant that stays late, every person that does the unnoticed work is saying, “Let’s Make It Happen.”
And when God sees that kind of attitude, He rewards it. That’s why Matthew 25:23 says,
“Well done, good and faithful servant… you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many.”
I know some of you may have felt overlooked and underappreciated, but God is about to elevate those who stayed faithful even behind the scenes.
3rd point: Being a servant doesn’t mean being a doormat—it means being God’s chosen vessel for order, peace, love, and structure.
Ushers don’t just work the door—they open the doors for miracles.
3. Being a servant doesn’t mean being a doormat—it means being God’s chosen vessel for order, peace, love, and structure.
Far too often, servanthood is misunderstood as weakness or low status. But in the Kingdom of God, a servant is not a doormat—they are a divine instrument in the hand of the Master. To serve is to walk in the same footsteps as Jesus, who said in (Matthew 20:28), “I did not come to be served, but to serve.
In the church, the role of an usher or servant is not merely about handing out programs, seating guests, or managing foot traffic. It’s about creating atmosphere, establishing order, and maintaining reverence—so that the Spirit of God can move freely.
When you stand at the door of the sanctuary, you’re not just watching for who walks in—you’re positioning yourself as the first line of spiritual contact.
You are greeting hearts that may be broken,
You are ministering to souls who are seeking healing, and spirits looking for hope.
Your smile could be the first sermon of the day. Your presence could settle chaos and make space for peace to reign.
And that reminds me of a story about an usher named Brother James at a small church in the country. He wasn’t flashy. He didn’t have a title. But he was faithful.
Every Sunday, rain or shine, he was there 45 minutes before service started. He walked the aisles, straightened hymn books, straightened the chairs and he tested the mics.
Brother James made sure the tissues were in place and fans were neatly stacked. It is said that no one ever really said thank you—but he did it anyway.
One Sunday, Brother James passed away unexpectedly. That morning, the church felt… off. The doors weren’t open on time. The fans were scattered. A visitor sat in the back and whispered, “Does someone usually greet people here?”
After the funeral, the pastor walked to the pulpit and said, “For years, someone quietly made it happen. We didn’t know how much he meant until his absence spoke louder than his presence ever did.”
The next Sunday, three young men joined the usher board and said, “We’re going to carry the mantle. Brother James didn’t just serve. He showed us how to make it happen.”
So as servants we need to take heed to Romans 12:11 – “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”
Mark 10:44 – “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”
Somebody Ought to say:
Let’s Make It Happen.
If you see a need—fill it.
If you feel called—show up.
If you want the glory—carry the towel.
Because when we serve with excellence, heaven responds with favor.
There was one more servant, who taught us how to serve and his name was Jesus Christ, in fact he gave his life serving.
The suffering servant
Everybody knew he was a servant:
Isaiah called him a servant.
Paul called him a servant.
The Apostle’s called him a servant.
The Disciples called him a servant.
Matthew called him a servant.
Philippians called him a servant.
Even Jesus himself said that he was a servant.
