Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE QUIET HEROES
Let’s just say it straight:
Ministry doesn’t happen because of one pastor or one worship team or one Sunday morning miracle.
Ministry happens because volunteers show up.
Faithfully.
Quietly.
Dependably.
Week after week.
No heavenly ninja squad descends at dawn to fold bulletins.
No angels show up at 5 a.m. to make coffee.
No archangel Gabriel runs sound.
Everything you see — and everything you don’t see — happens because of servants.
So today is a day of honor.
Today is a day of mahalo.
Today is a day of gratitude for the people who make ministry possible.
And this sermon has two goals:
1. To celebrate our volunteers — the heart and engine of this church.
2. To challenge the rest of us to step onto the field and join them.
Let’s dive in.
POINT 1: VOLUNTEERS REFLECT THE HEART OF JESUS
Jesus didn’t come flexing.
He came serving.
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
Serving is not a side ministry — it’s the model of Jesus Himself.
When you serve in any ministry…
• You look like Him.
• You act like Him.
• You represent Him.
Illustration: “The Invisible Crew of Football”
Watching a football game, you see the players, coaches, refs, fans.
But you rarely notice:
• equipment managers
• trainers
• hydration crew
• ball boys
• the people who paint the field
• security
• the tech crew
Without them, the whole thing collapses.
Our volunteers — YOU — are that invisible crew.
You’re not behind the scenes — you’re behind the success.
POINT 2: YOUR SERVICE MATTERS MORE THAN YOU KNOW
Sometimes volunteers think,
“I’m just helping with kids…”
“I’m just setting up chairs…”
“I’m just making coffee…”
No. No “just” in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 25:40 “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.”
God sees spiritual value where the world sees nothing.
God sees spiritual value where the world sees nothing.
Illustration: “The Soundboard”
Most people never notice the sound booth.
No spotlight. No applause. Just buttons, sliders, and cables.
But if one channel is muted…If one cable is unplugged…If one volunteer doesn’t show up…Suddenly everything is off.
Listen, your serving might feel unnoticed.
One button pushed. One cable wrapped.
One quiet prayer before service.
But God is using every small act to make sure the Gospel is heard loud and clear.
Every smile you give.
Every lesson you teach.
Every diaper you change.
Every bulletin you hand out.
It may feel invisible to people—
but to God, it’s essential to the mission.
POINT 3: GOD USES ORDINARY SERVANTS TO DO EXTRAORDINARY WORK
Jesus didn’t recruit polished professionals.
He chose fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, everyday folks.
Same today. You don’t need a degree to serve. You don’t need perfection.
You don’t need pedigree. You just need to say, “Here am I, Lord. Use me.”
1 Corinthians 12:18 “God has placed each part of the body just as He wanted them to be.”
If you’re serving today: You’re not filling a slot. You’re fulfilling a calling.
God placed you there — on purpose.
Illustration: “The Lighthouse Keeper”
A lighthouse keeper used every drop of oil he had to keep the light burning — even when no ships came by. Why?
Because one night… somebody would need it.
Volunteers serve the same way:
You show up even when you don’t see results.
Because you know someone needs Jesus today.
POINT 4: SERVING IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY
Volunteering is rewarding — yes. Volunteering builds friendships — yes. Volunteering fuels purpose — yes.
But volunteering also means:
Running late
Getting tired
Getting stretched
Being tested
And sometimes thinking, “Oh Lord… why am I doing this again?”
Even the Apostle Paul knew serving was tiring.
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good…”
God doesn’t say serving won’t make you tired.
He says DON’T QUIT.
Illustration: “CrossFit Exhaustion”
You ever watch someone after a CrossFit work out?
They’re on the floor questioning every decision that led them there.
Some volunteers look like that spiritually — giving everything until the tank is empty.
But burnout is not a badge of honor.
It’s a warning signal.
God doesn’t want you exhausted.
He wants you effective.
Serving is meant to be done with God’s strength — not human hustle.
POINT 5: SERVING WITH EXCELLENCE HONORS JESUS
Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…”
Notice it doesn’t say,
“Do it halfway,”
“Do it if you feel like it,”
“Do it unless the kids ministry scares you.”
It says — do it with all your heart.
Not perfection.
Excellence.
Illustration: “The Coffee Shop Loyalty Card”
You ever get one of those punch cards at a coffee shop?
Buy 9 coffees, get the 10th free.
Heaven has no punch cards…
but God keeps track better than your favorite cafe.
Every unseen act — He sees.
Every sacrifice — He remembers.
Nothing you do for Jesus is wasted.
POINT 6: VOLUNTEERS DESERVE HONOR BECAUSE GOD HONORS THEM
Romans 13:7 “Give honor to whom honor is due.”
Well guess what?
Honor is due today.
To every volunteer who showed up when tired…
To every volunteer who served through heartbreak…
To every volunteer who rearranged their schedule…
To every volunteer who worked behind the scenes…
To every volunteer who prayed, loved, gave, carried, cleaned, taught, served…
Mahalo.
From the bottom of my heart — mahalo.
You are the backbone of this church.
Illustration: “The Wrestling Team’s Workhorses’
When I coached wrestling, the team stars were great —
but the workhorses were the heart of the team.
The ones who never quit.
The ones who lifted teammates up.
The ones who showed up even when nobody noticed.
Every church volunteer is a workhorse for the Kingdom.
You carry weight others don’t see.
You push the mission forward.
You strengthen the whole team.
And today — we honor that.
POINT 7: TO EVERYONE NOT SERVING YET — THE TEAM NEEDS YOU
This sermon isn’t just a “high five volunteers” Sunday.
This is also a call.
God didn’t save anyone to sit comfortably, critique chairs, and consume ministry.
He saved us to serve.
Not everyone is called to preach.
Not everyone is called to lead worship.
Not everyone is called to kids’ ministry.
But everyone is called to something.
Illustration: “Paddling”
In paddling,
If only two people paddle, the canoe moves — but slowly.
If four paddle, it moves faster.
If six paddle, it flies.
Church, we need more paddles in the water.
The mission expands when the volunteers expand.
Conclusion:
This church does not move without volunteers.
This church does not thrive without servants.
This church does not grow without laborers.
Today we honor you.
We appreciate you.
We love you.
We see you.
And more importantly —
God sees you.
Every act of service has eternal ripple effects.
Every. Single. One.
To our volunteers:
You are the heroes of this house.
You reflect Jesus in ways sermons never could.
Mahalo for serving with heart, humility, and excellence.
To everyone else:
Pick up a towel.
Grab a paddle.
Join the crew.
God is calling — answer with a joyful yes.
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:
1. Where am I currently serving Jesus with my whole heart—and where have I been holding back out of comfort, fear, or busyness?
2. If every act of service is ultimately for the Lord, how would my attitude change this week if I truly believed God sees everything I do?
3. What is one specific way God is inviting me to step up, pick up a towel, and serve His church—and what is my next obedient step?
