Sitting and Serving (Those Who Dream Part 6)
Sitting and Serving: The Beauty of Resurrection Life
At the heart of the gospel is a transformative truth: when we encounter Jesus, we are changed. Our lives take on new meaning, our desires shift, and our priorities align with God’s purposes. As a church family, we've been exploring what it means to dream again—not with dreams of self-promotion, but dreams birthed from heaven.
The message of “Those Who Dream” reminds us that while we all carry dreams for our lives, the greater invitation is to ask, “What are God's dreams?” What would it look like to set aside our own ambitions for a moment and ask Him how we can serve His vision here and now?
Martha, Mary, and the Dream of God
In Luke 10:38–42 (ESV), we meet two sisters—Mary and Martha:
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving…” (vv. 38–40)
We often read this story and feel that Martha gets the short end of the stick. But Jesus doesn’t rebuke her desire to serve—He addresses the anxiety beneath her activity. Her heart was good, but it needed to be grounded in His presence.
The lesson? Before we serve, we must sit. Before we act, we must listen. Jesus invites us to a life that begins not with performance, but presence.
Serving After the Resurrection
Later, in John 12, after Jesus raises their brother Lazarus from the dead, the sisters host Him again:
“So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table.” (John 12:2 ESV)
Martha is still serving—but now it’s different. It’s not anxious, not striving. This is service on the other side of resurrection. It’s worship. It’s joy. It’s the fruit of knowing Jesus deeply.
Mary, too, worships extravagantly in this story, pouring out perfume worth a year’s wages on Jesus’ feet. The text says, “The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John 12:3 ESV). Her worship was costly, yes—but it led to a corporate encounter with the presence of God.
When generosity and serving collide, they set the table for encounter.
The Gospel: Not Earned, But Received
At the center of this vision is the gospel—the good news that we are not made right with God by our own effort, but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
“None is righteous, no, not one… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:10, 23–24 ESV)
This gospel liberates us from self-improvement projects and performance religion. It frees us to become joyful, faithful servants, motivated not by guilt, but by grace.
A Call to Build with God
In this season, our church is leaning into four dreams God has placed on our hearts—dreams that represent ways we believe we are being called to serve our city:
Serving the Least: Walking with those experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake City, just as we did with James and Sherry, a couple God led to our doorstep who are now off the streets and encountering resurrection life.
Serving the University: Investing in the next generation by supporting a full-time college pastor and relaunching a discipleship school at the University of Utah.
Serving Our Kids: Creating dedicated spaces for children to encounter Jesus through safe, loving, and spirit-filled environments.
Serving the Sound: Producing original worship music birthed from the soil of Utah, stewarding the prophetic word that a new song would rise from this region.
We believe these dreams aren’t just noble causes—they’re the very heartbeat of Jesus for our city. They are dreams that require high courage, high sacrifice, and a whole lot of faith.
Not Just Because "It's There"
At the end of his famous speech in 1962, President John F. Kennedy said the reason for going to the moon was "because it is there." But our reason for pursuing God’s dreams is far deeper.
We serve, give, and sacrifice—not because the needs are simply “there,” but because Jesus is worth it. Because we’ve encountered resurrection life, and now we long to set the table of encounter for others.
Like Mary and Martha, we’re learning to sit at Jesus’ feet—and then, out of that place, to serve with joy.
Reflect and Respond
What dream of God are you being invited to serve in this season?
Are there areas in your life where you're serving from striving instead of from resurrection life?
How can you create space in your week to sit at the feet of Jesus and simply listen?
Let this be a season where you encounter Jesus afresh—and where your life becomes a fragrant offering for others to encounter Him, too.