While preparing for this message, I couldn’t shake a short but powerful story found in Matthew 8. Jesus shows up at Peter’s house and finds his mother-in-law sick—not just a little under the weather, but bedridden with a fever. Back then, that kind of fever wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was dangerous. She was helpless and weak.

But then Jesus walks in. Matthew 8:15 (ESV) says, “He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.”

What a picture. She didn’t pause to recover. She didn’t throw a celebration or run down the street telling everyone. She simply got up and served. Why? Because the natural response to being touched by Jesus is service. When we’ve been healed, restored, saved, or set free—how can we not serve?

Serving isn’t a burden. It’s not a church chore. It’s an honour. It’s the overflow of a heart that’s been made whole. When we serve, we’re not checking off a task—we’re showing that we’ve been transformed. It’s not just something we do; it becomes who we are.

This principle is something my wife Carling and I try to model in our home. We jokingly compete to out-serve each other—our girls are still a work in progress, of course. But we want them to understand: love looks like service. Whether it’s cleaning, prepping lunches, or simply showing up for each other, it takes all hands on deck for a house to function.

And the same is true for God’s house.

Serving in the church builds trust, community, and unity. It shows that we’re all in this together. And what I love about Impact Church is that people here don’t serve to be seen—they serve because they care. They understand Proverbs 11:25, “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” There’s something beautiful about a culture where you pour out, and others pour back in.

But here’s a visual that really hit me recently. A few years ago, Carling and I went to Israel and visited the Dead Sea. You’ve probably seen pictures: it’s super salty and you can float effortlessly. But despite being full, it’s completely lifeless. Why? Because it has no outflow. It receives constantly, but never gives. It’s full—but dead.

Compare that with the Sea of Galilee, just north of it—vibrant, teeming with life, fish, and families. What’s the difference? The Sea of Galilee gives. It has an inflow and an outflow.

We’re not called to be spiritual reservoirs. We’re called to be rivers. John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” That means we receive—but we also release. We’re not meant to just be filled; we’re meant to overflow.

We serve because Jesus served. He didn’t just talk about it—He modeled it. The King of Kings got down on His knees and washed feet. In John 13, He wrapped a towel around His waist and served His disciples. Sweaty, dirty feet and all.

And let me say this clearly: We never graduate from serving. It’s not a stepping stone to something greater—it is the destination. Even as our influence grows, our towel should grow too. Leadership in the Kingdom is defined by how well you serve, not how many people serve you.

We want that heartbeat here at Impact. That’s why we say: Serving is our honour. We don’t serve for recognition. We serve because Jesus first served us. And we believe that what I’m part of is bigger than the part I play.

So whether you’re holding a door, leading worship, wiping a kid’s nose in nursery, or setting up chairs—know this: it matters. You may not see the full impact of your service right away, but someone’s life may be changed because you showed up and gave of yourself.

If you’re new or wondering how to get involved—grab a towel. Join a team. Step into something bigger than yourself. We’re not looking for perfect people—we’re looking for people who are willing. Because we believe that everyone has something to give.

Let’s be a church full of rivers—not reservoirs.