What is your part in this congregation of God in Palmer?

Who do you think will win the Super Bowl this year? Will Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos win, or the Seattle Seahawks, the only NFL football team in the Pacific Northwest?

I ask that question because sports dominate the attention of people in our world today. Basketball, soccer, football, baseball and hockey draw tens of thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — people to arenas and stadiums to watch.

Sports are so much a part of our culture that most children participate in some kind of sports team. Soccer teams are popular around the U.S. In Alaska, more children play hockey than any place I’ve seen. And, of course, there are basketball and football and baseball leagues for children. If you talk to one of these children about their participation and ask, “What position do you play?” they can usually give you an answer. “I’m a forward or I play defense, or goalie. I’m a shortstop or a pitcher. I play running back or quarterback or linebacker. I’m a guard or a center.”

Children learn early on there are different positions on every team. Each position has a different role, and each position is important to the success of the whole team.

I point this out because it is good to ask, “What is my position, what is my part in God’s church?” St. John members, what is your part in this congregation of God in Palmer? Members of any congregation, what is your contribution to the work of God in that place as your congregation shares the love of Jesus?

Scripture instructs that each of us have a role or a position of importance in the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” It is God’s plan that each of us be involved in the work of Jesus’ church to share his love.

But in today’s world, people are so busy that often people look for places where there is low commitment and little expected. Many who go to church are so busy or they just don’t want to take on responsibility as a part of the church.

Jesus left heaven for us, lived his life for us, was tortured and executed for us and rose for us. Jesus acted in love so that we can live in that love and share that love. So he gives each of us a part or a role or a position in his body.

So, what your part in the body of Christ? Do you have gifts of serving or helping? Do you have abilities in leadership or administration? Are you good at comforting others or encouraging others? When we serve in the church, it is not really the church we are serving. The church is a tool of God to spread his love on this earth. When we use the gifts and abilities God give us, it is Jesus we are serving through his church.

God has a place for each us: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

Opinions expressed on the Faith page are the author’s and are not necessarily those of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, its staff or its parent company, Wick Communications Co. To submit a column or other news for the Faith page, send email to news@frontiersman.com, or call 352-2250.