“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:8-11 (NIV)

Love – Grow – Serve. This is not merely a catchy phrase but a God-Word for our church – we cannot ignore it. We are not here for ourselves or for our own desires, but we are here to serve the Living God and to make His fame known. We are a part of a beautiful and treasured Body, which God loves and will never let out of sight. He has placed the Church to be a beacon of light to all who come in, His “Plan A” to reach this desperate world. There is no “Plan B”.

We have the privilege and honour of being planted in this house – our church – Urban Life. To be planted means to flourish and grow. To be planted means not only to draw from the rich soil, but also to pour back into the soil that nourishes you. To be planted means to live with purpose, to live with passion and to live for others. To be planted means to serve.

Serving goes far beyond the physical act and reaches into the spiritual. Serving is not about the action being done but about the heart by which is done. It is not a platform to perform or a stage to shout your own fame – serving in the Kingdom of God is an
opportunity to worship Him, to represent HIS glorious reputation and to love one another. Serving is loving. Serving is growing.
We are a people chosen by God, a Royal Priesthood, holy and dearly loved… and commanded to love one another. We are told to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and in Matthew 20:28 (ESV) it says, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve...” And Galatians 5:13 (ESV) is an incredible scripture – “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as opportunity for the flesh, but through love to serve one another.”