You Have Received So Much. Now — How Do You Give Back?

It is one of the most common patterns in church life. A new believer comes to faith. They begin attending church. They receive teaching, community, encouragement, and care. And then, somewhere along the way, they get stuck — receiving from the church week after week, but never quite finding their way into giving back.

Sometimes it is hesitation. Sometimes it is a sense of inadequacy. Sometimes it is simply not knowing where to start, or whether they have anything worth offering. But the result is the same: a Christian who is growing in some ways but missing something essential — the joy and transformation that comes from serving others in the name of Jesus.

In Service: How Do I Give Back?, Mez McConnell addresses this gap with the directness, warmth, and narrative richness that have made him one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Christian writing. Drawing from the grand story of following King Jesus as his servant-disciples, and seasoning every chapter with real narrative examples, McConnell provides practical steps for believers — especially newer or non-churched believers — to overcome their hesitations, discover their spiritual gifts, and begin serving from a gospel motivation that will sustain them for the long haul.

As Gavin Ortlund notes, this is the first book he would recommend to pastors who need help encouraging their people to serve the church. And as Tim Chester observes, profound ideas are made simple and then applied with punch.

What This Book Covers

Mez McConnell works through the key convictions and practical steps that lead believers from passive receiving to active, joyful gospel service:

Why Christians get stuck — An honest, compassionate look at the hesitations, fears, and misunderstandings that keep believers on the sidelines
The servant-disciple identity — How following King Jesus is inseparable from a life of service to others
Discovering your spiritual gifts — Practical guidance for newer believers on identifying the gifts God has given them and how to begin using them
Serving from gospel motivation — Why the only service that lasts is service that flows from a deep grasp of what Christ has done, not from duty or guilt
Overcoming hesitations — Warm, direct encouragement for believers who feel inadequate, overlooked, or unsure where they fit
Narrative examples throughout — Real, relatable stories in every chapter that help readers place themselves in the story of discipleship and service
Practical next steps — Concrete, actionable guidance that makes it easy to move from understanding to doing

What Readers Will Learn

Why serving the church is not optional for growing Christians but an essential part of discipleship
How to identify their spiritual gifts and begin using them in the context of their local church
Why gospel motivation — serving because of what Christ has done, not to earn his favour — is the only foundation for sustainable, joyful service
How to overcome the hesitations and fears that keep many believers from getting involved
What it means to follow King Jesus as a servant-disciple, and how that identity shapes every area of life
How to move from passively receiving in church to actively contributing to the health and mission of the congregation
Why service is not a burden but one of the great joys and privileges of the Christian life

How to Use This Book

Service is practical, engaging, and immediately applicable:

Personal reading — Ideal for any Christian who has been receiving from the church but is ready to begin giving back
One-to-one discipleship — A natural next step resource for a mentor walking alongside a newer believer and helping them find their place in the church
New members classes — Helps new church members understand that membership involves not just receiving but active participation and service
Small group use — The narrative examples in each chapter make it a natural conversation starter for group reflection and discussion
Pastoral gift — The first book Gavin Ortlund would recommend to pastors wanting to encourage their people to serve — and a book leaders can confidently give to any member who is stuck on the sidelines

What Others Are Saying

"Service – How Do I Give Back? is a great introduction to what it means to live as a Christian. The key foundations for healthy service are presented in an engaging way. Time and again, profound ideas are made simple and then applied with punch." — Tim Chester, Pastor of Grace Church, Boroughbridge, Yorkshire

"Christians often get 'stuck' in their spiritual growth, receiving from the church without giving back. This helpful book provides practical steps for believers — especially non-churched and/or newer believers — to overcome their hesitations, discover their spiritual gifts, and serve from a gospel motivation. For pastors who need help encouraging their people to serve the church, this is the first book I'd recommend." — Gavin Ortlund, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Ojai, California & author of Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals and Finding the Right Hills to Die On

"The author seasons each chapter with narrative examples that allow readers to place themselves in the grand story of following King Jesus as his servant-disciples. This book is imminently practical, enjoyably readable, and pastorally helpful for making disciples and introducing people to Jesus." — Doug Logan, Director of the Diversity Initiative, Acts 29 & Co-director of Church in Hard Places

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for you if you are:

A newer or non-churched believer who has been attending church for a while but has not yet found your place in giving back
A church member who wants to serve but feels hesitant, inadequate, or unsure where to start
A pastor or church leader looking for a resource to help your congregation move from passive attendance to active, joyful participation
A discipleship mentor wanting a warm, practical guide to walk through with someone you are helping grow in their faith
Anyone who has ever thought: I know I should be serving — but I don't know how, or whether I have anything to offer

About the Author

Mez McConnell is the Senior Pastor of Niddrie Community Church in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the founder of 20schemes — a church planting and revitalisation ministry focused on reaching Scotland's most deprived communities with the gospel. He is the author of several books and is known for his unflinching honesty, narrative richness, and deep pastoral care for people on the margins. Mez brings to Service a voice shaped by decades of ministry among people who have been overlooked and written off — and a conviction that every believer, no matter their background or perceived inadequacy, has been given gifts to offer and a role to play in the body of Christ.

About the First Steps Series

Service is part of the First Steps series — a collection of short, accessible books designed specifically to help new Christians take their first steps in the faith with confidence and clarity. Each volume addresses a foundational question about the Christian life in a way that is warm, practical, and easy to engage with for someone brand new to following Jesus.

Other titles in the series include: