Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Serving?

11 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Serving in the Bible

Discover 14 powerful Bible verses about serving. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential church & ministry topic.

11
Total Verses
2
Old Testament
9
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Serving

  1. 1
    Joshua 22:5
    But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Joshua 24:15
    And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Matthew 6:24
    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Matthew 20:28
    Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Mark 9:35
    And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Mark 10:45
    For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
    KJV
  7. 7
    John 12:26
    If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Romans 12:11
    Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
    KJV
  9. 9
    Galatians 5:13
    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
    KJV
  10. 10
    Ephesians 6:7
    With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
    KJV

Subtopics of Serving

serving god
serving god as a single person
serving in the military
serving one another
serving other gods
serving others

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Serving? (2 Verses)

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Serving? (9 Verses)

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Serving

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about serving. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about serving and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about serving is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on serving needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about serving with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about serving, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Serving?

You have studied 11 verses about serving. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about serving?
Discover 14 powerful Bible verses about serving. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential church & ministry topic. The Bible contains 11 key verses about serving spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about serving are there?
There are 11 key Bible verses about serving compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about serving?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about serving is Joshua 22:5 — "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in a..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about serving?
Serving is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 11 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Serving