The Purpose of The Church: Service
Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, Discipleship
5) The Purpose of The Church- Service
6) The Purpose of The Church- Evangelism
David Jeremiah said: “I’m sure it would surprise you that many times I don’t feel like preaching to you on Sunday. I’m tired. Maybe I’ve had a busy week, or I’m not feeling good physically, but you know what, one of the most wonderful things in the world about being a preacher is to stand up here and feel weak and know that the Holy Spirit has filled you with his power. How many of you know that if you only ever do the things you think you can do, you will never do the things God called you to do?”
So, listen: “It’s not about what you think you can do; it’s what God’s called you to do, and everyone has a calling on their life. God did not call you to be a bench warmer, he called you to get in the game, and I promise you this Church really needs you in the game right now.”
You might say I can’t do this and you’re correct you can’t but God can through you with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Another post by Dr David Jeremiah said, “When your strength Falls short God does not. The Holy Spirit is our helper, providing the strength we need for every challenge and every season. Lean on him today!
The Holy Spirit was sent to us as a helper he comes to strengthen us when you feel weak ask the Lord to impart His strength.”
Romans 12:1-8 (NKJV) 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
As we said last week with the analogy of the baseball team, we need to get people to go from 1st base (saved) to 2nd base (separation) to 3rd base (commitment to service)
We need to intentionally do things that help Christians become more Christ-like.
So how do you do that? He goes on in Romans 12, verse 2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, clear-minded as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
We have seen Fellowship and Discipleship that tell us we’re all in some form of ship and in God’s Navy
Max Lucado “The Grip of Grace.”
Rocking the Boat
God has enlisted us in his navy and placed us on his ship. The boat has one purpose—to carry us safely to the other shore.
This is no cruise ship; it’s a battleship. We are not called to a life of leisure; we are called to a life of service. Each of us has a different task. Some, concerned with those who are drowning, are snatching people from the water. Others are occupied with the enemy, so they man the cannons of prayer and worship. Still others devote themselves to the crew, feeding and training the crew members.
Though different, we are the same. Each can tell of a personal encounter with the captain, for each has received a personal call. He found us among the shanties of the seaport and invited us to follow him. Our faith was born at the sight of his fondness, and so we went.
We each followed him across the gangplank of his grace onto the same boat. There is one captain and one destination. Though the battle is aggressive, the boat is safe, for our captain is God. The ship will not sink. For that, there is no concern.
There is concern, however, regarding the disharmony of the crew. When we first boarded, we assumed the crew was made up of others like us. But as we’ve wandered these decks, we’ve encountered curious converts with curious appearances. Some wear uniforms we’ve never seen, sporting styles we’ve never witnessed. “Why do you look the way you do?” we ask them.
“Funny,” they reply. “We were about to ask the same of you.”
The variety of dress is not nearly as disturbing as the plethora of opinions. There is a group, for example, who clusters every morning for serious study. They promote rigid discipline and somber expressions. “Serving the captain is serious business,” they explain. It’s no coincidence that they tend to congregate around the stern.
There is another regiment deeply devoted to prayer. Not only do they believe in prayer, but they also believe in prayer by kneeling. For that reason, you always know where to locate them; they are at the bow of the ship.
And then there are a few who staunchly believe real wine should be used in the Lord’s Supper. You’ll find them on the port side.
Still another group has positioned themselves near the engine. They spend hours examining the nuts and bolts of the boat. They’ve been known to go below deck and not come up for days. They are occasionally criticized by those who linger on the top deck, feeling the wind in their hair and the sun on their face. “It’s not what you learn,” those topsiders argue. “It’s what you feel that matters.”
And, oh, how we tend to cluster.
Some think once you’re on the boat, you can’t get off. Others say you’d be foolish to go overboard, but the choice is yours.
Some believe you volunteer for service; others believe you were destined for the service before the ship was even built.
Some predict a storm of great tribulation will strike before we dock; others say it won’t hit until we are safely ashore.
There are those who speak to the captain in a personal language. There are those who think such languages are extinct.
There are those who think the officers should wear robes, there are those who think there should be no officers at all, and there are those who think we are all officers and should all wear robes.
And, oh, how we tend to cluster.
And then there is the issue of the weekly meeting at which the captain is thanked, and his words are read. All agree on its importance, but few agree on its nature. Some want it loud; others quiet. Some want ritual, others impulsiveness. Some want to celebrate so they can meditate; others meditate so they can celebrate. Some want a meeting for those who’ve gone overboard. Others want to reach those overboard but without going overboard and neglecting those on board.
And, oh, how we tend to cluster.
The consequence is a rocky boat. There is trouble on deck. Fights have broken out. Sailors have refused to speak to each other. There have even been times when one group refused to acknowledge the presence of others on the ship. Most tragically, some adrift at sea have chosen not to board the boat because of the quarreling of the sailors.
“What do we do?” we’d like to ask the captain. “How can there be harmony on the ship?” We don’t have to go far to find the answer.
On the last night of his life, Jesus prayed a prayer that stands as a citadel for all Christians:
I pray for these followers, but I am also praying for all those who will believe in me because of their teaching. Father, I pray that they can be one. As you are in me and I am in you, I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. (John 17:20)
How precious are these words. Jesus, knowing the end is near, prays one final time for his followers. Striking, isn’t it, that he prayed not for their success, their safety, or their happiness? He prayed for their unity. He prayed that they would love each other.
As he prayed for them, he also prayed for “those who will believe because of their teaching.” That means us! In his last prayer, Jesus prayed that you and I be one.
INTRODUCTION
As we have looked at the question “What is the Purpose of the Church, we can identify these areas that should be included in the purpose of the church: worship, prayer, fellowship, discipleship.
I want to look at an area that a lot of churches struggle with. It is an area that, if neglected it will make the church and those who are a part of it become self-centered. That is SERVICE.
One of the purposes of the church is to serve, to minister. We sometimes call specific areas of service ministries. The church is called to minister to people. It is called to serve people.
Oswald Chambers said:
“One of the worst traps a Christian can fall into is to become obsessed with his own exceptional moments of inspiration”.
Our service is not about us it’s about helping others Do we benefit from it very much so!
When we forget we are called to service, we then change our focus from “What does God want us to do in order to carry out His mission?” to “I want what I want.”
Listen, Chuck Swindoll says: “The godly life is never easy. Rewarding? Yes! Worthwhile? A thousand times yes!”
IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU OR ME!
Service is an area that many times we excuse ourselves from because we think that someone else will do it.
This is a story about four people named Everybody.
Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when
Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
When we were building Calvary Baptist of Powder Springs, we had 1 real big rule Ben Turner put in place, and that was if you don’t like the way someone is doing something, then you do it. If you can do it better, and if not, take advice from the librarian and be quiet and know, sometimes you’re the only Bible some people will ever read.
Chuck Swindoll said: “Never stop reading never stop studying never stop learning Your mind needs to keep growing to stay healthy for the service of others!”
It doesn’t matter how old you are, King Solomon said:
Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
In other words, Solomon is saying in your youth, enjoy your life and have fun, bring joy to others, but make the kind of choices that in the end you won’t regret or be sorry for. Have fun, but don’t forget what’s ahead…
I messed up so many times and I did stupid stuff and I had to pay for it and I’m begging be careful with what you do with your life today’cause it’s gonna make a difference tomorrow
EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A SERVANT (MINISTER) Verses 1-2
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, (to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), entreat, pray.) brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. service 4 divine service 1 [Total Count: 5] from <G3000> (latreuo); aid of God, i.e. worship :- (divine) service.
David Jeremiah said, “Someone once told me that the hardest thing about being a Christian is that it’s so daily. Isn’t that the truth? It’s so daily; every day you gotta get up and do it over again. But here’s the good news: it’s daily, but the eternal spirit of God lives within your heart, and he enables you to do what you couldn’t do. We preach the gospel with our lips, but we picture the gospel with our lives. People need to see Jesus Christ in us.”
He then says, “brethren” = Christians, ’cause He’s talking to the church of Rome. He’s talking to the world, not just the Jews. John 3:16 says the world, not just the Jews.
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Holy = blameless
“which is your reasonable service.” What is required
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Matthew 20:26-28 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave– 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus came to serve
What is a “minister”?
A minister is a servant.
The word that is translated “minister” is also the same word that is translated “deacon”. NT:1249 diakonos (dee-ak’-on-os); probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands; compare NT:1377); an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess):KJV – deacon, minister, NKJV servant.
We are called to serve God in some way because of what He has done for us.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
By the renewing of your mind By changing what’s in your head, and with that your heart will follow
1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
We are all called to serve God in some way.
Ephesians 4:11-13 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (As we’ve said Pastor is a sheepherder or shepherd. This is the first time the word was ever used and translated to pastor.) 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Church, you need to be united.
Acts 2:46-47 ) 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Philippians 2:1-5 (NLT2) 1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:1-5 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Aaron and Hur.
Ex 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
I’m a better Aaron or Hur than I am a Moses
The church leadership, ministers, and teachers are the ones who help prepare people for ministry.
This work of service can be translated as work of ministry.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
In what ways are you serving Jesus?
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was interviewed near the close of his life. This is what he said: “God had all there was of me. There have been others who had greater plans, greater opportunities than I; but from the day I got a vision of what God could do, I made up my mind God would have all there was of William Booth.”
Does He (God) have all of you?
Ministry is using whatever God has given me to serve Him and the needs of others.
You see a prime example of that with David Henderson building handicap ramps and other such things. I see the ladies of this church helping and supporting and lifting each other, picking up Claudia or going to get Cassie and doing things like that. Man, it just touches my heart
EVERY MINISTRY IS IMPORTANT
1 Corinthians 12:15-22 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
If God placed you here, then he has something for you to do. Each member as He wants. If God placed you, then you are important.
All parts of the body are important
If one quits working, then the others have to work hard to compensate.
The size of the ministry is not important.
What is the most important light in the house?
The little night light that keeps you from killing yourself in the middle of the night when you head for the refrigerator.
That takes me to something that I want to share again from my book, which is about my friend and prayer partner, Tim Croft. About what he shared that his Dad said to one of the guys who works for him: “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.” Mr. Croft took a moment of his time to minister to this man walking in that office, with an effort to lead him to the Lord
That reminded me of the late Rich Mullins being interviewed by Shelia Walsh; he said, “God loves me very much; as a matter of fact, God is crazy about me, and I don’t understand why”. He then said, “you go to your friends that have kids in their home, and they have those really horrible scribblings on their refrigerators that their kids do, and they are really proud of them and you look at them and you say what, how would you possibly put that up in front of people for them to see?” Then Shelia Walsh said laughing “you can tell that you don’t have children”, and then Rich Mullins said something that I really loved he said, “right you can, you can tell I don’t but you can also tell that God does,” he goes on to explain that some people think that they are going to be the next Van Gogh, with their Christian walk, for God to put their work up on His refrigerator, They are doing what they do just for the recognition but God accepts even our scribbling, as long as it’s our best as long as we try to please Him. You put this stuff up for all to see because you love your children and their efforts. It doesn’t have to be great; it just has to be done by someone whom we love and who loves us.
Pastors are not so much your gift or prize, as much as you are their prize.
Or we would be ministering to pews. And empty seats. A preacher, a true preacher, has to do this. You are giving us an opportunity to do what God’s called us to do. You owe us nothing, and we owe you everything.
I believe, not all but some preachers out there are the ones that think they are the great artist such as Van Gogh, they think they are because it seems that every sermon needs to be up on God’s refrigerator, I can tell when they have to be posted on Facebook and other social media sights Bragging about what they’ve done they need to understand it’s not what they’ve done but it’s what Christ has done through them. I don’t mean the websites that put the sermon notes up for small group discussion or the Facebook link that takes you to the sermon of the day; I’m talking about the proud, pompous preacher. Did you see what I did there? It all started with the same letter, “P”? I am not a fan of sermons where all points have to start with the same letter. Even if they don’t make sense, I was told after I announced my call to preach that I need to buy a thesaurus. I’m not going to do that. My mentor, Reverend Ben Turner, told me that if they come naturally, then fine, but if you have to make up a point or use a word that no one knows, then don’t do it. (It’s called Alliteration; just thought I would let you know I know what it was called.) So, let’s get back on point.
I believe that Rich Mullins is correct: God wants our efforts. He at least wants you to try.
The one who volunteers to help in the parking lot, helping to get people in from the parking lot. Or picking people up and bringing them to church
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The one opening the door on Sunday mornings, greeting people as they come in. Or sitting out there and passing out bulletins
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The one that helps people find a seat in the church. Sit with them and make them comfortable. Again, I go back to saying: invite people to come sit with you. Don’t invite them just to come to church; invite them to come and sit with you, and then you sit with them. Make them feel at home
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The one that takes up the offering.
The people in the sound room or running a camera and screens.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The people in the choir or praise band.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The one who helps set up the pulpit area or get the stool for the preacher who can’t stand long.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The Pastor, Preacher, Sunday School teacher. Small group teacher. The youth Pastor or Teacher. They spend their time selflessly for you without an ounce of pay
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The office workers who make sure the power bill is paid. Or bulletins are printed.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
Everyone behind the scenes, who sweeps the floor, cleans the bathrooms, vacuums the floor, or dusts, cleans the glass windows and doors, and makes sure the grass is cut and the lawn looks good.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
Last week, I looked at the man who’s leading this church right now and watched him take out the garbage. If I were physically able he would not have had to do that. He’s not too big to do the small things.
That one goes up on the refrigerator
Ben Turner cleaning up after a wedding…
The person who drops a card in the mail to encourage someone.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The one who fixed that snack for the small group or Sunday Night Fellowship. Sent that meal to someone in need, handed that one in need some money, or mailed it to them.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The one who is not able to be at church but prays for the services, weeps over the prayer request, and calls out the Preachers name in prayer at 4 in the morning.
That one goes up on God’s refrigerator!
I hope that you are getting this. Your efforts for the service of God go up on God’s refrigerator! He cares for you that much. Show him you care to. That Is Service.
I once was asked what did I think God would say to me when I get to heaven, and I told of an interview with Billy Graham, and that very question was asked of him, and he said, “I know what I want to hear but, I know I won’t hear it, and that is “Well done my good and faithful servant”, but I know I won’t hear that because I have let Him down so many times.” Then I thought if Billy Graham is not going to hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant”, then the rest of us don’t have a chance of hearing it,
I think there’s gonna be a lot of preachers that are gonna be sorely disappointed when they get there, and they’re not up on the high rankings that they think what they do is higher Ranking because they’re the pastor or the preacher or the teacher. We are held to a higher standard and should be
I believe there will be people like my mom, who served for 28 years as just a lowly cook for kids in a children’s home, was a Sunday school teacher for oh so many years, and led a small group in a home study for years. People like that.
People like Miss Lucille, who served so faithfully, people like Miss Catherine, who served in that children’s home and played the church organ and running the business end of this place. Listen, that goes up on God’s refrigerator!
The people who never try to take a bow or say Look at me those are gonna be the ones at the front of the line those are gonna be the one that God notices Those are the ones whose pictures go up on Gods refrigerator.
So, I said, “I want God to say good try; at least you tried.” And I do try to please God and do what He wants, but again, as Billy Graham said, I have failed him so many times, and I thank Him for his forgiveness, His mercy, and His grace, which I don’t understand.
So, I wrote this just before Easter 2019.
I just got out of the hospital a week before, and they had me in a Hospice room because they honestly didn’t expect me to make it. They don’t know my God.
So, I wrote this:
I Don’t Understand
by E. DeWayne Swann
Written on Maundy Thursday 4/18/19
The preacher talked of mercy and how it was freely given,
The preacher talked of Grace and how Jesus took my place,
The preacher told of forgiveness and said all we had to do was ask,
A love that’s everlasting, A love that will forever last,
So, I bowed my head, and I asked Jesus into my heart,
He promised He would never leave me, and we would never part.
But,
I don’t understand that Mercy, And I don’t understand that Grace
I don’t understand why He died on that cross, and why that He took my place,
The number of times I’ve fallen, the number of times I’ve sinned
The number of times I’ve told him I’ll never do that again
And before the day is out,
I’ll do the same old thing,
And then I’ll ask for His forgiveness,
And He’ll gladly forgive me of my sin.
So,
I really don’t understand that Mercy, And I really don’t understand that Grace
I don’t understand why He died on that cross, and why He took my place,
I know His mercy is shared by each and every one,
I know His Grace is freely given to any who will ask,
God gave us the final sacrifice when He gave us His Son
He forgave us for all our sins, now and in the future, and any we have done,
It was freely given to all people like me and you,
The day that Jesus said Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
But,
I may never understand that Mercy, And I may never understand that Grace
I may never understand why He died on that cross, and why He took my place
One day I’ll surely see Him, and maybe I’ll understand.
When He put His arms around me with His nail-pierced hands,
When we walk the streets of glory,
And He tells that old, old story,
Of how that blood was shed for me,
Then maybe on that day I will see.
And then,
I might understand His Mercy, And I might understand His Grace
I might understand why He died on His cross, and why He had to take my place.
I truly thank him for His Mercy, And I truly thank him for His Grace
And I truly thank Him that He died on His cross, and that He took my place.
As we look at the purpose of service. I want to look at what we are to do to fulfill this purpose.
Romans 12:2 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
That the world can see what God is doing through you.
[That good …] This part of the verse might be rendered, that ye may investigate the will of God, or find out the Will of God, what is good, and perfect, and acceptable. The will of God relates to his commands in regard to our conduct, his doctrines in regard to our belief, and His providential dealings in relation to our external circumstances.
It means what God demands of us, in whatever way it may be made known. They do not go astray from his ways who seek his guidance, and who, not confiding in their own wisdom, but in God, commit their way to him.
“The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way,” Ps 25:9.
The word “good” here is not an adjective agreeing with “will,” but a noun. “That ye may find the will of God, It’s a thing, what is good and acceptable.” It implies that the thing which is good is his will, or that we may find his will by finding what is good and perfect. That is good, which promotes the honor of God and the interests of his universe.
[Acceptable] That which will be pleasing to God. or which he will approve. There is scarcely a more difficult text in the Bible than this, or one that is more full of meaning. It involves the main duty of religion to be separated from the world; and expresses the way in which that duty may be performed, and in which we may live so as to ascertain and do the will of God. If all Christians would obey this, religion would be everywhere honored. If all would separate from the vices and follies, the amusements and funs of the world, Christ would be glorified. If all were truly renewed in their minds, they would lose their relish for such things, and seeking only to do the will of God, they would not be slow to find it.
[Perfect] Free from defect, stain, or injury. That which has all its parts complete, or which is not disproportionate. Applied to religion, it means what is consistent, which is carried out; which is revealed in all the circumstances in life.
It’s not three different wills of God; it’s the progression of the will of God.
I was told one time that somebody was doing something they shouldn’t be doing.
They said, “Well, I am in God’s permissive will.”
And my reply to that was, so was Hitler. That doesn’t make it right.
We don’t want to be in his permissive will. Everything’s in his permissive will; He permits things that happen that shouldn’t, but it’s not what He wants. The Bible’s clear that no man should ever go to hell, but we know that hell is going to be full. That’s not God’s will.
Romans 12:3 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Mother: “Buy you for what you are worth and sell you for what you think you are worth.”
Proverbs 16:18-19 18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Romans 11:20-21 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty (high-minded), but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
VERSE 6! This passage shows us that it is important for each of us to use our gifts in service to Jesus.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Special gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon Christians for the purpose of building up the church. The list of spiritual gifts in 1 Cor 12:8-10 includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Similar lists appear in Eph 4:7-13 and Rom 12:3-8.
The apostle Paul indicated that these gifts are equally valid but not equally valuable. Their value is determined by their worth to the church. In dealing with this matter, he used the analogy of the human body. All members of the body have functions, Paul declared, but some are more important than others. The service of each Christian should be in proportion to the gifts which he possesses (1 Cor 12-14).
Since these gifts are gifts of grace, according to Paul, their use must be controlled by the principle of love-the greatest of all spiritual gifts (1 Cor 13). With Love.
The Greatest Gift
1 Corinthians 13
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Love each other… well You don’t know what they did. I DON’T CARE!!!
Your job is to Love one another… I’ve got a guy who’s put it in writing that he’s going to hate me till the day that I die. I don’t hate him. As a matter of fact, I love him, and I miss him, and if I didn’t love him, I couldn’t be here tonight doing this.
People sitting in the same church building won’t even talk to each other.
John 13:34-35 Jesus talking.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This is how we tell if you are of God.
John 15:11-14 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
These were my mother’s favorite verses:
1 John 4:7-11 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
You show the world God by the way you love one another.
EACH MINISTRY IS DEPENDENT ON THE OTHERS
our text:
Romans 12:4-5 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
1 Corinthians 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
What if those who are gifted in evangelism bring in a lot of people, but then we do not have people who are gifted in teaching or hospitality? After a while, we will either lose the new people or they will not grow in Christ.
1 Peter 4:10-11 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers (service), let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
When one part does not function, the rest of the body is affected.
OUR “SHAPE” SHOULD DETERMINE OUR MINISTRY. Verses 6-8
Do you wonder why God did not make us all the same? Why didn’t God give us all the same abilities? VERSE 6
Romans 12:6-8 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Psalm 139:13-16 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. RSV and NAS says hast covered = knit
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. He’s still working on me!
Wonderfully Made by Louise Rickman
I have a sweater I never wear. It’s too small. Some of the buttons are missing, and the thread is frazzled. I should throw it away. I’ll never wear it again. Logic says to clear out the space, get rid of the sweater. But love won’t let me.
What’s unusual about it? It wasn’t produced on an assembly line. It’s the creation of a devoted mother expressing her love. That sweater is unique. It’s one of a kind. It can’t be replaced. And although the sweater has lost all of its use, it’s lost none of its value.
That must have been what the psalmist had in mind when he wrote, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). You were knitted together. You aren’t an accident. You weren’t mass-produced. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth by the Master Craftsman.
God knows that each one of us is unique. There are also many different jobs that need to be done in order for the work of the kingdom to get done.
One of the greatest frustrations a person can have in trying to serve God is to be pushed into an area of service that we feel that we cannot do. Now, I do not want people to use this as an excuse for not reaching out to people or trying to stretch themselves. We are all to witness to people, although we will all do it a little differently.
As you look around us, you will notice that each of us has a different shape. Did you know that your ministry or area of service should be
determined by your SHAPE.
- Spiritual Gifts (How God has gifted me)
• Heart (passion): What do I love to do?
• Abilities (What natural talents do I have?)
• Personality (Where does my personality best suit me to serve?)
• Experience (What experiences have I had?) What has God brought you through? He didn’t bring you through it to do nothing with it.
Experience = 1) Education, 2) Vocational, 3) Spiritual, 4) Ministry. (how you have served in the past), 5) Painful (What problems, hurts, and trials have you learned from)
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.
As Randy sings, I thank God that He didn’t throw the clay away!
We are all different because God made us that way.
Your personality will affect how you use your spiritual gifts; your passion will affect what you place as important.
Too many times we go about things backwards. We feel that since we do not know what we are gifted in, we do nothing. We think that we can take a test to find out what our SHAPE really is. There are good Spiritual Gift tests out there, and every one I have taken comes back the same.
The best way to find out where your gifts, talents, and heart are is to serve in many different areas, and from that, you will settle into what you are good at.
I know my spiritual gift is not singing and if you hear me you will know my spiritual gift is not singing The only instrument that I can play is those drums upstairs now I don’t know that I can do that anymore So what are our gifts for God blessed us with our talents Use what God has given you That’s your reasonable service When I got knocked down on my back for a while I couldn’t teach my small group God opened a door for me to write and that’s when I wrote my first book I’m fixing to publish a second one and I have enough resources probably to put a 3rd one out and as a result of that first book I’ve seen a soul saved and it made it all well worth the effort
Ask those close to you. Those who see you in action. …People who take food to people will never get up and teach a lesson. There are people who pray daily for the church and the pastor, but you could never get to stand and testify to their faith. Does it mean they don’t love God? No, we all fit in different places.
CONCLUSION
If the church is not a church that focuses on serving others, what will happen is that you will become friendly to yourselves, you will take care of yourselves, and you will focus your resources on yourselves.
If, as a collective body of believers, we are not each focused on serving in some area of ministry, the whole body will be hurt.
If I have areas of ability that I will not use for the body of Christ, then I am hurting the body of Christ. For this body to function, we need each and every part of it to be functioning.
If you can sing, then get your end in the choir. If you can cook, bring good food on Sunday nights. How does my phone ring
God did not call us to sit on the bench, but He called us to find a position on the field and play the game.
What happens on a team when part of the team decides not to do its job?
It is my prayer that each and every member of the Church is an active part of the body, that each one of us is serving the body of Christ in some way.
Too many times, we sit back and want to be served, and then we complain about the service. Too many times, we feel sorry for ourselves. The best way to get out of that is to serve others. Remember that we are to be like Jesus. Jesus came to serve. He came to seek and save those who are lost.
1 Peter 4:7-11 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
If you want to show God how much you love Him and if you want to show Him how much you appreciate Him for all that he’s done for you. I don’t think God will mind if you serve the Lord. Serving the Lord is not to get saved, but because you are saved and you are His child. It is in the Word of God that we love Him. He says that man loves me, honors me, serves me, and keeps my word. So, if the word of God tells all of us to serve, yes, but you don’t do it to get to heaven. Because you’re going there. I believe that Christ died on that cross, and I believe he died for me, and I’m gonna trust him as my only hope of going to heaven, and God said if you’ll believe it, he’ll save you. It is so simple. Salvation is not cheap. God sent his son to pay for our sins; it wasn’t cheap. very expensive; He just made it free, and when you and I try to add one word to it, we cheapen it. That’s when you’re cheap in it: when you think that it wasn’t enough I better add something to it.
At the end of World War I, Herbert Hoover, later to become President of the United States, led the Allied relief efforts in Europe. He kept hundreds of thousands from starving, and a new word entered the Finnish language. In Finland, “Hoover” means to be kind, to help.
If someone coined a word from your name, what would it be? Would it signify character? Helpfulness? Cheerfulness? Or would it be some mean and ugly word?
What word most describes you and your service for God and this church, which is your reasonable service?
Pray
Calvary Baptist Church, July 19, 2026, PM
