Embracing Our Role in God's Divine Plan

 

Summary

In our journey as Christians, it is crucial to understand our role within the larger framework of God's divine plan. We are not isolated individuals but integral parts of a grand edifice, the Church, which is the habitation of God. Our primary focus should not be on our personal experiences or what we can gain from Christianity, but rather on the privilege of our position within this holy structure. This perspective helps us avoid the pitfalls of individualism and self-centeredness, which often lead to unhappiness and spiritual failure. By recognizing our place in the larger scheme, we align ourselves with God's eternal purpose, which was established before the foundation of the world.

The Church's primary function is to glorify God and Jesus Christ. This is not about what we can receive from the Church but about what we can contribute to its mission. We are called to be the pillar and ground of the truth, holding forth the Word of God and living lives that reflect His glory. This responsibility is not limited to preachers or church leaders; every believer is a partaker in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. Our lives, actions, and words should consistently manifest the truth of the Gospel, serving as a testament to God's manifold wisdom.

Moreover, while we are part of a collective, each of us has a unique role to play. We must discover our specific calling and function within the body of Christ. This requires a balance between being and doing. It is essential to be grounded in our faith and understanding before engaging in activities. The danger of prioritizing action over spiritual maturity can lead to superficiality and burnout. True Christian service flows from a deep, personal relationship with God and an understanding of His Word.

Finally, our actions must be governed by love and unity. Even when correcting errors or defending the faith, our approach should be characterized by humility and a desire to win others to Christ, not merely to win arguments. Our ultimate aim is the glory of God, and this should guide all our interactions and endeavors within the Church.

Key Takeaways:

- Our identity as Christians is rooted in our position within the Church, the holy temple of God. This perspective shifts our focus from individual experiences to our collective purpose in God's eternal plan. [10:46]

- The Church's primary mission is to glorify God and Christ. This involves holding forth the truth and living lives that reflect His glory, a responsibility shared by all believers, not just church leaders. [17:18]

- Each believer has a unique role within the body of Christ. It is crucial to discover and fulfill this calling, ensuring that our actions are grounded in spiritual maturity and understanding. [26:35]

- Our actions and interactions within the Church should be governed by love and unity. Even in correction, our approach should be humble and aimed at winning others to Christ, not just winning arguments. [24:05]

- Prioritizing being over doing is essential for genuine Christian service. Spiritual maturity and understanding should precede action, preventing superficiality and ensuring that our service is rooted in a deep relationship with God. [30:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [09:04] - Understanding Our Role in the Church
- [10:46] - The Pitfalls of Individualism
- [12:12] - The Church's Purpose and Mission
- [13:17] - God's Eternal Plan for the Church
- [14:24] - Glorifying God and Christ
- [16:12] - The Church as the Pillar of Truth
- [17:46] - Shared Responsibility in the Gospel
- [19:35] - The Importance of Doctrine
- [21:11] - Representing the Gospel in Daily Life
- [23:36] - Unity and Love in Action
- [25:22] - Balancing Individual Roles
- [26:35] - Discovering Our Unique Calling
- [30:13] - Being Before Doing
- [33:03] - The Dangers of Activism Over Spirituality

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Timothy 3:15 - "If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth."
2. Philippians 1:7 - "It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel."
3. Jude 1:3 - "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Timothy 3:15, what is the role of the church in relation to truth? How does this align with the sermon's emphasis on the church's mission? [16:12]

2. In Philippians 1:7, Paul mentions the Philippians as partakers in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. How does this reflect the sermon's point about shared responsibility among believers? [17:46]

3. Jude 1:3 calls believers to "contend for the faith." How does this instruction relate to the sermon's discussion on the importance of doctrine and truth? [18:32]

4. What does the sermon suggest is the primary function of the church, and how does this compare to the individualistic approach often seen in modern Christianity? [14:24]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of the church as the "pillar and ground of the truth" challenge the way individuals might view their personal role within the church? [16:12]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity before engaging in church activities. How might this principle affect the way new believers are integrated into church life? [30:13]

3. In what ways does the sermon's call for love and unity in correction and defense of the faith provide a framework for addressing disagreements within the church? [24:05]

4. How does the sermon's perspective on prioritizing being over doing influence the understanding of Christian service and personal spiritual growth? [30:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current involvement in church activities. Are there areas where you might be prioritizing doing over being? How can you ensure your actions are grounded in spiritual maturity? [30:13]

2. Consider your role within the church. How can you contribute to the church's mission of glorifying God and Christ in a way that aligns with your unique calling? [26:35]

3. Think about a recent disagreement or correction you were involved in within the church. How did you approach it, and how might you incorporate more love and unity in future interactions? [24:05]

4. Identify a specific way you can help hold forth the truth of the Gospel in your daily life. What steps can you take to be a more effective representative of the Gospel? [21:26]

5. Reflect on your understanding of the church's purpose. How does viewing the church as a collective body rather than a place for personal gain change your perspective on church involvement? [14:24]

6. How can you balance your individual role with the collective mission of the church, ensuring that your contributions are both personal and aligned with the church's overall purpose? [25:22]

7. Consider a time when you felt disconnected from the church's mission. What steps can you take to realign yourself with God's eternal purpose for the church? [13:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Our Identity in the Church
In the Christian journey, understanding one's identity within the Church is paramount. Christians are not isolated individuals but are part of a larger, divine structure—the Church, which serves as the dwelling place of God. This perspective shifts the focus from personal experiences to a collective purpose within God's eternal plan. By recognizing this, believers can avoid the pitfalls of individualism and self-centeredness, which often lead to spiritual dissatisfaction and failure. Embracing one's role in the Church aligns a believer with God's purpose, established before the foundation of the world. [10:46]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

Reflection: How does viewing yourself as part of God's holy temple change the way you approach your daily interactions and decisions?


Day 2: Glorifying God and Christ
The Church's primary mission is to glorify God and Jesus Christ. This mission is not about what believers can receive from the Church but about what they can contribute to its purpose. Every believer shares the responsibility of holding forth the truth and living lives that reflect God's glory. This responsibility is not limited to church leaders; it is a collective mission. Believers are called to be the pillar and ground of the truth, manifesting the Gospel through their lives, actions, and words as a testament to God's wisdom. [17:18]

1 Timothy 3:15 (ESV): "If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively contribute to the mission of the Church to glorify God in your community this week?


Day 3: Discovering Your Unique Role
Each believer has a unique role within the body of Christ, and it is crucial to discover and fulfill this calling. This requires a balance between being and doing, ensuring that actions are grounded in spiritual maturity and understanding. Prioritizing spiritual growth over mere activity prevents superficiality and burnout. True Christian service flows from a deep, personal relationship with God and an understanding of His Word. By discovering one's specific calling, believers can effectively contribute to the Church's mission. [26:35]

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Reflection: What unique gifts or talents do you possess, and how can you use them to serve your church community?


Day 4: Love and Unity in Action
Actions and interactions within the Church should be governed by love and unity. Even when correcting errors or defending the faith, the approach should be characterized by humility and a desire to win others to Christ, not merely to win arguments. The ultimate aim is the glory of God, which should guide all endeavors within the Church. By fostering love and unity, believers can effectively represent the Gospel and draw others to Christ. [24:05]

Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: Is there a relationship within your church where you need to prioritize love and unity over being right? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?


Day 5: Being Before Doing
Prioritizing being over doing is essential for genuine Christian service. Spiritual maturity and understanding should precede action, preventing superficiality and ensuring that service is rooted in a deep relationship with God. This approach allows believers to serve effectively and sustainably, avoiding burnout and maintaining a focus on God's glory. By cultivating a strong spiritual foundation, believers can engage in meaningful and impactful service within the Church. [30:13]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God this week, ensuring that your actions are grounded in spiritual maturity?

Quotes


I must always think of myself in terms of the whole building, the entire structure, not primarily in terms of myself. Now let me work that out just a little. We must always think of our position before we think of anything else. We must always think of the privilege of being a Christian, the privilege of our positions as Christians in this great edifice. [00:09:10]

Most of our unhappiness and misery and failure in the Christian Life is due to the fact that we fail to do just that very thing. We are so subjective, we think so much in terms of ourselves and our experience, and therefore when anything goes wrong, we say, why should this happen to me? [00:10:37]

We must habitually remind ourselves that we are parts of this Holy Temple in the Lord, parts of this habitation of God, that we are a part of this great purpose of the Eternal God, which he planned and purposed before the very foundation of the World itself. [00:12:57]

The chief business of the church in this world is to glorify God and Christ. And when you just get a glimpse of that, it not only changes your attitude to everything, but it fills you with a sense of privilege which is almost overwhelming that God should ever have chosen us to do that and to represent him. [00:15:32]

The church that does that, the Church of the Living God, which is the pillar and ground of the truth. How do we do this? Well, we do it partly by holding forth the truth, the word of God objectively. It is a part of the function of the church to preach the truth, the word of God, and we're all involved in that, every single one of us. [00:17:16]

The Apostle says there that these Philippians, the ordinary members of the church in Philippi, were partakers with him in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. They were partners with him in their task. It wasn't only Paul the Apostle, the preacher, the defender of the faith; they were all partakers of his grace. [00:18:03]

We have to realize that as stones in this Holy Temple in the Lord, it is a part of our business to display the truth. We do it in that way by knowing what it is. The Apostle Peter tells us that we should be ready at all times to give a reason for the hope that is in us. [00:19:11]

Here am I, a member of the Christian Church. How do I think about that? Well, according to this teaching, the first thing I should always say to myself is this: now I am a representative of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the first thing that's true about me as a Christian and as a member of the church. [00:21:19]

Everything we do in the Christian Life must be governed by that because even though we may start out with the right motive and the right principle, we can so easily go astray. So we are exalted in the scripture to preach the truth and to speak the truth in love. [00:23:33]

If I realize that there is only one motive for earnestly contending for the faith, and that is the glory of God and the glory of Christ, my concern will no longer be just to win an argument or to display my dialectic cleverness. No, no, I shall do it with humility. [00:24:50]

At the same time as we do all that, we must remember that each of us has a special part to play, that each one of us has a special function. Now you notice how the Apostle puts that in the fourth chapter, having emphasized one body, one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, One Faith, one baptism. [00:25:49]

We are to be before we do. It's very dangerous to put doing before being. But surely there is that tendency at the present time. We are such activists, and we're all busy and bustling and must be doing things, and the result is we forget this vital first thing of being, of realizing the truth about ourselves. [00:30:17]

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Transcript
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