Embracing Your Invaluable Role in God's Kingdom
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Parkview. Today, we conclude our "All In" series by focusing on the unique gifts and talents each of us possesses and how we are called to use them to serve the world around us. Over the past weeks, we've discussed the importance of being deeply rooted in the church and being all in for the mission of spreading the gospel. Today, we delve into the idea that each of us is invaluable to God's kingdom.
We began with an identity check, emphasizing that you are invaluable, priceless, indispensable, and irreplaceable. This is not just a feel-good statement but a biblical truth. God has called, chosen, and made each of us capable, which makes us invaluable to His kingdom. Often, we struggle to believe this about ourselves due to feelings of inadequacy or past mistakes. However, the Bible is filled with stories of flawed individuals whom God used mightily, proving that our past does not disqualify us but rather prepares us for His work.
Paul's letter to the Corinthians illustrates this beautifully by comparing the church to a body with many parts, each essential and unique. Just as a body needs every part to function properly, the church needs each of us to play our part. Whether you are an "eye" or an "ear," your role is crucial. Small acts of service, often unseen, can make a significant impact.
We also discussed the importance of community and being known within the church. Big churches can make it easy to slip in and out unnoticed, but the true intention of the church is for us to be connected and accountable to one another.
Finally, we looked at the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. Our service is a reflection of His love and a way to create spaces for others to encounter God. When we serve, we honor the name of Jesus written on our lives, just as a valuable bat signed by Babe Ruth was used to honor his legacy.
### Key Takeaways
1. You Are Invaluable: You are called, chosen, and capable, making you invaluable to God's kingdom. This is not just a feel-good statement but a biblical truth. Embrace this identity and let it shape how you live and serve. [28:14]
2. Every Part Matters: Just as every part of the body is essential, every member of the church has a unique and crucial role. Whether you are an "eye" or an "ear," your contribution is vital to the functioning of the church. [35:19]
3. Small Acts, Big Impact: Small, often unseen acts of service can make a significant difference. Whether it's preparing the church for service or welcoming someone at the door, these acts reflect God's love and create spaces for others to encounter Him. [40:42]
4. Your Past Prepares You: Your past does not disqualify you from serving; it prepares you. God often uses flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes, ensuring that He gets the glory. Embrace your story and let God use it for His kingdom. [45:51]
5. Serve Like Jesus: Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Our service is a reflection of His love and a way to honor His name written on our lives. When we serve, we create opportunities for others to experience God's love and grace. [48:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[26:01] - Week 1 Recap: Growing Roots
[27:03] - Week 2 Recap: All In for Mission
[28:14] - You Are Invaluable
[29:23] - Called, Chosen, and Capable
[30:33] - The Lie of Insignificance
[31:45] - Paul's Letter to the Corinthians
[32:58] - New Identity in Christ
[34:08] - The Body of Christ
[35:19] - Every Part Matters
[36:32] - The Importance of Community
[37:39] - The Eye and the Ear
[38:38] - Indispensable Parts
[40:42] - Small Acts, Big Impact
[41:39] - Called to Serve
[45:51] - Your Past Prepares You
[48:00] - Serve Like Jesus
[49:14] - Serving the Least of These
[50:18] - The Story of Babe Ruth's Bat
[53:03] - Jesus' Name on Your Life
[54:11] - Called to Serve: Practical Steps
[55:14] - Invitation to Serve
[56:28] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 - Paul's metaphor of the body and its many parts.
2. Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
3. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, what analogy does Paul use to describe the church, and what is the significance of each part? [31:45]
2. In Mark 10:45, what does Jesus say about His purpose in coming to earth, and how does this relate to our call to serve? [48:00]
3. How does Ephesians 2:10 describe our identity and purpose in Christ? [28:14]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of small acts of service that can make a significant impact? [40:42]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that every part of the body is essential in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27? How does this apply to the church today? [35:19]
2. How does Jesus' example of serving in Mark 10:45 challenge our own attitudes towards service? [48:00]
3. What does it mean to be "God’s handiwork" as described in Ephesians 2:10, and how should this shape our view of our own abilities and contributions? [28:14]
4. The sermon mentioned that our past does not disqualify us but prepares us for God's work. How does this perspective change the way we view our own stories and experiences? [45:51]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the idea that you are invaluable to God's kingdom. How does this truth impact your self-worth and the way you approach your daily life? [28:14]
2. Identify a small act of service you can commit to this week, whether in your church, community, or home. How can this act reflect God's love to others? [40:42]
3. Think about a time when you felt inadequate or disqualified from serving due to your past. How can you embrace the truth that your past prepares you for God's work? [45:51]
4. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. What are some practical ways you can follow His example in your own life? [48:00]
5. How can you become more connected and accountable within your church community, ensuring that you are known and that you know others? [30:33]
6. Consider the unique gifts and talents God has given you. How can you use these to serve others and contribute to the body of Christ? [29:23]
7. Reflect on the story of Babe Ruth's bat. How does knowing that Jesus' name is written on your life inspire you to honor Him through your actions and service? [53:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Your Invaluable Identity
You are called, chosen, and capable, making you invaluable to God's kingdom. This is not just a feel-good statement but a biblical truth. Embrace this identity and let it shape how you live and serve. Often, we struggle to believe this about ourselves due to feelings of inadequacy or past mistakes. However, the Bible is filled with stories of flawed individuals whom God used mightily, proving that our past does not disqualify us but rather prepares us for His work.
Paul's letter to the Corinthians illustrates this beautifully by comparing the church to a body with many parts, each essential and unique. Just as a body needs every part to function properly, the church needs each of us to play our part. Whether you are an "eye" or an "ear," your role is crucial. Small acts of service, often unseen, can make a significant impact. [28:14]
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt inadequate or unworthy. How can you remind yourself today that you are invaluable to God's kingdom and embrace this truth in your actions?
Day 2: Every Part Matters
Just as every part of the body is essential, every member of the church has a unique and crucial role. Whether you are an "eye" or an "ear," your contribution is vital to the functioning of the church. The church is a living organism, and each member plays a role that no one else can fulfill. This means that your unique gifts and talents are not just useful but necessary for the church to thrive.
The importance of community and being known within the church cannot be overstated. Big churches can make it easy to slip in and out unnoticed, but the true intention of the church is for us to be connected and accountable to one another. When we understand that every part matters, we begin to see the value in our own contributions and in the contributions of others. [35:19]
Romans 12:4-5 (ESV): "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."
Reflection: Identify one unique gift or talent you have. How can you use this gift to contribute to your church community this week?
Day 3: Small Acts, Big Impact
Small, often unseen acts of service can make a significant difference. Whether it's preparing the church for service or welcoming someone at the door, these acts reflect God's love and create spaces for others to encounter Him. The impact of these small acts can be far-reaching, even if they go unnoticed by most people.
Jesus taught that even the smallest acts of kindness are significant in God's eyes. When we serve in small ways, we are participating in God's work and making a difference in the lives of others. These small acts of service are a reflection of God's love and a way to create spaces for others to encounter Him. [40:42]
Matthew 10:42 (ESV): "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Reflection: Think of a small act of service you can do today, whether at church, at home, or in your community. How can this act reflect God's love to others?
Day 4: Your Past Prepares You
Your past does not disqualify you from serving; it prepares you. God often uses flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes, ensuring that He gets the glory. Embrace your story and let God use it for His kingdom. The Bible is filled with stories of people who had difficult pasts but were used mightily by God.
When we understand that our past experiences, both good and bad, can be used by God, we begin to see our lives in a new light. Our past mistakes and failures do not define us; rather, they prepare us for the work God has for us. Embrace your story and let God use it for His kingdom. [45:51]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: Reflect on a past mistake or failure. How can you see God's hand in using that experience to prepare you for His work today?
Day 5: Serve Like Jesus
Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Our service is a reflection of His love and a way to honor His name written on our lives. When we serve, we create opportunities for others to experience God's love and grace. Jesus' example of servanthood is the ultimate model for us to follow.
Serving others is not just about doing good deeds; it's about reflecting the love of Christ in everything we do. When we serve like Jesus, we honor His name and create opportunities for others to encounter God's love and grace. Let your service be a reflection of Jesus' love and a way to honor His name written on your life. [48:00]
Mark 10:45 (ESV): "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can serve someone in your life today, following Jesus' example. How can this act of service create an opportunity for them to experience God's love?
Quotes
1. "We started with week one, that God's desire is that all of us would get in. Like we would actually grow some roots into the church. We wouldn't just attend church, but we would be the church. That we would let it shape our lives. We'd let it grow a little deeper. We'd be connected with one another." [26:01] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What you believe about you will determine how you live. And so I want to start with a statement that you may not believe is true, but I truly believe it is true. And it's this statement right here, that you and I are invaluable. Let me say that again. You are invaluable." [27:03] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What if I told you that scripturally, that this is what the Bible would say about all of us, that you are called, chosen, and capable, which makes you invaluable to the kingdom of God. You see, in the Bible, it says that God has called each and every single one of us out of the darkness into his glorious light, that we've been invited into the story of God." [28:14] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "It takes all of us together. It can't just be a few. It can't be 10% of people doing 90% of the work. It needs to be 100% of us all in, all the time, to be what God wants us to be. He says, it takes everybody. In fact, every part of the body matters. It all matters. You matter." [36:32] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What if we stopped thinking about levels of importance and instead started recognizing that God has given you something. And my job is to take what God has given me and it's to use it in a way that brings him glory, that brings him honor. What if that became who it is that I'm supposed to be?" [38:38] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You are called, you are chosen, you are capable, you are invaluable to God's work. And listen, church, if you aren't engaged and involved in serving and loving, something God wants done isn't being done somewhere." [41:39] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "It is not about your ability. It is about your availability. It's about what you can do. It's about what God can do through you when you say yes to him. God, I'll do the thing you want me to do. God, I will say yes. God, I will serve in whatever capacity and way you want me to. Why? Because of your glory and your goodness. Here I am, Lord, send me." [46:52] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jesus came from his heavenly throne. He came as a baby and he served. He didn't come to be served. He said, if I as a king of kings and Lord of lords can come and serve, then you can serve. And if we serve, what happens is we open the doors for others to come." [48:00] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Jesus said, hey, when you see someone who's hungry and you give them something to eat, he says, you didn't just feed them, you fed me. He says, when you see someone who's thirsty and you give them something to drink, he says, you didn't just give them something to drink, you gave me something to drink. He says, whatever you do for the least of these, you have done for me." [49:14] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "If you have called on the name of Jesus, you have given your life to him as your savior can I just tell you something Jesus's name is written on your life his name his signature he bought you with a price the bible says the bible says that he came he lived and he died he died on the cross for sin that you could not pay he paid it for you he paid it for me and he wrote his name on you." [53:03] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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