Empowered by the Spirit: Active Participation in the Church

 

Summary

In our gathering today, we focused on the profound calling to be a church that is led by the Holy Spirit, where every believer actively participates in the mission of God. We began by seeking God's guidance, asking Him to lead us beyond our preconceived notions and to empower us to be a church that truly reflects His will. The vision is to create a community where everyone sees themselves as co-workers, not consumers, in the body of Christ. This means moving away from a church model where a few serve the many, to a model where everyone contributes, using their spiritual gifts to build up the church.

Reflecting on my past experiences, I shared the analogy of working as a waiter, where teamwork was essential. Similarly, in the church, we should not rely on a few to meet all needs but should work together, each person bringing their unique gifts to the table. This vision challenges the traditional church model, which often resembles a lecture hall, to become more like a lab where believers actively engage and apply what they learn in real-time, fostering genuine relationships and spiritual growth.

We also discussed the importance of unity and love among believers as a testimony to the world. Our interactions should reflect God's love, showing forgiveness and grace, even amidst conflicts. This unity is not just for our benefit but serves as a powerful witness to those who do not yet know God.

Furthermore, we explored the concept of spiritual rehabilitation. Instead of enabling believers to remain passive, we aim to equip and empower them to fulfill their God-given missions. This involves taking personal responsibility for sharing the gospel and discipling others, rather than outsourcing these tasks to church leaders.

Finally, we emphasized the necessity of relying on the Holy Spirit. The early church was marked by its dependence on the Spirit's leading, and we desire the same. We must believe that the Holy Spirit can work through us in extraordinary ways, transforming our neighborhoods and communities. Our role is to step out in faith, trusting that the Spirit will give life and that our efforts, empowered by Him, will bear fruit.

Key Takeaways:

- Surrender to the Holy Spirit: We must let go of our preconceived notions and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, ensuring that our church is not personality-driven but Spirit-led. This requires a willingness to follow God's direction, even when it diverges from our plans. [02:40]

- Active Participation in the Church: Every believer is called to be an active participant, not a passive consumer. By using our spiritual gifts, we contribute to the body of Christ, creating a community where everyone serves and encourages one another. [06:55]

- Unity as a Witness: Our unity and love for one another serve as a powerful testimony to the world. When we forgive and bear with each other, we reflect God's love, providing an accurate picture of Him to those around us. [19:33]

- Equipping for Ministry: The church's role is to equip believers to fulfill their God-given missions. This involves personal responsibility in sharing the gospel and discipling others, rather than relying solely on church leaders. [30:40]

- Dependence on the Holy Spirit: True transformation occurs when we rely on the Holy Spirit. Our efforts should be Spirit-empowered, trusting that He will work through us to impact our communities and bring others to Christ. [39:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:23] - Seeking God's Guidance
- [03:37] - Vision for the Church
- [04:32] - A New Direction
- [06:17] - Co-workers, Not Consumers
- [07:28] - The Waiter's Analogy
- [09:03] - Challenges of Traditional Church
- [10:57] - A Church Without Customers
- [12:34] - Bringing Gifts to the Table
- [14:22] - Lecture Hall vs. Lab
- [16:22] - Applying the Message
- [18:37] - Unity and Love as Witness
- [20:19] - God's View of Us
- [22:02] - Accurate Picture of God
- [26:26] - Spiritual Rehabilitation
- [30:25] - Equipping for Ministry
- [34:32] - The Role of the Holy Spirit

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. 1 Corinthians 14:26
2. John 17:20-21
3. Ephesians 4:11-12

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Corinthians 14:26, what is expected of each believer when they come together in a church setting? How does this align with the sermon’s vision of active participation? [17:18]

2. In John 17:20-21, what does Jesus pray for concerning the unity of believers? How does this unity serve as a testimony to the world? [19:06]

3. Ephesians 4:11-12 describes the roles of church leaders. What is their primary purpose according to these verses, and how does this relate to the concept of spiritual rehabilitation discussed in the sermon? [30:40]

4. The sermon uses the analogy of a waiter to describe teamwork in the church. How does this analogy help illustrate the idea of believers as co-workers rather than consumers? [07:28]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of each believer bringing something to the table, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:26, challenge the traditional church model? What might this look like in practice? [17:18]

2. Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-21 emphasizes unity among believers. How might this unity be practically demonstrated in a church community, and why is it significant for evangelism? [19:06]

3. Ephesians 4:11-12 speaks about equipping the saints for ministry. How does this passage redefine the role of church leaders and the congregation in fulfilling the church’s mission? [30:40]

4. The sermon discusses the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit. How does this reliance differ from human efforts, and what are the implications for personal and communal spiritual growth? [39:14]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current involvement in your church community. Are you more of a consumer or a co-worker? What steps can you take to become more actively involved in using your spiritual gifts? [06:55]

2. Think about a recent conflict or disagreement within your church or small group. How can you apply the principles of forgiveness and grace to promote unity and love as a testimony to others? [19:33]

3. Consider the concept of spiritual rehabilitation. What areas of your spiritual life might need "rehab," and how can you take personal responsibility for growth in these areas? [30:40]

4. Identify a specific way you can rely more on the Holy Spirit in your daily life. What practical steps can you take to be more open to His leading and empowerment? [39:14]

5. How can you contribute to creating a church environment that resembles a lab rather than a lecture hall? What practical actions can you take to foster real-time application and relationship-building? [16:22]

6. Reflect on the idea of being a spiritual family as described in 1 Peter 2:9-10. How can you strengthen your relationships within your church community to reflect this biblical view? [20:19]

7. Consider the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Who is one person in your life you can disciple or share the gospel with this week, and what steps will you take to engage them? [32:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Surrendering to the Spirit's Guidance
In our journey of faith, we are called to surrender our preconceived notions and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. This means letting go of our own plans and desires, and being open to the direction that God has for us. A Spirit-led church is not driven by personalities or individual agendas but is unified in following God's will. This requires humility and a willingness to trust that God's plans are greater than our own. As we surrender to the Spirit, we become more attuned to His voice and guidance, allowing Him to shape our community and our lives. [02:40]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are holding onto control? How can you begin to surrender this area to the Holy Spirit today?


Day 2: Embracing Active Participation
The church is a body where every believer is called to be an active participant, not a passive consumer. This means using our spiritual gifts to serve and build up the community, rather than simply attending services. When each person contributes, the church becomes a vibrant and dynamic place where everyone is encouraged and supported. This shift from consumer to co-worker requires a change in mindset, recognizing that we all have a role to play in God's mission. By actively participating, we help create a church that reflects the love and diversity of the body of Christ. [06:55]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: What spiritual gift do you feel God has given you? How can you use this gift to actively participate in your church community this week?


Day 3: Unity as a Testimony
Unity and love among believers serve as a powerful testimony to the world. When we forgive and bear with one another, we reflect God's love and provide an accurate picture of Him to those around us. This unity is not just for our benefit but is a witness to those who do not yet know God. In a world often marked by division and conflict, the church is called to be a place of reconciliation and peace. By living in unity, we demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel and invite others to experience God's love. [19:33]

Colossians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Is there someone in your church community with whom you need to reconcile? How can you take a step towards unity and forgiveness today?


Day 4: Equipping for Ministry
The church's role is to equip believers to fulfill their God-given missions. This involves taking personal responsibility for sharing the gospel and discipling others, rather than relying solely on church leaders. Each believer is called to be a minister in their own right, using their unique gifts and experiences to further God's kingdom. By equipping and empowering one another, we create a church that is active and engaged in the mission of God. This requires intentional discipleship and a commitment to growing in our faith and understanding of God's word. [30:40]

Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

Reflection: What is one way you can take personal responsibility for your spiritual growth this week? How can you begin to disciple someone else in your community?


Day 5: Dependence on the Holy Spirit
True transformation occurs when we rely on the Holy Spirit. Our efforts should be Spirit-empowered, trusting that He will work through us to impact our communities and bring others to Christ. The early church was marked by its dependence on the Spirit's leading, and we are called to the same reliance today. By stepping out in faith and trusting in the Spirit's power, we can see extraordinary things happen in our neighborhoods and communities. This requires a deep trust in God's ability to work through us and a willingness to be used by Him in whatever way He sees fit. [39:14]

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit? How can you begin to trust in His power and guidance today?

Quotes

God I just ask you to show up just show us what you want us to do help us to just totally surrender to you God we want so badly to just have a church that pleases you that honors you that we know is of you a church that you truly lead through your holy spirit so father help us just to surrender everything to you any preconceived notions or anything Lord and just follow wholly according to your word and your Holy Spirit. [00:02:04]

I dream of a day when I could gather with a bunch of co-workers in church that I dream of a day when there are no customers or consumers at church where everyone comes with the mindset of I am going to give something I am going to encourage someone I have something to offer because supposedly every believer has the holy spirit in them and supposedly every believer then will have these gifts from the spirit these manifestations and working out of the spirit in order to build up the body of Christ. [00:06:12]

Can you imagine a gathering of Believers where there were no customers and everyone saw themselves as a coworker can you imagine what that would feel like if everyone came in just wanting to love someone wanting to serve someone a lot of this goes back to my days as a waiter I used to wait tables about a mile or two from here right off of Reco this was our competition cuz I was at aqua OS and this was El Torito right when it opened. [00:07:00]

I can't imagine what it would have been like if that restaurant was packed and I was the only waiter I would have gone nuts you know but it was that teamwork it was that working together that Synergy and everything that made everything happen I mean if I was alone it would have been a mess and honestly that's that's how I felt in church a lot of times like I was the sole waiter or something and everyone wanted something from me. [00:08:37]

Imagine a church with no customers where the only customers were maybe those people who didn't believe in God yet and everyone came in to serve and care for each other I really believe that biblically that's what I see in scripture I mean if you see something different show me but as I read the Bible simply and you know just in a plain simple way I go gosh that's what I see when the Believers gather together. [00:11:03]

What we want to do on Sunday mornings is more of a lab format where see cuz right now like at Cornerstone seei Valley you can't really if I taught a message on praying for one another how are you going to do it right there in that room or serving one another forgiving one another care for one another you know being generous to one another giving freely to one how are you going to do that in that room with a bunch of strangers people you don't even know. [00:15:46]

When you come together each one has a hymn a lesson a revelation a tongue or an interpretation let all things be done for building up see when I would read about the church I would see that the body everyone had something to contribute and that's the way it was supposed to work but it was always frustrating because with a thousand people in the room how can everyone you know everyone can't even have 10 seconds on the microphone you know what what are we going to do how are we going to care for one another. [00:17:00]

Believers are supposed to be marked by the way that we interact with one another like unbelievers should see a Unity amongst us that they don't see in the world Jesus in John 17 when he was praying right before he left the Earth he says I don't ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they may all be one just as you father are in me and I in you that they also may be in us that the world may see that you have sent me. [00:18:37]

If God so loved us we also ought to love one another no one's ever seen God if we love one another God abides in us and his love is perfected in us so again no one's ever seen God but if we love one another the Bible says that God abides in us and his love is perfected in us so somehow if we're really loving each other then God abides there and people ought to see that again it's by the way we we interact. [00:19:33]

People come to church right we all come we've got our issues we're messed up but traditionally what the church has done is rather than rehabbing people we put them in a wheelchair and just push them around okay in other words someone comes to the church they don't know how to raise their kids their own way they don't know how to share their faith with other people they don't know how to disciple other people there there's so many they don't how to counsel other people. [00:26:26]

The leaders in the church are not supposed to do the ministry they're supposed to equip you to do the ministry that's what the Bible says in Ephesians 4:1 it says he gave the apostles the prophets the evangelists the Shepherds and teachers to equip the Saints for the work of Ministry for building up the body of Christ see we're supposed to equip you to go out and do those things and and in the same way it says in Ephesians 2:10 this is so beautiful it says that we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. [00:30:40]

I want to get together with Believers and pray and say holy spirit do something and then we'll respond to what you do you build your church and it doesn't mean we don't call and say ah you know let's get everyone together and pray doesn't mean that we don't have some sort of plan it's just that throughout the whole thing we're saying God lead us lead us direct us. [00:36:32]

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Transcript
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