Empowered to Build: Our Apostolic Calling

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Apostolic Mandate

Our apostolic calling is not about titles or positions but about fulfilling a divine mandate to equip, send, and build God's people. This involves recognizing that each believer has a role in God's plan and is called to be an active participant in the mission of the church. The church is not a passive entity but a dynamic body of believers who are called to actively engage in God's work. Each person has unique gifts and talents that contribute to the overall mission of the church. By embracing this calling, we become part of a larger purpose that transcends our individual lives and impacts the world around us. [03:29]

Ephesians 4:11-13 (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, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Reflection: What unique gifts has God given you, and how can you use them to actively participate in the mission of the church this week?

Day 2: Equipping for Unity and Maturity

The five-fold ministry—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—exists to equip believers, build unity, and nurture maturity in Christ. This ministry continues until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of God's Son, becoming mature and measuring up to the full standard of Christ. The church is called to be a place of growth and development, where believers are equipped to fulfill their God-given purposes. This process involves teaching, mentoring, and guiding individuals to become mature in their faith, so they can contribute to the unity and strength of the church. [08:48]

Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV): "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

Reflection: In what ways can you seek out opportunities to be equipped and to equip others in your faith community?

Day 3: Representing Christ as Ambassadors

We are called to be Christ's ambassadors, representing Him in our communities and beyond. This involves being intentional in our interactions, sharing the gospel, and inviting others to come back to God. As ambassadors, we carry the message of reconciliation and hope, speaking on behalf of Christ to those who have yet to know Him. Our lives should reflect the love and grace of God, drawing others to Him through our words and actions. [14:57]

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of reconciliation today, and how can you intentionally represent Christ to them?

Day 4: Growing in Love and Spiritual Maturity

Our growth in Christ is not just for our benefit but to help others grow as well. We must delve deeper into God's love so that we can love those around us as they deserve and need to be loved. Spiritual growth involves a deepening relationship with God, where we learn to love as He loves and serve as He serves. This growth is not just for personal edification but to impact those around us, helping them to experience God's love and grace. [27:20]

1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of God's love this week, and in what ways can you express that love to those around you?

Day 5: Fulfilling Our Purpose in God's Body

Each of us has a purpose in God's body, and we are called to fulfill that purpose by being active in our faith. Our role is to build others up, ensuring that those around us know how to get to heaven. This involves living out our faith in practical ways, being a source of encouragement and support to others, and guiding them toward a relationship with Christ. By fulfilling our purpose, we contribute to the overall mission of the church and help others find their place in God's plan. [30:58]

Romans 12:4-6 (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. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to actively fulfill your purpose in the body of Christ and help others find theirs?

Sermon Summary

In this final lesson of the series "We Are the Church," we delve into the essence of what it means to be a church that builds up rather than tears down. Our foundational scripture, Matthew 28:19-20, calls us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Christ's commands. This mission is not just about belonging or behaving but about building—a place where we uplift one another and fulfill our apostolic calling. This calling is not about titles or positions but about a mandate to equip, send, and build God's people.

An apostolic church is one that equips every believer, not just a select few, to fulfill God's purposes. This involves recognizing that each of us has a role in God's plan, and we are called to be active participants, not passive observers. The five-fold ministry—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—exists to equip believers, build unity, and nurture maturity in Christ. This ministry continues until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of God's Son, becoming mature and measuring up to the full standard of Christ.

We are called to go and represent Christ in our local communities and beyond, being ambassadors who speak for Christ and invite others to come back to God. This involves being intentional in our interactions, whether it's through a kind word, a prayer, or sharing the gospel. Our growth in Christ is not just for our benefit but to help others grow as well. We must delve deeper into God's love so that we can love those around us as they deserve and need to be loved.

As we embrace our apostolic calling, we must be proactive in reaching out to others, helping them develop spiritually, and guiding them toward a relationship with Christ. This requires us to be spiritually mature, biblically literate, and active in our faith. Our purpose is to fulfill God's purposes in our lives and to ensure that those around us know how to get to heaven. We are called to build people up, to be built up ourselves, and to lead others to live for Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. fold ministry exists to equip believers, build unity, and nurture maturity in Christ. This ministry continues until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of God's Son, becoming mature and measuring up to the full standard of Christ. [08:48]
3. Being Ambassadors: We are called to be Christ's ambassadors, representing Him in our communities and beyond. This involves being intentional in our interactions, sharing the gospel, and inviting others to come back to God.

4. Spiritual Growth: Our growth in Christ is not just for our benefit but to help others grow as well. We must delve deeper into God's love so that we can love those around us as they deserve and need to be loved.

5. Purpose and Activation: Each of us has a purpose in God's body, and we are called to fulfill that purpose by being active in our faith. Our role is to build others up, ensuring that those around us know how to get to heaven.

** [08:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:43] - Understanding Apostolic Calling
[03:29] - Equipping and Sending
[04:34] - The Power of Saying Yes
[05:24] - Five-Fold Ministry Activation
[07:18] - Building People Up
[08:48] - Continuation of Ministry Gifts
[10:04] - Maturity in Christ
[11:05] - Guarding Against False Teachings
[13:20] - Being Christ's Ambassadors
[14:57] - The Importance of Generosity
[17:46] - Representing Christ Daily
[19:18] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
[21:22] - Geographic Boundaries of Ministry
[23:30] - Winning Our Families
[25:36] - Spiritual Growth and Maturity
[27:20] - The Call to Grow
[30:09] - Purpose in the Body of Christ
[33:28] - Sharing the Message of Jesus
[34:41] - Building and Loving Others

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What is the primary mission given to the church in Matthew 28:19-20, and how does it relate to the concept of building up rather than tearing down? [00:00]
According to Ephesians 4:11-15, what roles are given to the church, and what is their purpose? [08:48]
How does the sermon describe the difference between an apostolic calling and a title-driven culture? [03:29]
What examples were given in the sermon about being intentional in our interactions as Christ's ambassadors? [13:20]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of an apostolic calling challenge the traditional view of church leadership and participation? [03:29]
In what ways does the five-fold ministry contribute to the unity and maturity of the church, according to Ephesians 4:11-15? [08:48]
How can being Christ's ambassadors influence our daily interactions and relationships within our communities? [14:57]
What does it mean to be spiritually mature and biblically literate, and why is this important for fulfilling our apostolic calling? [27:20]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current role in the church. How can you actively participate in equipping and building others up, rather than being a passive observer? [03:29]
Identify a specific way you can be an ambassador for Christ in your local community this week. What intentional actions can you take to represent Him? [14:57]
Consider your spiritual growth journey. What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of God's love and become more biblically literate? [27:20]
Think of a person in your life who may need spiritual guidance. How can you help them develop a relationship with Christ? [23:30]
How can you ensure that your interactions with others leave them feeling uplifted and closer to God? Share a recent experience where you succeeded or struggled with this. [13:20]
What specific gifts or talents do you believe God has given you, and how can you use them to fulfill your purpose in the body of Christ? [30:58]
Reflect on a time when you felt challenged to grow spiritually. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [27:20]

Sermon Clips

Our foundational passage for this series that we have entitled, We Are the Church, and this is our last lesson, is Matthew 28, verses 19 and 20. Can we just read that all together? Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you and be sure of this. I am with you always, even to the end of the age. [00:00:16] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

So when God speaks to us, he's speaking to us a word to lift us up, to cause us to be better, to cause us to see. There's more in us than we even see ourselves. So we have to be built up and then we have to help build others up. [00:01:43] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

So the apostolic calling is not about titles, okay? Now, I got to say that because we are in a title-hungry culture where everybody has to have a title. It used to be bishop was good enough. Now, bishop is not good enough. You've got to be chief bishop, chief this, chief that. And we even have some people who call themselves popes. And I'm not talking about the pope in the Vatican. We're always trying to proliferate more and more titles. This is not about a title. This is about a calling. [00:02:56] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

All God wants is our yes. We may not fully understand everything that God is calling us to, but if we can just give him a yes, then he knows he has something to work with. But most of us, we don't even give him our yes. But because they gave him a yes, God was able to reach and heal his people that he wanted to reach today. [00:05:01] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

God wants to have a real relationship with you, but he can't do that without your permission. All the promises that God has made for you are available to you, but you've got to ask for them. You may need healing. You may need a real relationship with God. You may need a fresh start. You may need to come out of the darkness that seems to surround you. Whatever it is, I want you to know that if you give God a chance, he'll help you. [00:36:20] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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