Empowering Community: Becoming All We Can Be in Christ
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the concept of "Be All We Can Be" within the context of our church community. Drawing inspiration from the Army's tagline, we considered how the church, as an organization, can help each of us reach our full potential in Christ. The church is not just a building; it is a living body of believers called together for a divine purpose. Our mission is to strive collectively to be all we can be, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and personal growth.
We discussed the church's organizational pathway, likening it to a jigsaw puzzle where each piece represents our strengths and weaknesses. The beauty of the church lies in how these pieces come together to form a complete and harmonious whole. This pathway involves hearing and believing the gospel, growing in faith, serving with our gifts, and leading or being led within the community. Each step is crucial for personal and communal development.
Leadership within the church was a focal point, highlighting the roles of formal, functional, and informal leaders. Formal leaders, such as pastors and elders, are tasked with teaching and shepherding the congregation. Functional leaders serve in specific ministry roles, while informal leaders, often found within families, mentor and guide others in faith. Leadership is about moving people onto God's agenda, ensuring that all actions align with His will.
We also delved into the structure of our church leadership, discussing the roles of overseers, deacons, and the importance of a plurality of elders. This structure is designed to ensure effective ministry and service, with leaders equipping the congregation for works of service. The ultimate vision is for the church to grow and build itself up in love, with each member actively participating in the body of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Church as a Living Body: The church is more than a building; it is a community of believers called together for a divine purpose. Each member plays a vital role, contributing their unique strengths and addressing their weaknesses to form a harmonious whole. This collective effort allows us to be all we can be in Christ. [03:32]
2. Pathway to Growth: Our journey in the church involves hearing the gospel, growing in faith, serving with our gifts, and leading or being led. Each step is essential for personal and communal development, helping us to fulfill our potential and contribute to the church's mission. [05:20]
3. Leadership in the Church: Leadership is about moving people onto God's agenda. Formal leaders, such as pastors and elders, are responsible for teaching and shepherding, while functional and informal leaders serve in various capacities. All leaders are called to equip the congregation for works of service. [12:08]
4. Structure of Church Leadership: The church's leadership structure includes overseers, deacons, and a plurality of elders. This structure ensures effective ministry and service, with leaders focusing on prayer, teaching, and mobilizing the congregation for practical service. [26:37]
5. Vision for the Church: The ultimate vision is for the church to grow and build itself up in love, with each member actively participating. Leaders equip the congregation, and together, we strive to be all we can be, fulfilling our mission as the body of Christ. [32:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:32] - The Church's Pathway
- [05:20] - Hearing and Believing the Gospel
- [07:33] - Growing in Faith
- [12:08] - Leadership in the Church
- [14:01] - Spiritual Leadership Defined
- [16:01] - Formal Leaders: Overseers and Deacons
- [17:06] - Greek Terms for Church Leaders
- [19:44] - Functional and Informal Leaders
- [22:16] - Leadership in the Family
- [24:16] - Are You a Leader?
- [26:37] - Church Leadership Structure
- [28:30] - Functional First Transition
- [32:03] - Vision for the Church
- [33:34] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 13:7, 17
2. Ephesians 4:11-12
3. 1 Peter 4:10-11
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Hebrews 13:7, what are believers encouraged to do in relation to their leaders? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on leadership? [12:08]
2. In Ephesians 4:11-12, what roles are mentioned as gifts to the church, and what is their purpose? How does this align with the sermon’s discussion on church leadership structure? [28:30]
3. How does 1 Peter 4:10-11 describe the use of spiritual gifts within the church? How was this concept illustrated in the sermon? [07:33]
4. What analogy was used in the sermon to describe the church's organizational pathway, and how does it relate to the concept of being "all we can be"? [03:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of leadership in Hebrews 13:7, 17 challenge the traditional view of leadership in a church setting? What implications does this have for both leaders and followers? [12:08]
2. Ephesians 4:11-12 speaks about equipping the saints for works of service. How does this passage inform the sermon’s vision for the church to grow and build itself up in love? [32:03]
3. In what ways does 1 Peter 4:10-11 encourage believers to use their gifts, and how does this relate to the sermon’s call for community involvement and personal growth? [07:33]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of moving people onto God's agenda. How does this align with the biblical understanding of spiritual leadership? [14:01]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on Hebrews 13:7, 17. How can you actively support and have confidence in your church leaders while also holding them accountable? [12:08]
2. Considering Ephesians 4:11-12, what specific gifts or talents do you have that could be used to serve and build up your church community? How can you start using them this week? [32:03]
3. 1 Peter 4:10-11 emphasizes serving others with the gifts we have received. Identify one area in your church where you can begin serving. What steps will you take to get involved? [07:33]
4. The sermon discussed the church as a jigsaw puzzle. What strengths and weaknesses do you bring to your church community, and how can you better integrate these into the church’s mission? [03:32]
5. Leadership was a focal point in the sermon. Do you see yourself as a leader in any capacity within your church or family? If not, what might be holding you back, and how can you overcome it? [24:16]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of being led as well as leading. How can you cultivate a spirit of humility and openness to being led by others in your church community? [07:33]
7. Reflect on the vision for the church to grow in love. What practical steps can you take to contribute to this vision in your interactions with fellow church members? [32:03]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Living Body
The church is not merely a physical structure but a vibrant community of believers united for a divine purpose. Each member contributes their unique strengths and addresses their weaknesses, forming a harmonious whole. This collective effort allows individuals to reach their full potential in Christ. The church functions like a jigsaw puzzle, where each piece is essential to complete the picture. As believers, we are called to actively participate in this community, supporting one another and growing together in faith. This unity and collaboration enable us to be all we can be in Christ, fulfilling our mission as His body. [03:32]
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively contribute your unique strengths to your church community this week, and what steps can you take to address any weaknesses that may hinder your participation?
Day 2: Pathway to Growth
The journey within the church involves a series of steps that are essential for both personal and communal development. It begins with hearing and believing the gospel, which lays the foundation for spiritual growth. As individuals grow in faith, they are encouraged to serve using their gifts, contributing to the church's mission. This pathway also involves leading or being led within the community, fostering an environment where everyone can fulfill their potential. Each step is crucial, as it helps believers to grow in their relationship with Christ and to support the church's mission of spreading the gospel and serving others. [05:20]
"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." (Ephesians 4:11-13, ESV)
Reflection: What specific step in your spiritual journey do you feel called to focus on right now, and how can you take practical actions to grow in that area this week?
Day 3: Leadership in the Church
Leadership within the church is about guiding people towards God's agenda. Formal leaders, such as pastors and elders, are responsible for teaching and shepherding the congregation. Functional leaders serve in specific ministry roles, while informal leaders, often found within families, mentor and guide others in faith. All leaders are called to equip the congregation for works of service, ensuring that their actions align with God's will. This leadership structure is vital for the church's growth and effectiveness, as it empowers members to serve and fulfill their roles within the body of Christ. [12:08]
"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" (1 Timothy 5:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a leader in your church or community who has positively influenced your faith journey. How can you express your gratitude to them this week, and what qualities can you emulate in your own life?
Day 4: Structure of Church Leadership
The church's leadership structure includes overseers, deacons, and a plurality of elders, designed to ensure effective ministry and service. This structure focuses on prayer, teaching, and mobilizing the congregation for practical service. Leaders are tasked with equipping the congregation, enabling each member to actively participate in the body of Christ. This organization ensures that the church can fulfill its mission, growing and building itself up in love. By understanding and respecting this structure, members can better support their leaders and contribute to the church's overall health and effectiveness. [26:37]
"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." (1 Timothy 3:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of your church's leadership structure. How can you support your leaders in their roles, and what steps can you take to become more involved in the church's mission?
Day 5: Vision for the Church
The ultimate vision for the church is to grow and build itself up in love, with each member actively participating. Leaders equip the congregation, and together, they strive to be all they can be, fulfilling their mission as the body of Christ. This vision emphasizes the importance of unity, love, and active participation, as each member contributes to the church's growth and effectiveness. By embracing this vision, believers can work together to create a thriving community that reflects Christ's love and serves as a beacon of hope to the world. [32:03]
"From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (Ephesians 4:16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can contribute to building up your church in love this week, and how can you encourage others to join you in this effort?
Quotes
Here are the selected quotes with timestamps:
"As an organization, we can be all that we can be, and as an organization, we have a purpose. In some ways, you can say that organizational purpose is for us to strive to be all we can be. So I want to think with you today about our organization. Now that might not sound really exciting, but I hope to make it relevant to each of our lives today because I want to think about how we as a church have an organizational pathway, a structure, and a vision so that every one of us can be all we can be." [00:01:49]
"Growing takes intention and action on our part. Maybe that's a piece of the puzzle that still needs to be placed in. For others of us, it might be, yes, I'm growing, but I'm anxious to involve myself and help others. And so we talk about the third piece of the puzzle is come and serve. And a couple of weeks back, Pastor Kevin preached on this concept of come and serve." [00:07:33] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"One of the most fundamental responsibilities is to speak the word of God because it's through the word of God that we grow and are nourished in our faith. So I strive, and Pastor Kevin and everyone who teaches a small group and leads is striving to be centered in the word. That's the primary purpose of a leader in the body of Christ, to speak the word of God to you." [00:11:28] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"If you are a parent, a grandparent, or a great aunt and uncle, I don't want to leave anybody out. I mean, if you have a family, you are a leader, whether you know it or not. Why? Because the scripture says leadership starts in the family. That's why the family is so under attack in our day." [00:22:16] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"One of the most important things that we can do as leaders and any leader who serves in our church is to equip people to do ministry on their own. One of the greatest things would be able to, in a sense, prepare someone to do your job even better than you. And that's the goal and objective of the body of Christ, to equip people to serve in the body of Christ." [00:32:13] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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