Equipped For Service | Pastor Melinda Ramos | Oct 19

As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to change, it’s a reminder of the new seasons God brings into our lives. At Shiloh, this is a time of celebration, not just with our annual Harvest Festival, but also as we reflect on 60 years of God’s faithfulness to our church family. We are a diverse gathering of people from all backgrounds, united by the presence of God and called to be more than spectators—we are called to be equipped for service, to live out our purpose, and to shine for Jesus in our city and beyond.

God’s design for His church is not a stadium full of fans watching a few on the field, but a team where every believer is equipped, engaged, and on mission. Each of us has a unique role, a gift, and a calling. The tools God gives us—His Word, His Spirit, and the community of believers—are powerful, but preparation is key. Just as a firefighter must train before facing a blaze, we must be fortified in faith, ready to use what God has placed in our hands. This means moving from being consumers to contributors, from attending church to being the church.

Equipping is both repair and preparation. God mends our brokenness and prepares us for impact, seeing in us a version we may not yet recognize. He calls us not because we are perfect or qualified, but because we love Him and are willing to say yes. Our growth is not meant to be stunted like a bonsai tree, but to flourish as we step out in faith, use our gifts, and serve others. When each person finds their lane, the whole body is built up in love and strength.

Legacy is ensured as we pass the baton to the next generation, equipping others to lead and serve. This is how the church endures and the mission continues. Jesus modeled equipping through relationship, shared life, and sending out His disciples. We are called to do the same: to walk with others, to release them into their calling, and to commission them for the work ahead. Our mission is not just local but global, as we are sent to make disciples of all nations.

The call is clear: step into spiritual growth, discover and use your gifts, fulfill the Great Commission, and equip others. God has placed His Spirit in you, given you His Word, and set you in a body where you can grow and thrive. Say yes to His call, and let’s shine together for His glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Every Believer Is Called and Equipped God’s vision for His church is not a few doing the work while the rest watch, but every believer actively engaged and equipped for service. Each person has a unique purpose and is essential to the mission. When we move from spectators to participants, the church becomes a powerful, unified force for God’s kingdom. [71:42]
• 2. Equipping Is Both Repair and Preparation God’s process of equipping involves mending our brokenness and preparing us for greater impact. He sees beyond our current limitations, calling us to trust His vision for our lives. Even when we feel inadequate or unqualified, God is at work restoring and readying us to fulfill our purpose. [80:38]
• 3. Growth Requires Stepping Out of Comfort Like bonsai trees kept small by their containers, believers can stunt their growth by staying in safe, familiar places. True spiritual maturity comes when we step out in faith, use our gifts, and allow God to stretch us beyond our comfort zones. This is how we bear fruit and experience the fullness of what God has for us. [75:04]
• 4. Legacy Is Built Through Equipping Others The mission of the church is generational. It’s not enough to run our own race well; we must also pass the baton by equipping and empowering those who come after us. Legacy is ensured when we intentionally invest in others, creating a culture where faith and leadership are multiplied across generations. [85:16]
• 5. Jesus Models Relational Equipping and Sending Jesus equipped His disciples not just through teaching, but by sharing life, walking with them, and sending them out to minister. Real equipping happens in relationship and through hands-on experience. We are called to open our lives, disciple others, and release them to fulfill their God-given assignments, trusting that God will use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
  
  ** [89:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [55:25] - Harvest Festival Invitation
• [57:17] - Prayer Push and Week of Miracles
• [58:44] - Praying for Miracles
• [59:29] - Prophetic Word and Provision
• [60:15] - Welcoming Guests and Family
• [61:04] - An Ongoing Vision: 60 Years of Shiloh
• [62:24] - Key Verse: Ephesians 4 and Opening Prayer
• [64:17] - Shiloh’s Calling: A Gathering and Equipping Place
• [65:33] - The Power of God’s Word and Spirit
• [67:06] - Preparation and Readiness for Service
• [70:04] - Five Facts About Equipping
• [74:31] - Bonsai Believers: The Danger of Stunted Growth
• [76:15] - Finding Your Lane and Using Your Gifts
• [80:17] - Equipping Repairs and Prepares
• [84:40] - Equipping Ensures Legacy
• [87:32] - Building a Sending Culture: Shiloh’s Impact
• [89:20] - Jesus’ Model of Equipping
• [93:08] - Sent Out: From Comfort to Commission
• [96:17] - The Great Commission and Ripple Effect
• [97:14] - Next Steps: Grow, Serve, and Equip
• [100:55] - Prayer of Equipping and Blessing
• [103:24] - Invitation to Salvation and Next Steps
• [104:38] - Closing and Worship

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 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.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, what is the purpose of the different roles (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) in the church?
2. In the sermon, what illustration did Pastor Melinda use to describe how the church should function differently from a sports stadium? [[01:11:42]]
3. What does the passage say happens when each part of the body (the church) is working properly? (Ephesians 4:16)
4. What are some of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the sermon that God gives to believers? [[01:19:09]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize that every believer—not just leaders—should be equipped for ministry? How does this challenge the way many people view church involvement? [[01:11:42]]
2. The sermon talks about “bonsai believers” whose growth is stunted by staying in their comfort zones. What are some reasons people might avoid stepping out in faith, and what are the consequences for the church when this happens? [[01:15:04]]
3. Pastor Melinda said that equipping is both “repair and preparation.” How does God use our brokenness as part of equipping us for service? [[01:20:38]]
4. The sermon describes legacy as “passing the baton” to the next generation. Why is it important for the church to focus on equipping others, not just serving in the present? [[01:25:16]]

Application Questions

1. Pastor Melinda said, “God has never designed the church to look like a stadium. He designed the church to be a team where every believer is equipped, every believer is engaged, and every believer is on mission.” In what ways have you been a spectator rather than a participant in church life? What is one step you could take to get “in the game”? [[01:11:42]]
2. The sermon used the image of bonsai trees to describe believers who stay in safe, small containers. Is there an area in your life where you feel you’ve been playing it safe or avoiding growth? What would it look like to step out of your comfort zone this month? [[01:15:04]]
3. Think about the gifts, talents, or experiences God has given you. Are you currently using them to serve others? If not, what is one practical way you could start? (For example: volunteering at the Harvest Festival, serving in a ministry, or inviting someone to church.) [[01:19:09]]
4. The sermon said, “God sees a version of you that you don’t even see yet.” Is there an area where you feel unqualified or broken? How might God want to use that very area for His purposes? [[01:20:38]]
5. Who is someone in your life (younger in faith, or the next generation) that you could encourage, mentor, or help equip? What is one thing you could do this week to invest in their spiritual growth? [[01:25:16]]
6. Jesus equipped His disciples by sharing life with them and sending them out. What would it look like for you to “open your life” to someone else for the sake of discipleship? Is there a specific person or group you could invite into your home or schedule? [[01:29:20]]
7. The sermon challenged us to see our workplace, neighborhood, or school as our mission field. What is one way you can intentionally shine for Jesus in your everyday environment this week? [[01:40:06]]