Playing Your Part | Adam Brown | Harbor Point Church

Devotional

Day 1: When Team Victory Requires Every Player’s Yes

The world celebrates solo achievements, but Jesus redefines greatness through interdependence. Like a baseball team where pitchers, batters, and outfielders all contribute unseen efforts, the church thrives when each member embraces their role. Spiritual gifts aren’t trophies for display but tools for equipping others. Danny parking cars, Caitlin mentoring teens, and volunteers carrying wheelchairs up stairs all prove that hidden service fuels collective impact. True greatness emerges when we stop comparing roles and start completing each other. [05:46]

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you seen an “unseen” act of service—like a ligament quietly supporting the body—impact your faith community? What hesitations keep you from embracing such a role?

Day 2: Gifts Given to Equip, Not to Elevate

Jesus designed the church like a toolbox, not a trophy case. Apostles, teachers, and parking volunteers all share one purpose: to prepare God’s people for works of service. Spiritual gifts lose their power when used for personal acclaim, like a star athlete ignoring teammates. The story of Rachel’s daughter Sofia reveals how elevators built and wheelchairs lifted become sacred acts when done to strengthen others. Greatness multiplies when we stop asking “Do they see me?” and start asking “Are they equipped?” [11:33]

“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: When have you used a skill or talent primarily for recognition rather than to empower others? How might shifting that focus alter your impact?

Day 3: Maturity as Immunity Against the Waves

New surfers get knocked down by every wave; seasoned riders read the swells. Similarly, spiritual maturity anchors believers when cultural currents try to sweep them away. The church grows sturdy not through trendy programs but through unified truth spoken in love—like volunteers chasing down a discouraged mom to say, “We’ll carry your daughter.” Each act of service, from budgeting for camp sponsorships to installing wheelchair lifts, fortifies the body against the world’s undertow. [16:11]

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, blown here and there by every wind of teaching. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: Which “wave” of cultural pressure most often destabilizes you? How could engaging in humble service strengthen your spiritual footing?

Day 4: The Lift That Love Built

Eight stairs separated Sofia from her peers until three volunteers intervened. What began as a physical lift became a spiritual elevator—proof that love reshapes environments. Like ligaments binding joints, ordinary acts of adaptation (carrying chairs, fundraising for ramps) create spaces where everyone belongs. Serving isn’t about grand gestures but removing barriers so others encounter Jesus. When we build access points instead of applauding our own sacrifices, we mirror Christ’s heart. [19:09]

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:16, ESV)

Reflection: What unnoticed barrier—physical, emotional, or spiritual—might God be asking you to help dismantle through simple acts of service?

Day 5: Your Position Changes Everything

Cooperstown’s 90 baseball teams knew victory required all nine players. Caitlin’s journey from sponsored camper to sponsor, Danny’s parking lot hospitality, and Sofia’s wheelchair ministry all reveal this truth: No role is incidental. Serving isn’t about finding your passion but surrendering your position to Christ’s lineup. Like a coach assigning placements, God positions us not for applause but for collective triumph. The question isn’t “Am I gifted?” but “Will I show up?” [28:56]

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Matthew 20:26-28, ESV)

Reflection: Where has someone’s faithful service in an “unsexy” role profoundly shaped your faith? What step will you take this week to embrace your position on Christ’s team?

Sermon Summary

Jesus defines greatness in a way that flips the world’s version upside down. Greatness is not recognition, authority, being the all star, or getting all the glory. Jesus says that whoever wants to become great must become a servant, and then he points to himself as the one who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. Service and sacrifice are not side notes to greatness. They are greatness.

The image of team sports helps bring that home. It is hard to win at team sports because every person has to know their role, play their part, and rely on others. Paul uses that same kind of picture for the church when he calls it the body of Christ. A body has many parts, each part has a function, and each member belongs to the others. Christ uses his body, the church, to continue his mission of seeking and saving the lost.

Christ gives spiritual gifts to believers so that his people can be equipped for works of service. Those gifts are not given so one person can rise to the top. They are given so that the body can be built up. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers equip people to serve, grow, and become mature. The goal is unity in the faith, growing knowledge of the Son of God, and a life that becomes more and more like Jesus.

Paul warns that spiritual immaturity leaves people like infants tossed back and forth by the waves. The world contains plenty of crafty teaching, deceitful scheming, and winds that can knock people over when they are unaware. The mature body of Christ speaks the truth in love and helps people grow steady, rooted, and strong.

Christ is the head of the body, and every supporting ligament matters. Some parts are not flashy or seen by everybody, but everybody knows when a ligament is not doing its job. Parking volunteers, camp leaders, sponsors, welcome teams, and those who make room for a young girl in a wheelchair all display what it looks like when each part does its work. The body grows and builds itself up in love when ordinary people jump in, use their gifts, and make space for others to experience the care of Jesus.

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Key Takeaways

1. Greatness looks like service and sacrifice Jesus refuses the usual definition of greatness built on status, praise, and being noticed. His own life becomes the definition: he came to serve and to give himself for many. Service becomes great not because it earns attention, but because it reflects the self-giving heart of Christ. [02:28]
2. Every believer has a part to play Christ gives gifts to every person in the body, not merely to gifted professionals or visible leaders. The church needs every supporting ligament, including the parts that are easy to miss. A faithful role in a parking lot, with junior high students, or on a welcome team can carry deep kingdom weight. [20:30]
3. Gifts build people, not personal platforms Spiritual gifts are meant to equip others for works of service and build up the body of Christ. An all star mentality works against the purpose of the gifts because it seeks glory for one person. Christ forms a church where giftedness creates maturity, unity, and love in others. [13:05]
4. Maturity keeps people steady in waves Paul contrasts spiritual maturity with being tossed around by every wind of teaching. Knowledge of Christ and truth spoken in love help the body recognize what is true when the waves are crashing. The church becomes a place where people are strengthened instead of left alone in the current. [16:11]
5. Serving often changes the servant too God uses service not only to care for others but also to shape the person who steps in. Caitlin’s story shows how a person impacted by faithful leaders can become someone who leads and gives for others. The unknown becomes a place where God teaches people what their gifts can become.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Jesus Defines Greatness
[03:36] - It Is Hard to Win at Team Sports
[06:50] - The Church as the Body of Christ
[08:30] - Christ’s Mission Continues Through His People
[11:33] - Spiritual Gifts for Works of Service
[14:27] - Built Up Into Unity and Maturity
[16:11] - No Longer Tossed by the Waves
[19:09] - Speaking Truth in Love
[20:30] - Every Supporting Ligament Matters
[23:36] - Stories of Faithful Volunteers
[28:40] - Where Is Your Spot on the Team?

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:11–16
“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, 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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.” [11:33]

Matthew 20:26–28
“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [02:28]

1 Corinthians 12:12
“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.” [07:17]

Romans 12:4–5
“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.” [07:39]

Observation questions

In Matthew 20:26–28, what words does Jesus use to contrast the usual pursuit of greatness with his definition of greatness? [01:59]
According to Ephesians 4:11–13, what are gifted leaders meant to do, and what are all God’s people equipped to do?
What pictures does Paul use in Ephesians 4:14–16 to describe both spiritual immaturity and spiritual maturity? [16:30]
What did the stories of Danny, Caitlin, Rachel, and Sofia show about roles in the church that may be unseen, difficult, or easily overlooked? [23:51]

Interpretation questions

Jesus says greatness comes through serving and giving oneself for others. How does Jesus’ own sacrifice as a ransom keep service from becoming another way to earn attention or approval? [02:33]
Ephesians 4 says leaders equip believers for works of service, rather than doing all the ministry themselves. What might a church look like when a few people do everything, compared with a church where many people are equipped and serving? [13:05]
Paul says believers grow steady by growing in faith and knowledge of Jesus, while speaking the truth in love. Why are both truth and love necessary when someone is confused, struggling, or being pulled by unhealthy influences? [19:09]
The body grows “when each part is working properly.” How does this challenge the idea that only visible leaders, strong personalities, or highly skilled people have an important place in the church? [20:29]

Application questions

Where are you most tempted to measure greatness by recognition, influence, achievement, or being noticed? What would it look like to receive Jesus’ definition of greatness through service and sacrifice in that area? [02:55]
Think about ways you have been cared for by the body of Christ—through a group leader, a welcome, a child or student ministry volunteer, practical help, or someone speaking truth with love. Is there an area where you could help provide that same care for someone else? [30:41]
What abilities, experiences, burdens, or interests might God use as part of your role in the body? If you are unsure, what is one simple next step you could take to begin discovering it?
Is there a “supporting ligament” kind of role you have overlooked because it does not seem visible or impressive? What changes when you see ordinary service as a way for others to experience the care of Jesus? [24:15]
Where have you recently felt tossed around by waves—confusing messages, anxiety, temptation, conflict, or pressure from others? Who could help you hear truth in love and grow steadier in Christ? [19:47]
Caitlin stepped into serving before she had everything figured out, and God continued to shape her through it. What uncertainty, fear, or feeling of inadequacy may be keeping you from taking a next step of service? [25:35]
How could this group help one another take a meaningful next step—not for personal glory, but so the body of Christ is built up in love? [28:30]

Sermon Clips

52s

#GreatnessThroughService

“That's the picture of the church. That's what greatness is defined as, I believe, by Jesus. He says, you wanna serve? You wanna be great? You get to serve. You want greatness? You get to have sacrifice. And the way we're gonna display that, the way we're gonna show that is through the body of Christ, the local church, the church around the world. People that are continuing to use their gifts in service, building others up, speaking the truth in love, continuing to grow in our knowledge, and become more and more mature. Everyone playing their part, every ligament, every member of the body jumping in and using their gifts.”

49s

#FindYourGift

“So the question then becomes for us is, what is God asking of us? Because I believe that God has gifted each one of us. If we understand, like we talked about already, that everyone has received a gift, Everyone has a part to play. Everyone belongs to the body. We get to jump in. So where have you been impacted? Where have you been affected by the church in a positive way that you maybe wanna say to yourself, like some of these other examples, now you wanna give back. What is it that you're passionate about, that you care about in such a way that you might consider, wanna be great and actually wanna learn greatness? And the way that Jesus has made it clear that I learn greatness is through service.”

60s

#JourneyToMaturity

“and they're trying to be unified. They're trying to grow in their knowledge of the son of God. But notice what else he says, to become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. I actually love this language because there's process language implied in here. There's journey language implied in here similar to what I just said as we started our process. We are not perfect people. We have not figured it all out. We do not have all the answers. We are all on a journey to become more and more mature. And that picture of the fullness of Christ is that picture that we might become more and more like Jesus. That we might continue to develop, to become like the son of God that came to earth and demonstrated what sacrifice is, demonstrated what service is. That is what it means for the church to be built up.”

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