Serving Together: Embracing Our Role in Christ
Summary
The sermon delivered by the speaker focused on the theme of service within the church community, emphasizing the importance of each member's active participation in the body of Christ. The speaker began by addressing the observation that often, a small percentage of the congregation carries out the majority of the work. They suggested that this imbalance might stem from a lack of understanding of the depth of God's love and the salvation we have received. The speaker compared the gratitude felt when someone pays for your drink to the response we should have to Jesus' sacrifice—service fueled by love.
The speaker then highlighted that the church is not a club or a place for idleness but a gathering of believers bought by Jesus' blood to make a difference in the world. They shared a personal story of starting in the worship ministry as a drummer, which led to being part of a wonderful community. This example underscored the idea that service is a pathway to spiritual growth and deeper relationships with Jesus. The speaker also touched on the importance of using one's gifts, whether in music, hospitality, or other areas, to contribute to the church's mission.
In discussing church selection, the speaker noted that while the quality of sermons and feeling welcomed are important, these should not overshadow the church's core purpose of spreading the gospel and fostering a community of service. They humorously recalled a staff meeting about coffee cup sizes, illustrating how trivial preferences can sometimes distract from more significant issues.
The speaker also reflected on the individualistic and consumeristic culture that has influenced the church, urging a shift towards a more communal and service-oriented mindset, similar to churches in places like Nicaragua that focus on community improvement. They shared their experience of "church shopping," challenging the congregation to prioritize the Gospel over personal preferences.
Finally, the speaker concluded by reminding the congregation of their value and the importance of each person's presence. They referenced Ephesians 4:1-16, which speaks of the roles within the church body meant to equip the saints for ministry and build up the body of Christ. The sermon ended with an invitation to a baptism class and a Christmas tree lighting event, emphasizing community involvement and the joy of fellowship.
Key Takeaways:
- True understanding and appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice should compel believers to serve out of love, not obligation. Just as a small act of kindness, like someone paying for your coffee, can inspire you to pay it forward, recognizing the magnitude of our salvation should naturally lead to a desire to serve within the church community. [56:09]
- The church is called to be an active body of believers, each using their unique gifts to make a difference. Whether through music, hospitality, or other talents, service is not just an act of doing but a means of growing in faith and fostering deeper connections with Jesus and fellow believers. [50:04]
- While the quality of sermons and a welcoming atmosphere are significant, they should not eclipse the church's primary mission. The focus should remain on spreading the Gospel and building a community that serves one another, rather than getting caught up in personal preferences or trivial matters. [44:15]
- The individualistic and consumeristic tendencies of our culture should not dictate the church's approach to ministry. Instead, the church should look to examples like those in Nicaragua, where the focus is on community betterment, and strive to create a culture of service and unity within the body of Christ. [40:59]
- Every member of the church brings value simply by being present, and each has a role to play in equipping the saints for ministry. The goal is to achieve unity, maturity, and to stand firm against false teachings, growing together in love as one body. [53:18]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 4:1-16
### Observation Questions
1. What roles within the church body are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12, and what is their purpose?
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of each member using their unique gifts within the church community? [50:04]
3. How does the speaker describe the impact of individualistic and consumeristic culture on the church? [38:49]
4. What personal story did the speaker share to illustrate the importance of service in spiritual growth? [01:03:13]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding the depth of Jesus' sacrifice influence a believer's motivation to serve within the church? [56:09]
2. In what ways can the church community shift from a consumeristic mindset to a service-oriented one, as suggested by the speaker? [40:59]
3. How does the concept of being "equipped for ministry" in Ephesians 4:12 relate to the speaker's call for active participation in the church?
4. What does the speaker mean by saying that "service for Jesus should never replace love for Jesus"? [57:31]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current involvement in the church. Are there areas where you feel called to serve but haven't yet taken action? What steps can you take this week to begin serving in that area? [50:04]
2. The speaker mentioned that trivial preferences can sometimes distract from the church's mission. Can you identify any personal preferences that might be hindering your focus on serving the Gospel? How can you shift your mindset? [46:48]
3. Think about a time when you felt truly loved and appreciated. How did that experience motivate you to serve others? How can you apply that motivation to your service within the church? [56:09]
4. The speaker shared an example of churches in Nicaragua focusing on community improvement. What are some practical ways our church can better serve our local community? [40:59]
5. How can you use your unique gifts to contribute to the church's mission? Identify one specific talent or skill you have and brainstorm ways to use it for the benefit of the church community. [50:04]
6. The speaker emphasized the importance of every member's presence and value. How can you encourage and support others in your church to recognize their value and get involved in service? [53:18]
7. Reflect on the idea that service is a pathway to spiritual growth and deeper relationships with Jesus. How has serving in the past impacted your faith journey, and how can you seek new opportunities to grow through service? [01:03:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Service as Love in Action
Gratitude for salvation should manifest as a commitment to serve within the church community. Recognizing the depth of Jesus' sacrifice, believers are called to act out of love, not obligation, mirroring the generosity received through grace. This service is a natural response to the understanding of the ultimate gift given to humanity. [56:09]
Hebrews 13:16 - "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate your gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice through acts of service in your church community this week?
Day 2: Growth Through Service
Serving in the church is not merely a task but a pathway to spiritual maturity and community. By using one's unique gifts, whether in music, hospitality, or other areas, service becomes a means of connecting more deeply with Jesus and fellow believers, fostering growth in faith. [50:04]
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What gifts have you been blessed with, and how can you use them to serve and build up your church community?
Day 3: Prioritizing the Gospel in Church Life
The primary mission of the church is to spread the Gospel and build a community of service. While sermons and a welcoming atmosphere are important, they should not overshadow the church's core purpose. Believers are encouraged to focus on what truly matters, rather than getting caught up in personal preferences. [44:15]
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: Are there aspects of your church experience that you prioritize over actively participating in the mission of the Gospel? How can you adjust your focus?
Day 4: Counter-Cultural Community Service
The church should resist the individualistic and consumeristic culture by fostering a communal and service-oriented mindset. Looking to examples of churches focused on community improvement, believers are called to create a culture of service and unity within the body of Christ. [40:59]
Galatians 5:13-14 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Reflection: How can you contribute to a shift towards a more service-oriented culture in your church and local community?
Day 5: Embracing Our Role in the Body of Christ
Every member of the church has value and a role to play in equipping others for ministry. The goal is unity and maturity in the faith, standing firm against false teachings and growing together in love as one body. [53:18]
Ephesians 4:15-16 - "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. 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."
Reflection: What role do you feel called to play in your church to help equip others and build up the body of Christ?
Quotes
"Church was not meant to be a club; church was meant to be a place where you just sit down on the sidelines and don't grow at all. The church exists to help the community, the church exists as a body of Believers." [50:04] (Download)
"Idleness and laziness will not grow your faith and it won't grow your community. Every single one of us is called to do something." [51:22] (Download)
"Whenever God calls you to something, He doesn't call you because He needs your help; He calls you because there's something better for you that you need to walk into. That is spiritual growth." [52:32] (Download)
"We live in an individualistic culture, it's a consumerist culture, and we would be naive to think that consumerism has not seeped into church culture." [38:49] (Download)
"This word ministry translates to the word service, and who are the Saints? Everyone who is bought by the blood of Jesus, everyone who places their faith in Jesus and his death and Resurrection, those are the Saints." [40:22] (Download)
"When you grasp the fullness of Jesus, you will be compelled to serve; when you are truly loved, you will be compelled to love." [57:31] (Download)
"In Nicaragua, if a church exists in a community, largely what the church does is they feed the kids and they help women start businesses. That is what the church does over there." [41:38] (Download)
"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." [53:58] (Download)
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them; you have been gifted by God through the power of the Holy Spirit to offer something to make a difference." [59:36] (Download)
"Every believer is called to service... it actually builds you up... you're growing into a full picture of who Christ wants you to be when you practice your faith and that translates into service." [01:01:38] (Download)
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