Unity in Diversity: Serving with Purpose and Humility
Summary
Summary
Service within the body of Christ is not about competition, comparison, or measuring success by worldly standards. Each person is uniquely gifted and called by God to play a specific role, no matter how big or small it may seem. Just as a beautiful painting requires many colors, the church thrives when everyone brings their unique gifts and passions to the table. When we allow worldly thinking—like jealousy, rivalry, or pride—to creep into our service, we lose sight of the spiritual purpose God has for us. The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds, helping us see service not as a means for personal recognition, but as a way to build up the body and glorify God.
Spiritual maturity is marked by unity, humility, and faithfulness. Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind us that immaturity leads to envy, strife, and division, but spiritual growth leads to teamwork and mutual encouragement. We are not called to be “fans” of our favorite ministries or leaders, but to recognize that all who serve are simply fulfilling the assignments God has given them. Whether planting seeds, watering, or reaping the harvest, it is God who gives the increase and deserves the glory.
Our motivation in service matters deeply. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, God will not measure our success by numbers or outward achievements, but by our faithfulness and the purity of our motives. Even the smallest acts of service—like a handshake, a meal, or a word of encouragement—can have eternal impact when done in obedience and love. Rather than getting sidetracked by comparison or competition, we are called to focus on our own calling, encourage one another, and trust God to use our efforts for His greater purpose.
Key Takeaways
- Spiritual Service Requires a Renewed Mindset
True service in the church is not about adopting the world’s standards of success or competition. The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds to see service as a spiritual calling, not a platform for personal achievement or recognition. When we allow God to shape our thinking, we find joy and purpose in whatever role He assigns us, big or small. [06:17]
- Unity Over Rivalry: The Beauty of Diversity in the Body
Just as a painting needs many colors to be beautiful, the church needs a variety of gifts, personalities, and callings. When we focus on our “favorite color” or ministry, we risk missing the bigger picture God is creating through all of us. Embracing diversity and working together in unity reflects the heart of Christ and brings out the true beauty of His church. [04:14]
- Spiritual Immaturity Breeds Division, Maturity Builds Teamwork
Paul warns that envy, strife, and division are signs of spiritual immaturity. When we compare ourselves or our ministries to others, we fall into the trap of competition and lose sight of our true mission. Spiritual maturity is seen in humility, cooperation, and a willingness to serve wherever God places us, knowing we are all on the same team. [17:19]
- God Assigns the Roles, and He Alone Gives the Increase
Every servant, whether planting, watering, or harvesting, is fulfilling a God-given assignment. Our responsibility is to be faithful in our role, not to seek recognition or compare ourselves to others. Ultimately, it is God who brings growth and fruitfulness, and He alone deserves the glory for any success. [31:39]
- Motivation and Faithfulness Matter More Than Visibility
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, God will evaluate not just what we did, but why we did it. Acts of service done with pure motives and faithfulness, even if unseen by others, are precious in God’s sight. Rather than seeking the spotlight, we are called to serve with integrity, trusting that God sees and rewards every faithful act. [39:44]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction: Service and the Holy Spirit
[00:44] - Worldly vs. Spiritual Views of Success
[01:47] - Object Lesson: The Crayon Box
[04:14] - The Beauty of Diversity in Service
[05:42] - The Holy Spirit Enlightens Our Thinking
[07:19] - Competition and Rivalry in the Church
[10:28] - Marks of Spiritual Immaturity
[12:38] - Carnal vs. Spiritual Thinking
[15:57] - The Need for Spiritual Growth
[17:19] - Jealousy, Strife, and Division
[20:42] - The Danger of Favoritism in Ministry
[26:15] - God Assigns Roles in the Body
[31:39] - Planting, Watering, and God’s Increase
[38:25] - Building on the Foundation of Christ
[39:44] - Motives and Rewards at the Judgment Seat
[42:09] - The Lasting Impact of Small Acts
[44:28] - Staying Focused and Encouraging One Another
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Serving with a Spiritual Mindset
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### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 3:1-11
(Primary text for the sermon; see [11:18] and throughout)
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 3, what are some signs of spiritual immaturity that Paul points out in the Corinthian church? ([12:38])
2. In the analogy Paul uses, what different roles do Paul and Apollos play in the church, and who is ultimately responsible for the growth? ([31:39])
3. What does Paul say about the foundation of the church, and why is it important? ([38:25])
4. In the sermon, what object lesson did the pastor use to illustrate the beauty of diversity in the church? ([04:14])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul warn against jealousy, strife, and division among believers? How do these attitudes affect the church’s mission? ([17:19])
2. What does it mean to have a “spiritual” versus a “worldly” mindset when it comes to serving in the church? ([06:17])
3. How does the analogy of planting, watering, and God giving the increase help us understand our individual roles in the body of Christ? ([31:39])
4. Why does God care more about our motives and faithfulness than about the size or visibility of our service? ([39:44])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about how easy it is to compare ourselves or our ministries to others. Can you think of a time when you felt jealous or discouraged because of someone else’s role or recognition in the church? How did you handle it? ([17:19])
2. The pastor used the example of a crayon box to show that every color is needed for a beautiful picture. What unique gifts or passions do you bring to the church? Are there ways you’ve been holding back because you think your role is “too small”? ([04:14])
3. Paul says that God assigns each person their role. Do you feel confident about where God has placed you to serve right now? If not, what steps could you take to seek His direction? ([26:54])
4. The sermon emphasized that even small acts of service—like a handshake, a meal, or a word of encouragement—can have eternal impact. What is one “small” thing you can do this week to serve someone in the church or your community? ([43:05])
5. The pastor warned about letting worldly thinking—like competition or pride—creep into our service. Are there areas in your life or ministry where you’ve noticed this happening? What practical steps can you take to renew your mindset? ([06:17])
6. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, God will look at our motives and faithfulness. If God were to evaluate your service today, what would He find? Are there any changes you feel led to make in your attitude or actions? ([39:44])
7. The sermon encouraged us to encourage one another and not get sidetracked by comparison. Who is someone you can encourage this week in their service, and how will you do it? ([44:28])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group see their unique role in the body of Christ, to serve with pure motives, and to encourage one another in unity and love.
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Service as a Divine Calling, Not a Competition
True service within the body of Christ transcends worldly measures of success such as competition, comparison, or personal recognition. Each believer is uniquely gifted and called by God to fulfill a specific role, regardless of how visible or seemingly significant it may appear. When the Holy Spirit renews our minds, we begin to see service as a sacred responsibility to build up the church and glorify God, rather than a platform for personal achievement. This shift in perspective brings joy and purpose to every task, whether large or small, and frees us from the trap of envy or rivalry.
Allowing God to shape our thinking helps us find contentment and fulfillment in our assigned roles, knowing that our faithfulness is what truly matters. When we serve with a heart aligned to God’s purpose, we participate in a greater spiritual work that no human standard can measure. [06:17]
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2
Reflection: What is one area of your service where you have been tempted to seek recognition or compare yourself to others? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mindset about that role today?
Day 2: Celebrating the Church’s Rich Tapestry of Gifts and Callings
The church is like a magnificent painting that requires many colors to reveal its full beauty. Each believer brings unique gifts, personalities, and passions that contribute to the whole. When we focus only on our “favorite color” or ministry, we risk missing the bigger picture God is creating through all of us. Embracing diversity and working together in unity reflects the heart of Christ and reveals the true beauty of His church.
Unity does not mean uniformity; rather, it means valuing and harmonizing differences for the sake of the body’s health and witness. When rivalry or favoritism creeps in, it fractures the community and diminishes the impact of collective service. Instead, recognizing that every role is essential fosters mutual respect and cooperation, allowing the church to thrive as God intended. [04:14]
“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.” — Romans 12:4-5
Reflection: Identify one gift or role in the church that you have undervalued or overlooked. How can you intentionally affirm and support that part of the body this week?
Day 3: Growing Beyond Envy and Division Toward Humble Teamwork
Spiritual immaturity often reveals itself through envy, strife, and division within the church. When believers compare themselves or their ministries to others, they fall into the trap of competition and lose sight of their true mission. Spiritual maturity, however, is marked by humility, cooperation, and a willingness to serve wherever God places us. Recognizing that we are all on the same team encourages mutual encouragement and strengthens the body.
Maturity means moving beyond personal preferences or allegiances to leaders and ministries, and instead embracing a posture of faithfulness and unity. This growth requires intentional surrender of pride and rivalry, allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate a spirit of peace and teamwork that honors God and advances His kingdom. [17:19]
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” — Hebrews 4:16; 12:1 (combined)
Reflection: In what ways have envy or division affected your relationships within the church? What practical step can you take today to foster humility and teamwork instead?
Day 4: Faithful Stewardship of God-Assigned Roles Without Seeking Glory
Every servant in the church is fulfilling a God-given assignment—whether planting seeds, watering, or harvesting the fruit. Our responsibility is to be faithful in the role God has entrusted to us, not to seek recognition or compare ourselves to others. Growth and fruitfulness come from God alone, and He deserves all the glory for any success.
Understanding that God alone gives the increase frees us from the pressure to perform or compete. It invites us to focus on obedience and faithfulness, trusting that God will use our efforts for His greater purpose. This perspective cultivates contentment and perseverance, even when our work seems unnoticed or small in the eyes of the world. [31:39]
“Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” — 1 Corinthians 3:5-6
Reflection: Reflect on your current ministry or service role. How can you cultivate faithfulness and trust in God’s timing rather than seeking immediate results or recognition?
Day 5: Serving with Pure Motives for Eternal Impact
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, God will evaluate not only what we have done but why we have done it. Acts of service performed with pure motives and faithfulness, even if unseen by others, are precious in God’s sight. Rather than seeking the spotlight or outward visibility, believers are called to serve with integrity and love, trusting that God sees and rewards every faithful act.
Even the smallest acts—like a handshake, a meal shared, or a word of encouragement—can have eternal significance when done in obedience to God’s calling. This truth challenges believers to examine their hearts and motivations, ensuring that service flows from love and obedience rather than pride or desire for approval. [39:44]
“Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58
Reflection: Consider a recent act of service you performed. What was your motivation behind it? How can you cultivate a heart that seeks to serve God alone, regardless of human recognition?
Quotes
You need to look at your service not in a worldly way but in a spiritual way. You know one thing that I'm afraid of in the church is that that the world's thinking has entered into the church. You know, today a lot of people gauge Church success like they do the stock market. Okay, if the stock market's way high, uh, that's successful. If the stock market goes down, it's way low or something like that, okay. And a lot of times people gauge, uh, success in a worldly way here instead of a spiritual way of looking at things. [00:00:26]
Whatever God has called you to do here, big or little here, that you need to do it and you need not, you need to not worry about what other people may say about you if you're successful or you're not successful here because we're going to see in the end there is something called the Judgment seat of Christ where he will look at your motive, he will look at your heart and he will look at your faithfulness. [00:01:12]
But if we're not careful here we can take worldly thinking here into our service and we can think also that just because you're smaller or or you're doing a small job means well I'm not doing much okay but that's the way the world thinks here. Now I want you to notice here what does spiritual immaturity look like in uh in a Believer here now what does immaturity look like in a child? [00:10:13]
When you are a spiritual baby, when you're not growing in the Lord here and you're not uh, you're not spiritual here led by the Holy Spirit, you are going to act here because notice what Paul wanted to do here. Look at verse two here. He wanted to get to these people where he could just like babies. Look at verse two: I have fed you with water, what, milk and not with meat, meat, for hither you were not able to Bear it, neither yet now are you able to Bear it here. [00:14:45]
There is something spiritually wrong here if a person is, has not changed their thinking in a positive biblical way here of looking at service here. When we look at how people act here, now let me ask a question here. When I talk about changing your thinking here, my thinking has changed since I first got saved. How about you? Anybody ever look at things differently now that you got saved here? [00:15:57]
If the church as a whole, not only this church or the church up the road or every other church or every Church in alans, what happens if we get a group of people in our churches here that are not spiritually growing here and they are not seeing things how they're supposed to be here? What will result here? This is this is what will result here when you look at what happens here when people are not growing here in the church. [00:16:08]
When you are thinking this is my fa color, we are all only blue, then what happens? Jealousy starts kicking in. Now I don't know about you, jealousy is not a fruit of growing in the Lord and I want you to notice what else happens here when you are are worldly in your thinking here. When the church is not worlding in their spiritual no thinking, look what he says right here. He says your envy and and strife and divisions here. [00:18:08]
If he is getting you to war against another believer, he is getting you not to do what he God wants you to do which is to serve and spread the gospel and you realize if he can get you sidetracked here that's where he wants you to be, amen, and you're thinking if you get sidetracked here and you think I'm the only blue and that's the only pink, that's where Satan wants you to be. [00:19:48]
He does not want me to kill another Pastor, kill another Ministry. He doesn't want us to be unethical and treat people wrongly, to think we're Superior or I praise the lord we have good facilities, we we are debt free here and I I praise the Lord, please I'm not bragging about this one bit okay, but my point is okay, they have many many good churches around here, the small little country churches that maybe have 20 or 30 here that are just as as good as people in it that love the Lord in it. [00:23:20]
You realize the Lord knows what you need and the Lord places you where you need to be. Do do you understand that the Lord knows you? Is there a one siiz fitall? James, what size you, if you don't mind me asking, what size do you wear? 13. Well, if I put on a 13 I would be saying I got flipflops okay because I'm a nine and a half, but if somebody tried to put a seven on me it wouldn't fit and you understand I believe the Holy Spirit fits you where you're supposed to be in churches and fits you with different types of people here. [00:27:14]
God has assigned me, okay. I remember when I was growing up and I I had envisions of being a physical therapist. In fact I I told you I had a full ride scholarship, wanted to be there and um if you were to ask me if I would spend 25 years in huttonville West Virginia in high school I would have laughed at you. I would have said me, small town, 200, no way okay. In fact I went to Pittsburgh first, Pittsburgh, got a degree in Business there, didn't I. [00:28:58]
Where has the Lord placed you to be? You think God wants you to serve somewhere in the body? We're called the body of Christ here, okay. You may be a hand, may be an eye, may be something here, but how many agree with me by either an amen or raising the hand God has something for you to serve. Now if we spend our time arguing over who's better, who's bigger, who's doing more, who's greater here, we're deviating from what God wants us to do here. [00:30:56]
I have planted, apollis water Earth, but God gave the what, increase. Now I want you to notice here, and my wife, surely my wife, I, she wouldn't let, well, she probably would let me take some her little SE, but uh, my wife, she likes to plant plants and she likes to do things and she, fact, surely and her get along great, okay, and uh, but this this right here was a tiny little seed, just a tin, it's called a spider plant, okay, and it was a tiny little seed. [00:31:35]
You plant seeds. God God told me the rest of my Ministry this. I had a dream one night. God said, pastor, the rest of your time on Earth I want you just to plant seeds and wherever they go they go, right. If they go to Kentucky, they go to Kentucky, if they go somewhere, but this is your job to, oh no, my job is to vacuum afterwards now, but uh, this is your job here is to plant seeds here. [00:34:13]
Your job might be just as a seed roll. You say, but I I I do dinners here, Jerry just talked about doing dinners, you might be planting seeds of getting people out of depression. Do you understand that? Okay, you say, well, I'm just serving meals. No, that's, if you think that way, you're, you're planting seeds in people's lives to get to know, but there also needs to be those Waters here, water was somebody who taught the people, who growed the people here, they all had different roles but who gave the increase here folks? God. [00:35:30]
It doesn't matter what role you get here in the in serving, who ultimately increases it, who who's who's who ultimately gets the glory? God. This now, if you're not thinking spiritual, you're going to Pat yourself on the back, right, you're going to say I did this, I did this, okay, okay. Now notice what he says right here, look at your spiritual roles. [00:36:29]
So then neither is he that planteth, you're not anything, you're just a man, he that WTH, but God giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that WTH are what, they're one, right, they're just one here, they're a team, right, okay. Are they supposed to be divided? No, we're supposed to be a team. Now realize how teamw work, how many, how many coaches we got here? [00:36:56]
When you realize your role in serving, you say, I'm part of a team here, I I I do my part, but look what he says right here, we are laborers together with who? God's. You are God's field or husband me, you're God's Building here. Now ultimately here we work together. Who is our boss? God. Whether you plant, whether you sew, whether you build and when you look at these quickly here, somebody's got to lay the foundation here, the foundation needs to be Jesus Christ here. [00:38:00]
If your foundation is not Jesus Christ, you're going to fall, you're spiritually here, and I've known many many good churches here, their Foundation is not Jesus Christ and they didn't last very long. They might have been flashy. I've known churches that's four or 5,000 that there, they're close, you know why? Their Foundation is not Jesus Christ here. [00:38:37]
Folks, your motivation matters, you understand? Your motivation, and when you read the rest of this chapter here, it talks about glorying in men here. You realize here I am a man, okay, I hope that you see I have a role, you have a role, but I am no more important of a man that has 10 or meets in a hut or a man that has 10,000 their church here because God is all of us are going to stand before the Judgment sheet of Christ. [00:39:24]
Planting seeds is not a small roll. Look around the ark, Noah, God or somebody planted all these trees around here, right, they, somebody had to do this, right. How many have trees? My wife, I I'll quit on this illustration, my wife when she was really little, how many know those little propeller things, those little maple trees, you throw them up the air and they go helicopters. [00:40:54]
Let me ask you a question, whose life are you using to change? Is God using you to change somebody's life? You say I'm only planting seeds. Who's in here that PL W me the Lord? You don't see the guy who won me the Lord, right, you don't see the people that gone before me, Deb be right there, some of all of them, I'm the only impastor this Liv, amen, they're all in heaven, you don't see that but God does, and you understand here there are many many good works of God. [00:42:07]
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