Kingdom Building Gifts: Part 2

CALL TO WORSHIP

Psalm 8 “To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

OPENING PRAYER

Father your name is majestic in all the earth and we are humbled that we may gather on this Lord’s day to worship you. We pray that you would be our focus in this time, that we would delight in singing praises to you. That we would find joy in your goodness. That we would be in awe of who you are, and we pray that you would delight in our worship of you. In Jesus name, AMEN.

WORSHIP SONGS

SERMON

Review

Last several weeks - the ins and outs of kingdom building here on earth.

we gave a snapshot of what it looks like and reminded ourselves that we’re in the long game, that to build well takes time - long term faithfulness leads to fruitfulness.

day-to-day faithfulness in the small but glorious things

that to build over the long game takes passion, and that passion is a part of the gift of the holy spirit

and we began to take a look at other gifts of the spirit in relation to kingdom building

and if we don’t have love, real Biblical love, love built upon the standard of God’s truth, then the gifts mean nothing… and will do nothing.

Today we pick up Peter’s teaching on gifts where we left off, in 1 Peter 4.

1 Peter 4:7-11 “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:9 “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

We began to talk through this last week - hospitality as the illustration of loving one another.

and not just hospitality, but hospitality without grumbling - according to Peter.

which makes sense, our temptation is to avoid hospitality because at times, it inconveniences us. We grumble.

don’t just show hospitality - but don’t complain about it either.

It’s one thing to obey - it’s quite another to obey “with a happy heart” - but here we see the Lord commanding us of just that.

But why is hospitality so crucial? Because it gives us the proximity that we need to love each other.

remember - love is not just a feeling. It’s an action - and an action based on the standard of truth found in the word of God.

and without proximity (this is all review) you don’t have an opportunity to ever practice that love.

proximity given to us especially in the form of covenant church membership

hospitality is the conduit of discipleship.

it’s the channel through which any type of discipleship happens.

without hospitality, we won’t have discipleship/maturity in the Christian faith.

without sharing a meal, breaking bread together, without spending time with one another, without knowing one another, you won’t grow.

you can’t be taught, you can’t experience trials, you can’t be encouraged or provide encouragement, you can’t be loved or love, AND you can’t be served. or serve...

Here’s what I’m getting at

without hospitality - without proximity - you’ll never discover your gifts because you’ll never have the chance to use them

because love is an ACTION based on the TRUTH of the Bible

that ACTION at least in one sense … is serving those around you. and you can’t serve people you don’t know.

you don’t know them, you don’t know their needs - how could you serve them?

one time I was asked by some folks attending “how do I serve in the church?”

come early and leave late. In other words, get to know the people.

because then you’ll get to know their needs - and you’ll know how to serve them.

and you won’t know people you don’t spend time with.

In other words - your ministry in this life will be fruitless without hospitality.

hospitality is a gift, a ministry in and of itself, that’s true.

but without it… nothing else gets done. You can’t serve people you don’t know. You can’t love people you don’t know.

if you don’t know people’s needs, you won’t meet their needs.

Imagine w/ me: a place where you are known, and a place where others gifted with exactly what you need when you need it, know what you need because they know you… and they meet those needs.

your need could be encouragement, it could be a meal, it could be financial, maybe you need a rebuke.

and when you are connected to the body of Christ on an intimate level… when you are known… that body will work to meet your needs.

God made this - he engineered his church to be one of the instruments through which his promises of provision are met.

1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

here again we see the priorities of the Lord.

often when we think “serve” we think of only people “out there.” We think of big projects, trash pickup days, school supply drives, baby bottle fundraisers for the preg center, hurricane relief, etc.

and all that stuff is well and good and it has it’s place.

But what we’re called to do is FIRST use our gifts to serve one another. Paul confirms it here:

Gal 6:10 “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

When I was younger, more immature, I hated this law.

when the preacher said it. “no, that’s not what it means…” “we’re never gonna reach our community with that mindset”

but see, that was me being pragmatic, and not listening to the whole of scripture.

John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

Matt 5:14-16 ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

If the only times we “serve” are when we can organize big projects, big “outreaches” … then we’ll be settled in at 3-4 times a year. Max?

that’s not a light. that’s not a city on a hill.

a light or a city… they are perpetual - they can be viewed any time… they are continuous.

and if we KNOW ONE ANOTHER - then service becomes a part of our daily rhythm.

we have friends, they tell us what’s happening in their lives, we work to serve them and pray for them as needed.

and then - as we know one another and we serve one another… the world around us will have opportunity to see our love for one another. Now the light is shining…

it’s not a flicker, it’s not a flash - It’s a glow.

and this city of God where the people love one another and care for each other, it’s on display.

and it’s attractive. the world wants to be a part.

the best “attractional” ministry that a church can put together is not big Christmas broadway specials, or really excellent “worship experiences”, or coffee shops in the foyer...

it’s knowing one another, loving one another… SERVING one another.

WITH THE GIFTS the Lord has given you...

Because in that - we build a community. An alternate society. A culture.

Why? - for the glory of God.

1 Peter 4:11 “whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

if you’ve got a gift of speaking, you don’t speak to impress others.

you speak to reveal the word of God. “oracles of God”

which implies, that you know it. that you aren’t just giving your opinion, you’re giving the words of God.

what a waste of a good orator… to never proclaim the words of God, or to prefer the pragmatism of man over it.

it’s easy for a good orator, a good speaker, to get the crowd on his side. Empty platitudes, ear tickling...

but proclaim the words of God? sometimes that will cost you. there’s where the rubber meets the road.

are you willing to use your gifts in such a way that might cost you? are you willing to proclaim God’s truth when it means people might like you less?

Paul’s other illustration here - serving “by the strength that God provides”

in other words - do you serve in Jesus name? and I don’t mean figuratively…

if God gave you the strength, the means, the gifts - others should know where it came from...

gifts of mercy should mention Jesus, by name.

our service should not be bait and switch - “don’t tell them about Jesus until we GOT EM”

nah man. we serve with God’s strength that he provides in his name so that “in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ”

they need to know.

So - serve one another - be close to one another

be a city on a hill. be a light to the world.

let your light of service shine before men.

steward your gifts well - for the glory of God.

build his Kingdom, advance his kingdom, his way.

and he will do it.

and the gates of hell will not prevail.

SERMON PRAYER

Father we thank you that you have given us your word. We thank you that you have poured out your spirit upon us and given us all the gifts needed to do the work of your ministry, to build your church. We ask that you would help us to serve one another with these gifts. That you would make us a city on a hill. That the world would see us loving one another and others and glorify you - that the world would desire to come in, to be a part, to experience the love of Christ found in this church. Let us be brave in our service of one another, and let us be sacrificial. I pray that your promise would be fulfilled, that there would be no need here within your church, and that we would be overflowing with fruitfulness to the point where all those around us are blessed. May we use your gifts diligently in service, for your glory, and may your kingdom be advanced as a result. In Jesus name, AMEN.

RESPONSE SONG

CONFESSION / LORD’S SUPPER

The Bible makes it clear that if we confess our sins he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, so now we take time to do just that. We confess our sins to the Lord, we ask his forgiveness of our transgressions, and then we celebrate the goodness of his forgiveness together in the Lord’s Supper.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we confess that we have not been other-focused. We have been self-focused. We confess that as a result we have squandered our gifts and in some instances we don’t even know what they are. Forgive us. Help us to press in to one another in Christian fellowship so that we may grow.

Lord, we confess that we have refused to practice hospitality with our brother’s and sister’s. We thank you that we have your example of hospitality to look to, that you came and laid down your life for us while we were undeserving, and we pray that we would find strength in that.

Lord, we confess that when we have served others, we have not served for the glory of God or in the name of the Lord, we have served for our own glory. We confess that at times we have been too ashamed or embarrassed to mention the name of Jesus, and we are sorry, please forgive us. Give us the gift of courage that we may boldly declare the name of Christ when given the opportunity.

Lord, we thank you for your grace and forgiveness. We thank you for your gifts and power that you have sent by the Holy Spirit. We pray that we would be empowered to no longer waste them, and that your kingdom would be build in our lives for your glory.

We love you, and we pray these things in the way you’ve taught us to pray, saying:

(Matt 6:9-13 KJV) Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION

And now having confessed our sins we celebrate the goodness of the Lord! His provision for his people in his sacrifice, the bread and wine to remind us of his body and blood broken and poured out for us. And also a future glimpse of the marriage supper of the lamb that will one day be celebrated in the New Heavens and New Earth, when there is no more sin, no more death, and all of God’s people rejoice with him for all eternity!

And of course, with such a beautiful feast and celebration before us, we don’t celebrate and receive this sign solemnly, but with joy! With fellowship with one another. We practice our hospitality as the elements are being distributed and treat this like the celebration that it truly is. We visit, we rejoice, we laugh with one another in the next few moments as we receive the bread and wine. LET US PRAY

LORD’S SUPPER PRAYER

Father in heaven, we thank you for this wonderful sign. We thank you for the glorious truth that it represents. We thank you for the celebration we can have here today and for the future celebration that we look forward to. We pray that we would not look lightly upon these next few moments, but that our hearts would burst with joy in the truth of what you’ve done for your people.

Work your will in your church through your gifts, we pray, in Jesus name, AMEN.

OFFERTORY & PRAYER

The Lord calls us to be stewards of his good gifts. To invest them wisely to create a return as we build his kingdom, and one of the investments that he calls us to make is in obedience to the law of the Tithe. He promises that if we faithfully participate and obey this command that he will pour out blessings upon his church until there is no more need.

Maybe these blessings are financial, but very often they are service. We often serve the needs out of our church.

So, as a church that is committed to the act of service, to growing in this discipline, this gift, we must also be committed to obedience to the tithe. May we trust the Lord’s promise, may we steward all his gifts well, and may we rejoice as a church that has “no more need.” Let us pray:

Father, we ask that you would embolden us for obedience in this way. That you would help us to submit to your commands with joy on our face, and that we would rejoice in the fulfillment of your promises. Thank you for your grace in helping us so far, we ask for more of it, and we pray that we would be a city on a hill, a witness to the world, as a result. In Jesus name, AMEN.

CLOSING HYMN

DOXOLOGY

BENEDICTION

And now in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I send you out as missionaries to the world. May we know one another, may we serve with joy, may we glorify God with that service, and may his kingdom be built for generations to come:

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

You are dismissed.