8. In God's Family, We Serve

Introduction: What is the church?

Going to a movie… going to a concert… going to church

The church is not a venue and worship is not a show. Gospel Communities are not programs but family gatherings.

We’re not Christian consumers but brothers and sisters in Christ, and that means we are accountable to (not for) one another and responsible to (not for) one another.

In God’s family, we serve one another. See Gal 5:13.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

We all know we should serve others, so I’m not going to try and convince you of that.

This isn’t going to be a sermon to guilt-trip you into volunteering for the nursery or some other church event.

I want to give you a biblical perspective of serving others.

For those who are serving others: I want to affirm you.

For those who want to serve but aren’t sure where to begin: I want to equip you.

For those who know you should serve but have been busy, distracted, or out of practice: I want to encourage you to find a simple way to step back into serving others.

Body (1 Corinthians 12:7)

1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

“To each is given...”

Exposition

“To each...” Every Christian receives the power of the Holy Spirit to serve—not just staff or volunteer leaders.

“is given...” This means “is continuously being given.” God is always giving you exactly what you need to do his will in any given situation. Example: Praying for the sick.

Illustration: Graham’s summer play, “There are no small parts, only small actors...”

Application: There are no small parts in God’s kingdom. You matter. You are indispensable. And you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to make a difference in the church and in world.

“the manifestation of the Spirit...”

Exposition

What does the word “manifestation” mean? To manifest something means to display it, or show it, or make it visible.

A manifestation of the Spirit is when the Holy Spirit displays God’s grace, love, and power through you. In other words, the Holy Spirit makes God’s invisible attributes visible in you.

Illustration: Manifestation of the Spirit or spiritual gift? Christians often try to figure out their so-called spiritual gifts by taking spiritual gift tests and personality profiles…

Application

If you want to find out how God will manifest his grace, love, and power in you, don’t start with a personality profile but start serving others. See a need, meet a need.

Stop being insecure about what you can accomplish for God.

“for the common good.”

Exposition: We don’t serve for accolades, social media posts, recognition, volunteer pins, virtue signaling, or to assuage our guilt. We serve for the common good.

Illustration: John 3:16-17

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Application:

We serve because (1) God loves the world, (2) Jesus came to save the lost, and (3) we are motivated by a desire to see people set free from death and have everlasting life.

We serve to give the world a little glimpse of God’s kingdom, of his beauty, his truth, his goodness, his love, his mercy, his grace, and his power.

Conclusion: Survey