Work

Introduction

Next week: Family Sunday & Chili Cook Off

Week 1: Glorify God by making Disciples

Week 2: Worship = Ascribe Praise and Adoration to God for who he is

Week 3: Walk= The daily rhythm of abiding in Christ...

This Week: Work = Work is the stewardship of all that God has given us to lovingly and sacrificially serve the body of Christ.

Illustration:

Work can get a bad rap.

The problem is Work when it is done with improper motivation it is draining…

2 people can be doing the same task and one can take tremendous Joy in it while the other is miserable.

Put this puzzle together… (Who gets excited)

Balancing the checkbook.

Working out...

Can you lead a small group? Will you serve in kids? Can you preach next week?

Why do we all feel different about these things?

The way God made us (Shape gifting _)

We simply could be being lazy.

Most likely… we are missing the proper motivation (or Why)

I am so thankful to God for the way he has led us through this series through the 4 Ws…. (We have really been staying at the Why and letting it motivate us to act.

1. Why plant Ascend… Glorify God

2. Why Worship… Because God is worthy…

3. Why Walk with God…. because the fruit is better than walking with the World.

4. So why should you do the work of ministry?

You all find yourself here at Ascend… many exploring exploring how to get involved and help with the work of planting the Church.

I want to share some encouragements directly from Galatians chapter 6. that God is calling all of us to step into as it relates to taking part in the work of church.

and then leave you to consider what is your next step in “working” for Christ.

Big Idea: The three directives of a spirit led worker: Upward, Inward, Outward.

Read Galatians 5:25-6:10 Pray

1. Upward & Inward

Galatians 6:1 (ESV)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual.

Two Intros:

Brothers = Church is suppose to be family affair....

This is also for the entire church.

You who are spiritual?

You who walk with God…

a. Do not walk in the ways of this world… walk with God

b. In Christ

C. Being Led by the spirit of God.

D. Seeking the things of God

Transition:

Here is where he is going.... If this is your reality…

What follows is an an outworking (Dont miss the word play)

This transformation is not only for your benefit but for God to love the people around you through you…

You are moved to worship because you recognize God is bigger than yourself

You walk with God because you recognize walking alone isnt getting you anywhere.

So now its time to get to work.

If this is you here is your charge!

Outward

Galatians 6:1–6 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

If this is you.... here is your charge....

Personally

Watch others: Restore Relationships in a spirit of gentleness

Watch yourself: Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Care for one another: Bear one another’s burdens. (crushing weight)

Ditch the Pride: his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

Do your part: For each will have to bear his own load.

One more note… Your burdens (overwhelming) .... vs your load (your backpack) ...

Galatians 6:6 ESV

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

The Teacher = Be a disciple maker

The Student = Take care of your leaders

There is a teacher student relationship that has been in the church since the beginning.

We should all be able to identify who these people are in our life (who is teaching you, and as you grow in wisdom who are you teaching?)

Take care of your teachers… (I dont know what the future holds for me, but I am so thankful to know that so many of you are praying for us, and constantly encouraging us)

Please do this for all ministry leaders in our church.

Transition: So Church if we are a community of individuals who...

Look To God

Care for the needs of eachother

do our part

ditch the Pride

Transition: illustration: (Im not great a artist)

1. You who are looking upward to God for direction

2. You have now experienced an inward transformation

The Fruit of working for Christ is multiplication…

Galatians 6:7–8 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Sowing (Planting) Your work.... is to plant this kind of activity throughout our church..

Reaping (Harvest) If you plant this kind of activity fruit will be produced…

(God is not mocked) This is biblical truth…

This is an individual truth and a corporate truth.

Lets not lose sight of what we are really after… I get pumped about the idea of fruit from beutiful community… but you know what really gets us excited… check out vs 8.

8. from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Not just beautiful community… eternities will be impacted)

As Nathan comes back forward lets close it out with these last two verses. (Hear, and Heed this)

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

So please serve…

(We have massive needs in our serving teams)

We have needs to serve one another within our body.

Here is the reality if we all do our part...

No one gets burnt out...

If we all do our party the needs will be met…

Do not grow weary.. in due season we will see fruit.

What is your part to play in the Work of the church?

Lets Pray