The Building Plan: Local Church Ministries

Review Last Week’s Text

FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES OF SPIRITUAL GIFT TOOL BOXES – I PETER 4:7-11

Power/Prayer (vs. 7) – Cautions: Be of sound judgment and of sober spirit.

Hospitality (vs. 9) - Caution: Remember, you’re blessed to be a blessing. Do it with joy and not complaining.

Administration (vs. 10) – Caution: Remember, you’re being a steward of the gifts of God

Speaking Gifts (vs. 11) – Caution: Remember, you’re speaking the words of God

Serving Gifts (vs. 11) – Caution: Remember, you do it in God’s strength, not yours.

LEADERSHIP (Ephesians 4:11)

Apostles preach the Gospel, usually in a foreign area, and establishes a local church in that area.

Prophets challenge the body to grow and stay true to Christ.

Evangelists rise up to preach the Gospel locally. Primarily in the same language group.

Pastors / Elders / Overseers are called to give oversight and care for that local flock.

Teachers are then tasked with the responsibility to teach doctrine, spiritual truths, and life application of those truths to the local body.

Introduce The New Text:

As I was beginning my study in spiritual gifts over 25 years ago I came to a point where I noticed all these different lists or discussions about spiritual gifts and I began to ask God the question, “Why did you put such different lists together in such different places? You must have had a reason.” And through my study He began to show me what I have been bringing to you over the last month

He led me to ask questions about the text like: What is the nature of the gifts given in each list? What is the context of the book in which it is given? To what group of people is that book addressed? Are there any similarities between the lists? For example and as a reminder:

Last week - Peter wrote to the body of Christ in general, but those who were beginning to undergo persecution - Tool boxes for the work of the ministry in spite of what was going on.

2 Weeks ago - Paul wrote to the universal church in Ephesians - Leadership in general and foundational pieces of the church.

Today, Paul is writing to a specific church in Romans - And a previously established church at that. One that Paul did not start, but whose faith was already well known throughout the world, and to that extent it was a well-established church as well. His intent was to encourage them and hopefully impart some spiritual gift to them.

Romans 1:11–12 NASB95

For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

So when Paul gets to chapter 12, he’s got specific spiritual gifts in mind when he pens it.

Give The Context:

The beginning of Chapter 12 reminds us that we are to offer our lives as a living sacrifice which is a reasonable way to worship God, seeing as how Christ gave up His life for us and then God by His grace applied that sacrifice to us.

He also reminds us that part of our sacrifice is renewing our minds so that we might understand God’s will for us.

Then He goes into spiritual gifts with the exhortation that part of renewing our mind is to remember that we are not to think more highly of ourselves, but like Peter, we are to have sound judgment (exact same word that Peter used) in regards to the use of our spiritual gifts.

As this text is in the greater context of the book of Romans which is to a specific church, it would stand to reason that what Paul is discussing here would apply to any given specific local church in general application.

Thus, I believe that what Paul is giving is an understanding of the major ministries that all churches should have. It’s as if God is saying, in an established church, here are the essential ministries of a growing, stable church.

Expound The Text:

It’s interesting to note that each text that deals with spiritual gifts have some kind of exhortation or warning or admonition connected to it.

It’s as if God knows how misunderstood and misused Spiritual Gifts are going to be, and so He’s wanting to make sure we understand and have the right attitude about them.

1 Corinthians 12:1 NASB95

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

The word for unaware is actually to be ignorant or to err from lack of understanding and discernment.

I’ll touch on this more in my next sermon, but for today’s purposes we see, like Peter did, Paul outlines some basic attitudes we must continue to have.

The three things that Peter wanted us to keep in mind were:

Three Things To Always Keep in Mind from I Peter 4:7-10:

The end of all things is near (vs. 7, 10) – Exhortation: exercise your gifts

Love one another (vs.8) – Exhortation: Keep fervent in love and forgive

Glorify God in all things (vs. 11) – Exhortation: God deserves the credit

3 Attitudes Paul Wants Us To Pay Attention To In Regards To Spiritual Gifts (vs. 3-6)

Grace - (vs. 3, 6)

This is one of the major themes of Romans, it reminds us that what God is giving us is not earned or deserved.

Gift and Grace is used several times throughout Romans, up to this point mostly about justification.

But now, like in Ephesians, Paul reminds us that for those who have been given the grace of justification through faith, we now have spiritual gifts through that same grace, by the same faith.

The difference now is that in the sanctification process, which is part of the purpose of spiritual gifts, to help us grow in maturity, God has portioned out differing amounts of faith. What does that mean?

God knows the level of faith you have, and how much it can or should grow.

He gives you the appropriate gift that He knows you’ll have enough faith to use right away.

Your confidence in using it will grow with use, but don’t be afraid of using it.

Interestingly enough, faith can be translated faithfulness, and that may be an additional thought to what Paul had in mind here.

God gives us just enough so that we will have the ability to be faithful with the gift He’s given us.

In other words, we won’t fail if we use it.

We might use it in an immature or inappropriate way, but that’s why discipleship and mentoring is so important. I’ll come back to this in a moment.

However, we can choose to be unfaithful by failing to use it.

Unity - (vs. 3-5)

Members is used multiple times here.

The emphasis on being ONE body in Christ.

And yet, highlighting the fact again that unity does not mean uniformity

all members do not have the same function.

diversity is beautiful

And reminding us that we are all members of one another.

We gotta get along!

We grieve when others grieve, we rejoice when others rejoice.

That takes us having grace with one another.

Don’t get prideful in your Spiritual Gift Toolbox

Don’t look down at someone else’s Tool Box.

We’re in this together and need to be working together.

TEAM - Together, Everyone Accomplishes More.

We all need to be heading in the same direction.

Comment regarding everyone has a ministry, but there’s no one at the helm. Spokes all in place, but there’s no hub. Which was one thing you were looking for in your next pastor.

No one’s got this all down. Grace with newbies and immaturities.

Which ties right into sound judgment.

Sound judgment (vs. 3)

to be sane and in one’s right mind. To think clearly, self-disciplined and in moderation.

We need to be of one right mind.

Philippians 2:1–4 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

I believe all the spiritual gifts are in use today.

But, we need to have grace as people learn to use them. To think clearly. Be self-disciplined.

The one’s who are more mature in any given gift should come alongside those who are learning and help them.

But we need to make sure we understand them so as to use them appropriately. It’s like any tool. Used with discipline and moderation.

We need to have spiritual discipline so as to use the gifts as they are intended.

Can you use pliers to pound a nail in? Sure, but it’s not the best way, it’s less efficient, and there is the risk of damage to the pliers.

Can you use a knife to screw in a screw? Sure, but it’s not as effective as a screwdriver, and I’ve broken my share of blade tips doing that.

What about using a screwdriver as a pry-bar? Ever snapped the end off?

God gives us tools to use, and they can be used appropriately or inappropriately.

That being said, let’s look at some of those tools now.

7 Basic Ministries Of The Church

I do believe that this is a combination passage of tools and ministries.

In other words, the ministry of prophet requires the gift of prophecy. The ministry of service requires the gift of service, etc.

In this next section Paul gives us 7 Basic Ministries of the Church

Prophecy – telling forth God’s Word for edification, exhortation, and consolation.

4394 - propheteia - Must be clear, understandable, timely, and convicting.

Women have the gift of prophecy.

A preacher often has the gift of prophecy, as does the exhorter.

The difference between the exhorter and one who has the gift of prophecy is that the exhorter tends to be more one on one with an expectation of change, and the use of the gift of prophecy alone is to larger crowds with no expectation of change. II Timothy 3:16 - 4:5; II Chron. 15:1ff. Acts 2 – Peter’s Sermon.

most commonly - Preaching

Service – ministry in the Christian community viewed with reference to the labor needed for others,

Deacons and Helps

1248 - diakonia - an office or both in the case of individuals and generally as a total concept including all branches of service. Deacons are usually thought of when this gift is used. They did not possess any ruling authority as the elders did. The care of the churches fell upon the deacons as the helpers of the elders who held distinct offices. Some became preachers and evangelists leading some to think of Deacons as training for eldership. Acts 6 –

Teaching – It is the gift of acquiring knowledge, discovering and communicating spiritual truths, and explaining what God is saying, often through systematic instruction

Christian Education

1321 - didasko - Teach or instruct by word of mouth.. Includes the intent to influence the understanding of the person who is taught. Apostles and Pastors always have the gift of teaching; Prophets usually posses it, but men might have it without belonging to any of these classes. Kerusso - preaching or proclamation, does not have inherent the same expectation of learning and assimilation as that which is being taught. Tends to go along with the Evangelist, and Prophet. The Book of Romans.

Exhortation / Encouragement – To call and come alongside someone in order to encourage them to do something especially in regards to spiritual growth.

Small Groups, Discipleship, and Counseling

3870 - parakaleo - to comfort, exhort, encourage. This is the same word used of the Holy Spirit. It is to urge someone to pursue another course of conduct, motivating them to action. The goal is to cause obedience to the truth both practical and emotional. The result will be someone walking in a manner worthy of the gospel. Discipleship / Counseling occurs in this area and is generally one on one or in small intimate groups. Prayer and Worship Teams. Acts 4:36,9:26-27, 11:22 ff. – Barnabas; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 10:22-25.

Giving / Contributing to the Needs of Others - To share with someone, to impart, communicate. One who distributes alms. Although primarily deals with the giving of money, can include other material needs given.

Benevolence and Inreach / Deacons

3330 - metadidomi - . The additional injunction of giving with sincerity, generosity, and not for self-seeking or gain. Acts 4:34-35; I Cor. 16:1. Ties into Benevolence and Inreach Ministries / Deacons.

Leading - To be over, to preside, to rule.

Overseers (episkopos), elders (presbytros), shepherds (poimen)

4291 - proistemi - There is no emphasis on rank inherent in the word itself. Someone with this gift is led to help make decisions and determine direction in the church. It is someone who does wield authority but not as a dictator. All this done over someone for their protection and maturity. See discussion under Pastors from Eph. 4:11-16. There is also the additional command to do it with earnestness and eagerness, not as a burden. Moses, Joseph, Peter – Acts 15; I Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17. The three main words used in the New Testament that seem to use this gift are the words episkopos, overseer/bishop; presbyteros, elder; and poimen, shepherd/pastor. Administration (governance – I Peter 4:10)

Mercy - To have compassion or mercy on a person in unhappy circumstances and a desire to alleviate any discomfort.

Hospitality and Outreach

1653 - eleeo - Nursing homes, jails, rescue missions, etc. Mother Theresa. And doing it joyfully. Jesus – right after was told of John’s death; Matthew 14:12 ff.

Apply The Text:

How do you feel you attitude is doing in the 3 areas we outlined today?

How is your grace quotient?

How do you feel about the unity of the church?

We do you think you are in regards to sound judgment?

If you feel you need to work on one of these areas, ask God to help you.

Which of these 7 ministries might we be deficient in as a church?

Which of the seven ministries could you see contributing to?

Maybe your ministry calling is in addition to these. That’s fine.