Participate in the Ministry

Intro: Bench -> Left Field

1. Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-11)

A. All spiritual gifts are empowered by the same God.

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

It is not…

spiritual “energy” that you channel.

the force.

something you muster up.

It is God (The Holy Spirit).

There are many gifts (v. 4)

There are many ministry activities they can be used in (v. 5)

Compassion ministry.

Amor Trips

Streets of Hope

Evangelistic ministry:

Outreach.

Flyering.

Gospel presentations.

Strategizing.

Gospel Appointments

Prayer ministry:

Intercession

Praying with people.

Visiting people to pray with them.

Apostolic Ministry.

Church planting.

Missions.

Starting new ministries and groups.

Administrative ministry

Organizing people to work together.

Planning events.

Thinking through needs to make things happen.

Arranging rides.

Handling finances.

Making the church service happen:

Set-up and tear down

Sound engineering.

Slides

Refreshments.

Music

Teaching

The same God who empowers them all (v. 6)

B. Spiritual gifts are primarily to be used for the benefit of others.

1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

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

They can be personally edifying and fulfilling.

The primary purpose though, is others.

Each follower of Jesus receives at least one spiritual gift.

Application:

Discover your spiritual gift(s)

Use it for the benefit of the body of Christ.

C. Biblical examples of spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

D. Gifts are given in accordance with God’s will.

1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

It’s ok to desire certain gifts and ask for them (1 Cor. 14:1).

Each gift is to be received with gratitude, to be appreciated and utilized.

Are you using the gift you already know God has given to you?

2. The Body of Christ

A. When you become a Christian, you become a member of Christ’s body. (1 Cor. 12:12-13, 27)

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 ESV

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

A metaphor - A human body. (v. 12)

Baptized into the Body: (v. 13)

Baptism - I’m in

One body, unified.

One Spirit.

“In the New Testament perspective, if you want to work as part of the Body of Christ, you don’t simply minister as an isolated individual. Rather, you team up with some specific group of believers.”

Harold Bullock, Life With Attitude

B. Every member of the church makes up the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:14

1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Member: One body part.

One part is not the whole.

Pastors are not the body of Christ.

Staff members are not the body of Christ.

Many people have the misconception that ministry leaders are the ones who do the ministry.

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

What is the job of the APEST?

What is the job of the saints?

Who are the saints?

C. There should be no such thing as a Christian who disconnects from the Church. 1 Cor. 12:15-16

1 Corinthians 12:15–16 ESV

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

You may hear…

“I’m a follower of Jesus, I just don’t like organized religion.”

“I’m a Christian, I just don’t think I need to be a part of a church.”

“Me and God are cool. I can do this on my own.”

What happens is…

They are rarely serving the Lord.

Their lives are rarely lined up with God’s purpose.

They are typically stuck in immorality.

they haven’t learned the importance God places on them being a part of the body.

They’re like a foot trying to isolate itself from the rest of the body.

D. Each part of the body has an important function that others depend on. 1 Cor. 12:17-20

1 Corinthians 12:17–20 ESV

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Dan’s Story

We all have a part to play.

We need to rethink the phrase, “attending church.”

We attend a gathering…

but we are the church.

3. What is your part?

What is one spiritual gift you think you have? (1 Cor. 12:4)

What type of service/activity in ministry do you thrive at? (1 Cor. 12:5-6)

If you aren’t sure, just start taking opportunities to participate in the ministry.

Outreach sign ups:

Join a ministry team at Church.