The Church:

Intro: Going to the car without keys.

We’ve discussed the call of God to His church to glorify Him, represent Him as ambassadors on the earth for His kingdom.

We’ve talked about the purpose of the Sunday gathering to encourage, edify, and equip through prayer, praise, and proclamation of the Gospel.

In every other part of our lives, we learn our skills to earn qualification.

Not so in ministry.

RTL: When Jesus says He is with us always, He means it.

Pneumadynamic - Empowered by the Spirit

1. The Church is Supernaturally Equipped (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12)

Acts 20:28 tells us that the Holy Spirit makes elders/overseers/pastors.

Not seminaries, internships, apprenticeships, or congregations.

In fact, no human but Christ has ever been fit, prepared, able, or qualified to do the work of ministry

Of course, not all are made elders/pastors, and yet, we are a kingdom/nation of priests (as we mentioned from 1 Peter 2:9)

Therefore, it is expected that all Christians are partaking in this daunting task of ministry within the church - the Kingdom of God.

Within an earthly kingdom, you have bakers who hone their skills, carpenters and smiths who hone theirs, merchants and knights who hone their own still.

And yet, all of these complex tasks are readily available to those who put in the time and effort to learn them.

Romans 12:6 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;”

In America - “you can be anything you want” was the mantra of schools and parents growing up. And to some degree, they are right; with the right education, training, discipline, most people can be what they desire.

None, however can, by their own willpower, training, and determination, become effective ministers of the Gospel.

We are reliant on the God who saved us to equip us for His commands.

This should come as no surprise to us who know Jesus:

The Gospel tells us from the very beginning - “You cannot earn salvation, you can’t work for it, you can’t be good enough for it, you must rely on the grace of God in Christ Jesus.”

And so, it makes perfect sense that the work of the Gospel likewise requires our full reliance on God.

If I’m not good enough to save myself, I’m certainly not good enough to save others. If I’m not able to work myself into holiness, how uch less can I work my neighbor into holiness?

No person is born with superpowers (prophecy)

God gives gifts to His people for the building of the church

(1 Corinthians 12:4–7 “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. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” )

Building the church from within (edification of believers)

Building the church from without (evangelism of non believers)

Key Phrase: God who empowers them all in everyone

Paul makes it clear that the skills we are to use for the work of the kingdom, while they vary from person to person are not skills honed by human efforts, but by the working of the Spirit.

Ask my teachers in high school - I was a poor, fretful public speaker. When I got saved, that changed by God’s grace. Jeff Sandness.

2. Differently Gifted for the Same Purpose (1 Corinthians 12)

“Having gifts that differ…”

Romans 12:4–5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 “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.” “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. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Paul then goes on to describe/name many different gifts:

Prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership, mercy (Romans 12)

Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment, languages (1 Cor. 12)

*Side note: debate about cessationism and continuationism

not in our view currently, but some regard the miraculous gifts as remaining and some as having gone away

Paul uses the image of a body working together toward a common goal, but made of many members with different functions.

Some are gifted in service, administration, teaching, etc.

While not all are called to do every type of ministry, all are called to something.

We described the church as the ekklesia - the called out ones.

Disclaimer: While teaching (discipleship) and evangelism, (and mercy and generosity etc.) are gifts of the Holy Spirit, this does not absolve all of us from partaking in them - they are expected of all of us at times - but it might not be your primary ministry calling.

Application:

Rely on God

Seek to know and understand how God has gifted you for building up the church.

Put those gifts to use

Gilmore Girls - MIL gifts brought out on visit

4. Do not use your gifting to avoid your responsibilities as a believer