Make a Difference (Serve)

Intro (Get them connected me, we)

Can we start by just one or two lights working in the church?

Church → German word, doesn’t capture the essence of the Greek word.

Ekklisia → gathering of Jesus followers.

The first time we see Jesus use the word is in Caesarea Philippi. He asks his disciples.

Paraphrase ⬇️

Matthew 16:13–15 (NIV)

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Read?

Matthew 16:16–20 (NIV)

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

His point? You have the power to change the world and nothing can stop you. If you do what I say and follow my way of life, nothing will stop you from changing the world!

We hold the keys to the kingdom, we hold the truth that is the Gospel, and… we the church… the gathering… help people along the spiritual journey.

Spiritual Journey → everyone is on it and it’s a theme we see throughout the Bible and particularly throughout the life of Jesus.

Let me show you what it looks like.

Paraphrase ⬇️

Matthew 22:36–40 (NIV)

36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38This is the first and greatest commandment.

39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Love God → Relationship with God.

Love people → relationships with people.

Make a difference → you can make a difference.

Body (Scripture)

Jesus speaks of these types of things in His sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Does anyone like salty things here? I do, love salt. Eat it so much it hurts my mouth S&V chips. Salt is good b/c it brings out the true flavor of things.

Salt is also a preservative.

In those days they didn’t have a freezer so salt was the way you kept food edible. It was also the primary way you made food taste better.

But if it loses its saltiness, it’s ability to draw out the taste and preserve….

Wait → What if… if the church loses its ability to draw out and preserve the good what good is it?

He’s not done.

Matthew 5:14–15 (NIV)

14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

The picture here is perfect. In that area of the world, cities are built on top of or into a hillside. The image is of them lighting up the countryside.

Jesus said the church is a light on a hill, everyone should be able to see you and see the way that you (the light) is pushing darkness back. B/c that what Light does, it pushes back darkness.

So Jesus says that are supposed to make things better and push back the darkness… how?

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

By your good deeds. By the way, you behave, people should look and go – oh, they’re a Christian. They follow Jesus. Glorify God with the way you and I make things better and fight back against darkness.

Paul teases this idea of the church working together more in his letters, in a few different places in fact, but I think Romans 12 captures it well.

Romans 12:4–8 (NIV)

4For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,

5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The church, gathering, meant to be unified. Used to call each other brother and sister, what ever happened to that? Lets bring that back. Lol JK.

Here’s the way this works out practically,

6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Paul doesn’t list all of the gifts here, but here’s his point. God gifted you.

In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about the Church and how we should be a body, he says some are an hand, some are foot, some are an ear. He explains that each one is gifted to make a difference in the world.

You have a particular gift that can make a place better and push back the darkness.

Application (What should I do?)

God has gifted you to make a difference.

At work

Smiling face – kind word – stopping nasty talk about a female coworker – encouraging a coworker going through a hard time – kind word to the cashier at the gas station – encouraging your sons friend who comes from a broken home.

Here’s what I know, God has gifted you to make a difference.

You can also make a difference in the church as well.

That’s why we don’t say volunteers, we don’t volunteer here we make a difference in the lives of people.

Oh, come on Brandon… I just hold the door and smile at church. No, you make a huge difference. When that mom of 3 comes in and she’s had the longest morning but they made it to church, your smiling face and “good morning” can change her entire week.

I just sing, no you are leading people in the presence of God every Sunday. Praising him and showing people how to worship.

I just press a button on PP, no you don’t you make singing praises accessible and easy for those who are searching for God.

I just babysit kids in the back, no you don't! You serve as a spiritual teacher and guide to the next generation.

This is one of the things the church is meant to do, we’re called to make a difference. Jesus said that we are salt and light – we make it better and we push back the darkness.

I’m passionate about this b/c this is how I got involved in the church and God called me into the ministry b/c I started serving.

Story of Wagnon and Robert.

Serving in the youth and seeing the lives of the students change

Being available for them to talk to them, here the struggles they were going thru,

I didn’t realize it but I needed that. I needed to serve someone.

I think it’s the same with you, you need to serve someone, b/c it’s how God made you.

Are you ready to make a difference?

So, right after this service the TL’s are going to in different places throughout the church.

Worship – near the platform

Production – in the back near the booth

Cafe/Greeting – out in the cafe

Kids Team – near kids check in

This is your chance to explore the teams and learn about them. We have snacks for you when you leave so you won’t be starving when you leave.