How to be Useful
How to be Useful!
Introduction
I once heard a Mennonite minister say, “There are two things I would never want to be: the front pew of a Mennonite Church or the last verse of a Mennonite hymn – because neither is ever used.”
A. All of us is wired with a built-in desire, even a need, you could say – to be useful and to be used.
Most disgruntled employees are disgruntled because they feel that that their employer isn’t maximizing their skills. People want to be useful and they want to be used. Ask any player in the NHL if he would rather be the highest paid benchwarmer or the lowest paid starter, and the overwhelming majority would certainly say, “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play.”
B. As we study Ephesians 4:7-16 this morning we want to discover the plans God has made as to how we can be useful. <Ephesians 4:7-16 (NIV)>
I. <God gifts each of us for ministry he wants us to do.> <v. 7 (NIV)>
A. Meaning of the world “gift.”
1. Word can also be translated grace or even ministry.
2. One commentator said this verse could be translated, “to each of us ministry has been given.”
B. Paul is talking about our usefulness. He’s saying, “As a member of the body of Christ, you have been given a special gift, a special grace, a special ministry, that Jesus designed especially for you.”
C. The main point here is that, whether your gift is obvious or not, it does exist.
II. <God has a plan to maximize your usefulness to him.>
A. God has given us a team of leaders whose job it is to bring out your gift to full bloom in the service of Jesus Christ and his church.
<Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)>
B. You need this team of leaders to help you become fully functional in your service to him.
III. <What is the significance these team of leaders have in maximizing your usefulness for God.>
Last week we talked about unity—about being a team player—but a team cannot function as a team without coaches or leaders to give them guidance. Your coaches—your team of leaders—consists of these four offices. Let's take a quick look at them and see which role each one plays.
A. <God gave apostles.>
1. The word apostle (apostello in Gk) is used many different ways. It refers to “sent forth”; to one who is used as a representative or envoy. Romans 16:7 uses the word to describe a woman.
2. In the Bible it most often used to refer to a person or persons having a special type of authority.
· Paul described himself as an apostle, claiming his main qualification being that he has seen the Risen Lord (1 Cor. 9:1).
· This is the reason that Judas, though he was one of the original 12 disciples, though e saw Jesus in the flesh, isn’t considered an apostle – he never encountered the resurrected Christ.
· So in NT times, the title Apostle applied to a limited group of believers with unique authority in the church.
Near the end of the fourth century, when the Council of Carthage convened to determine which books would comprise the New Testament canon, they chose the 27 books we use today based on, partially, the books' apostolic authority—the fact that there was sufficient reason to believe that Paul's letters were truly written by Paul, and that the books of John really were truly written by the Apostle John, and so on. These individuals, these apostles, had authority in the church. In fact, when we think of the office of Apostle, the best word to associate with that office is authority.
3. The point of all this is this: You need some authority on your leadership team. Someone besides yourself needs to have the final say in certain matters of your life – especially when it comes to matters of faith and matters of morality.
· The Bible is the voice of authority in your life. It has the final say over what’s right and what’s wrong.
· But also need human of authority in our lives – voices that will confirm biblical authority.
· We need people who have the authority to keep us on track.
B. <God gave prophets.>
1. We often have the wrong idea of a prophet.
· Someone who predicts the future (Edgar Cayce, Jeanne Dixon or Nostradamus).
· Someone who speaks out boldly about sin.
I have a friend who tends to be sharp-tongued and critical. More than once I’ve heard him defend his harsh words with the excuse, “Sorry to be so blunt, but my spiritual gift is prophecy. I call’em the way I see’em.” That’s not prophecy and that’s not what a prophet does. A prophet doesn’t call’em the way he sees’em; he calls them the way God sees’em. And God sees everything through the eyes of grace.
- Who were the prophets Paul was talking about?
· In the first century they were men who lived an itinerant lifestyle, wandered from church to church, preaching here and there whenever they had an opportunity.
· Just like today, some of these individuals took advantage of this system and used it for their own personal gain (Didache).
3. Not all prophets were nomads. Some were designated by their local church as having the gift of prophecy and, therefore, were considered prophets.
<But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort….he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:3-4 (NIV)>
· Strengthening, encouragement, comfort, edifying the church – that’s the role of the prophet…not the doom and gloom guys with their terrible predictions that never seem to happen.
· The best word to associate with the role of prophecy is challenge.
· A prophet challenges people to be more holy, but they do it in a way that strengthens and edifies their listeners.
4. God gave prophets to the church – and to you specifically – because you need to hear his perspective about what is happening in your life.
· You need prophets on your leadership team – people who are spiritual enough to speak from God’s perspective, who will say what needs to be said, who challenge you to excel in your relationship to God.
· Who have gifting to say it in a way that brings strength, encouragement, and comfort into your life.
C. <God gave evangelists.>
1. What do you think when I say evangelist?
Billy Graham, right? What does Billy Graham do? He points people to Jesus. His sermons are as simple as they can be, and yet they are powerful beyond description. Why? Because he points people to Jesus.
Not long ago while channel surfing I came across a taped rebroadcast of an old Billy Graham crusade. I listened to the message. It was simple and straightforward: Jesus is the answer for the world today. As he preached, my soul was stirred. He pointed me to Jesus. He reminded me that Jesus is all that I need. I had almost forgotten it that day. I was stressed about this and that, worrying about my needs, thinking about only what is best for Earl...and Billy Graham pointed me to Jesus.
One commentary I read this week defined an evangelist as "someone who focused on proclaiming the gospel and its relevance." He said, "Such activity could be addressed to either believers or non-believers." [Snodgrass, p. 204]
2. God gave evangelists to the church because the church – just like the world – needs to be pointed to Jesus.
3. You need people on your leadership team who will do the same – who will speak the relevance of the gospel into your life…who will point you to Jesus.
D. <God gave pastor-teachers.>
1. In the Greek these words are combined to refer to one office.
2. Actually the word “pastor” means “shepherd.”
Jesus described himself as a shepherd. He promised to lead, guide, feed, and protect his sheep. He even said when one of us is lost, he will seek us and find us and rescue us and carry us home. Jesus is the great shepherd. Paul said that it is the job of those in leadership to love you the very same way.
3. What an awesome responsibility this places on the leaders of this church.
· We are love you and take care of you as Christ loves you and takes care of you.
· We are teach you the Word of God as Christ taught the Word of God.
4. God has put us here because you need a shepherd.
IV. <You need to take advantage of what God has established to make you useful.>
A. You need each of these four ministries active in your life.
1. You need those who can speak with authority into your life.
2. You need those who can speak from God’s perspective, and challenge you in ways that will strengthen and encourage you.
3. You need those who will proclaim the gospel and its relevance in your life, who will point you to Jesus.
4. And you need those who will nurture you and care for you and give you guidance.
B. So I want you to take a minute and think about them. Ask yourself,< “Who do I look to for leadership in this area?”>
- <Apostle: Who holds you accountable for living according to God’s Word?>
- <Prophet: Who has the ability to see with God’s perspective and can say what needs to be said in a way that will strengthen you and encourage you and comfort you?>
- <Evangelist: Who points you to Jesus?>
- <Pastor-teacher: Who is your shepherd? Who nurtures your faith?>
C. You need a team of leaders like this because they help you fulfill God’s purpose for your life.
<Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12 (NLT)>
1. They will equip you…
2. They will build up your relationship to other believers.
3. They will help you to work together as a team and to live together I unity.
<(Under his direction) the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)>
4. They will help you grow up. <Eph. 4:13 (NIV)>
5. They will help you become like Christ. <Eph. 4:15 (NIV)>
Conclusion
A. God has a plan for you, a ministry for you and he has given you a special gift to accomplish it…
B. You are useful. You can be used by God. He has a place for you to serve Him, and he has given you the grace you need to do it.
C. He has also given you a team of leaders to help you accomplish his work in your life. Look to your leadership and do what God has called you to do.