Sermon Tone Analysis

*Making the Connection*

 

 

*Making the Connection to Ministry*

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Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Acts 2:44-45 NIV

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*1.

Serving God requires an attitude adjustment*

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matt 20:24-28 NIV

 

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*2.

Serving God requires an action plan*

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

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*3.

Serving God requires an honest assessment*

Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

Matt 20:28 TLB

 

 

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*Making the Connection:*

You were created to serve God! Have you made the connection to ministry?

\\ Intro:

 

Welcome…

I came across a very insightful and profound email this week…and I’ve just got to share it with you!!

 

CHANGING A LIGHT BULB THE CHRISTIAN WAY

\\ How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

\\ *Charismatic*: Only 1 \\ Hands are already in the air.

\\ \\ *Pentecostal*: 10 \\ One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

\\ *Presbyterians*: None \\ Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

\\ \\ *Roman Catholic*: None \\ Candles only.

\\ *Baptists*: At least 15.

\\ One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.*

\\ \\ Episcopalians: *3 \\ One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.

\\ \\ *Methodists*: Undetermined \\ Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved.

You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb.

Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.

\\ \\ *Nazarene*: 6 \\ One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

\\ *Lutherans*: None \\ Lutherans don't believe in change.

\\ \\ *Amish*: \\ What's a light bulb?

It is God’s desire for us to serve…even when it comes to changing light bulbs!!!

There is more to a church than a few people changing a light bulb…it takes the entire church to carry out God’s Vision for His church!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing the series I started last week…Making the Connection

 

It is a series designed to help us clearly see the vision God has given Violet Baptist Church and what it will look like for us to live out this vision in the next 3-5 years.

The Vision:

/To build bridges to people in our community in order that, together, we may become fully devoted, passionate followers of Jesus Christ./

/ /

Bridges are made to connect…not to collapse

 

God has called us to build bridges to this community…to build bridges that connect…not collapse!!!

God’s vision for our church is to build:

1. Bridges to Christ

 

2.

Bridges to others

 

3.

Bridges to ministry

 

4.

Bridges to the world

 

*Today I want to talk about:*

*Building Bridges to Ministry*

 

Making the connection to Ministry

 

There is a disconnect when it comes to serving:

 

-not qualified

-not needed

-not gifted

 

 

\\ Napoleon once pointed to a map of China and said, /"There lies a sleeping giant.

If it ever wakes up, it will be unstoppable."

/

 

On any given Sunday morning during the hour of worship you can find the church sleeping.

From the pulpit to the pews we sleep in contentment of who we are and what we are doing ... actually content in what we are not doing.

As the church of the Lord Jesus Christ /are we/ a sleeping giant?

We probably have all heard of the 20~/80 plan in the church…The 20~/80 plan says that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.

However in a Gallup survey it was discovered that only 10% of American church members are active in any kind of personal ministry, and that 50% have no interest in serving in any ministry.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that 10% + 50% only equals 60%.

Where is the other 40%?

Interesting and encouraging is that in the Gallup survey it was discovered that the 40% have expressed an interest to become involved in a ministry, but they have never been asked or they do not know how.

As pastors and leaders of the church it ought to stimulate and excite us to know that we have the potential to have 50% of our members involved in the ministry of the church.

The 50~/50 plan sounds a whole lot better than the 20~/80 plan…And 100~/100 is even better!

To do that we must make the connection between

membership and ministry.

Let us look to the days of the early New Testament church for practical input on how they did ministry.

Acts 2:44-45

 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

The picture is clear when you look at this passage and others…

 

·    A call to salvation is a call to service!

 

·    Every member is a minister

 

God plan hasn’t changed…

 

·    A call to salvation is a call to service!

 

·    Every member is a minister

 

*How can we as a church mobilize members for ministry?*

How can we as members become ministers?

How do we make the connection to ministry?

*1.

Serving God requires an attitude adjustment*

 

Here in the book of Acts and throughout the scriptures it is easy to see that God's purpose of ministry is very clear.

It begins with the right attitude.

Why would believers in the early church sell their possessions and goods and give to others in need?

Because they personalized the words of Jesus in Matt 20:24-28:

 

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

26 Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matt 20:24-28 (NIV)

 

The *ten other disciples* were *indignant* that James and John had tried to use their relationship with Jesus to grab the top positions.

Why such anger?

Probably because /all/ the disciples desired honor in the Kingdom.

Perhaps Peter, his temper getting the best of him, led the indignant ten disciples, for he had been the third with James and John in the group closest to Jesus.