Counting the Cost - Play Your Part

Introduction:

The new In N Out just opened in the Vallejo and I got to go yesterday with Mia. Lines weren’t long, but it was a a great opportunity to experience a little bit of heaven. I mean, they do put Bible verses on their cups. Now I learned something about In N Out that I didn’t know. The team of people that open the stores will not be the ones there long term.

In N Out uses all star teams that travel around the In N Out world opening stores. Each team member has an expertise and they have honed their craft to perfection. Some are great at the register. Some are great in the parking lot working the drive thru. Others know how to make the perfect burger. Each one knows their role and they do with perfection....and more than that with a smile on their face. They are so friendly it’s almost creepy. And I don’t think that smile is fake. There is something about working with people that you are know care about their job as much as you do. There is something freeing about knowing that you don’t have to hold people up because everyone knows their job and knows exactly what to do. Because then you are free to do what you were meant to do.

The church was meant to operate in a similar fashion. With everyone knowing and playing their part. You’re entire life then becomes devoted to perfecting what God has called you to do and equipped you alone to do.

The problem is that in the church not everyone is playing their part. Not just NH, but churches around the world. Vacancies on ministry teams. Blind spots in the values, mission and vision.

If we’re not careful, bitterness can arise when people feel like they are the only doing anything. Or we can become lazy when we feel that there isn’t a place for us. We can just sit back and let others do what we could do better.

Now some may not know what their part is so you can’t play it. And that’s OK. The first step is to acknowledge that and then work to fixing it. Through prayer and community, help one another find our part in the church. When we all play are part, the church moves forward.

While we’ve talked about following Jesus on our journey of faith costing us; we’ve looked at how it cost our treasure, it costs our time, today is a little different. You see part of today is still time, but less time in fellowship and more time in service…but today we look at how follow Jesus will cost us our gifts and talents that God has given us.

And again, we look to the early church to show what this looks like.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Romans 12: 3

Background on the text: We have to remember that the church was brand new and it was so incredibly important that they understood exactly what they were expected to do and how to do it. More than anyone else, Paul writes on the nature and function of the Church. And a very clear understanding of the church as a body with many members permeates Paul’s writing. The church is a group of people all working together to achieve their goals…at least that’s what is supposed to happen. But Paul continues to write on the necessity of everyone playing their part.

Let’s read what Paul writes to the Romans church.

Romans 12:3–13 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

omans 12:3-13

Now so much of what Paul writes is about people doing ministry in line with the great commission. Paul’s passion what healthy growing churches. he writes to instruct, encourage and to correct . And for us, we need instruction, we need encouragement, and yes, we need correction.

Because in the church, each of us needs to:

Big Idea: Find Our Place; Play Our part.

To the Believer: God has empowered you with spiritual gifts that He expects you to use to help the church achieve the Great Commission of “Making Disciples of every tongue, tribe and nation, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that Jesus commanded. This is our mission and you have a part to play.

To the unbeliever: You need to know that the cross not only frees you from the bondage of sin, death and an eternity in hell. But it opens the doorway into your place as a child of God where you can make an impact that goes far beyond this life. Which then leads to the expectation that God puts on us as believers.

So the first thing Paul writes is that we need to....

1. Acknowledge God’s Grace in Your Life. (3-4a)

Explanation: I think it’s fitting that prior to a discussion about talents, roles and responsibilities in the church, Paul first acknowledges that everything we have been given is based on God’s grace and not because we have earned anything. We haven’t achieved anything on our own. Paul says elsewhere.

1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

The danger Paul is trying to avoid is to have people who compare their talents and roles and then boast or think others should treat them differently. We immediately can avoid this by acknowledging that is only by God’s love and grace we can do anything.

Our acknowledgement of grace helps us in 2 ways.

It gives us a healthy view of self (don’t think to highly of yourself).

It helps us to see that we a part of something bigger than ourselves and that we have to play our part (one body…many members).

By God’s grace we have talents to use and by God’s grace we have a part to play. In the church you are needed and you need others.

Illustration: We usually want to talk about God given talent in the areas of athletics, academics, the arts. But the truth, pretty much no one ever accomplishes anything on their own. The best athlete needs others even coaches, trainers, etc… The smartest people in the world must acknowledge the teachers and people who have gone before them. Artists need inspiration. Musicians need bands, teachers, great music. And usually their is a mom or dad along the way that supported their dream.

Application: Before you even try to find your role or your gifts. Before you seek to fulfill that role in the church, step back and thank God for His grace that you are able to do anything at all. I know this seems like a insignificant exercise considering all of the work that needs to be done in the church, but it’s likely the most important thing you can do…to acknowledge any good you do, a talent you have, any role you will fill is rooted in the grace of God.

2. Realize your Gifts (4b-8)

Explanation: The baptist in me so wanted to put the word talents here. That would have completed the 3 Ts. Treasure, Time, Talents. But as this week went one, I relented that clarity is better than creativity. There is a big difference between talent (that we are born with) and Gifts given to each of us when we embrace Jesus. We can’t mess this up. Everyone at the time of their conversion, is given a gift to help build up the church. God has a mission for the church and it started 2000 years ago. It was to take the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth and serve as the present kingdom of God on earth. Now we have to understand that God typically doesn’t use the most qualified person to accomplish the tasks that he wants to achieve.

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

God looks at the heart. God values humility and sacrifice. He looks for someone who embodies those qualities. And then rather than calling the qualified, he qualifies the called....again by his grace.

Illustration: I’ve always loved comic books because there is always this idea in comic books that seemingly ordinary people possess the talents and abilities to do extraordinary things.

My favorite was always Captain America not the least because “Murica” but also because he started out normal and was chosen to be a new breed of super soldier because of the gifts and abilities beyond the physical…they were looking for heart.

For every single one of us we are nothing a part from What God has given to us. No worldly talent or ability has the power do anything of good in the kingdom of God. Only what you receive from God has the ability to truly move forward the Church.

Prior

As a follower of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit living inside of us, we all are given at least 1 spiritual gifts.

Paul lists here: prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation (encouragement), generosity, leadership, mercy (compassion).

Elsewhere we see wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, apostle, evangelism, pastor/shepherd.

Application: After acknowledging God’s grace in our lives and understating that God has given to each a spiritual gift we have to figure out which one we have. It is not always apparent. And while there are many spiritual gift assessments that I can show you, the best way to figure it out is within the context of community. We actually help each other figure out what our gifts are. Perhaps the best way to figure out what your spiritual gifts are is to actually try them out.

No one every thinks they have the spiritual gift of teaching until they are forced to teach. No one ever thinks they have the spiritual gift of evangelism until they share their faith with others. It is in their use that we see what we are truly gifted at. That’s one of the reasons I think Paul instructs Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. Some things we are all called to do whether we are gifted that way or not. But in the doing, we find what God has given to only us.

3. Use Your Gifts for God’s People. (9-13)

Explanation: We know that the foundation of the Church is the example of Christ....love. We love because he first loved us. For God so loved the world. Love one another as I have loved you. let all things be in love.

The most important thing that we can remember that we must always use our gifts out of love for God’s people.

We don’t use our gifts to gain a name for ourselves, but to make the name of Jesus great.

1. Paul tells us first to use our gifts out of love. (Some specifically have the gift of compassion and mercy)

2. Paul second tells us not to be lazy in zeal, fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Some specifically have the gift of ministry/service).

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. σπουδή

σπουδή

Spoude (zeal) carries the meaning of swift action, speed. It denotes a sense of urgency to do what is needed quickly. It means that the person who sees the need acts fast to meet it. Rather than bringing it to the attention of someone else, they just do it.

I think the word that comes to mind is “initiative.” Do not be lazy in taking the initiative to act.

zeontez (Fervant) carries the meaning of being excited about it. You are excited that you get to serve God. It’s not an obligation but an honor to use your gifts to serve the Lord.

3. Rejoice in Hope is pretty straight forward. Hope in this world is fleeting. When you see it, celebrate it. (Some specifically have the gift of exhortation/encouragement…stemming from hope).

4. Paul immediately follows with “be patient in tribulation.” In other words don’t give up. Remember he is talking not to individuals, but the group. Make sure that together we aren’t giving up.

5. Constant in prayer. That closely follows tribulation. We need prayer. (Some specifically have the gift of faith…which leads to prayer).

6. Contribute....in essence play your part.

7. Show hospitality. (Some specifically have the gift of hospitality).

Illustration: A good example of people all working together and playing their part is an orchestra. Many different instruments with different sounds playing different notes all playing together weaving together the seemless tapestry of musical beauty. When everyone plays their part, the entire group is more beautiful. However, even one person playing a wrong note at the wrong time or another failing to play their part can actually ruin the entire thing.

I played the oboe. In the hands of a master, it is the most beautiful instrument there is (That’s right Rebecca). In the hands of a 4th grader, it is the most painful instrument to endure (Ask my parents). But the oboe gets a lot of solos. This one time in high school, I had a solo. Everything was going well, the band was playing beautifully all moving toward this spot where I was supposed to come in. But I miscounted the measures and when it was time for me to play, there was silence. Everyone knew that I missed it. The band director yelled at me. and we started again. Good thing it was practice and not a performance.

Everyone in this room has a part to play in the church. And many times, working together, we can build up to your part and when you are supposed to come in, there is silence.

We need you to play your part.

Application: So play your part.

Even after acknowledging God’s grace in your life…even after realizing your gifts, it is possible that you still may not know what your part is. You may be waiting to be asked.

Sometimes people might say, well I don’t have a part here. That’s an example of being lazy in zeal.

So how do you know what your part is?

Start somewhere. Just volunteer for something. Audition for the worship team. Talk to Melissa about children’s ministry. David, Jehrel or Lindsay about youth. Jacob about First Impressions. Take initiative.

Ask someone that knows what they think your role might be.

Don’t feel you need to make a lifetime commitment in the beginning. Try several ministries. You may not get it right away, but keep trying. We spend so much time in our lives trying to follow our dreams and our passions so that we can have a job we love. Why not give that same effort to God.

The fact is you are needed. You are loved. You are a part of something so much bigger than what we are doing here.

Our mission is to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and that’s going to take all of us working together. No matter what your part, play it.

Each week, we are building off of last week to see what exactly it means to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus will cost you something. It will cost you money. It will cost you time. It will cost you your gifting.

This week our challenge is

To continue to be generous.

To continue to take time for others.

And now we’re adding to find and....

Challenge: Play Your Part.

As with the last few weeks, if you are willing to accept this challenge, there is a place for you to make that a official on your listening guide.

Commit to finding a ministry and serving. Let’s end with Paul’s word:

Romans 12:9–13 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

As Josh and the band, plays, consider your part and whether you are willing to step up and play it.