Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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.

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.

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.