Sober Up
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Welcome!
Continuing our sermon series, “Transformed.”
This weeks sermon title is, “Sober Up.”
Follow along and take notes with the sermon Handouts in your bulletin.
INTRO:
Turn with me to Romans 12:1-2
I challenged you to take time and start reading Romans 12-15 over the next several weeks and let God start working on your thinking.
I sure hope you have taken up that challenge!
If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late. This week, dive in and take time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth to your mind!
Last week we really broke down verses 1 & 2 of Romans 12. If you missed it, I want to encourage you to go to our website or open our church app, and take time this week to listen to it.
I believe it is an important message to your life being transformed into who God desires you to become.
Stand with me for the reading of God’s word.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
PRAYER:
SERMON:
The amazing thing about our God is His love for us.
We didn’t have to get our life figured out and cleaned up before we called on Him to save us!
Each one of us, were dirty head to toe with our sins when we cried out to God to save and forgive us!
What an amazing God we have that we can come to Him just as we are… And He is faithful to save each one of us who calls on the name of Jesus Christ!
But… Just because we came that way… does not mean we are supposed to stay that way.
In fact the Word of God is full of reminders that we are to strive to live a life that is Holy and Pleasing to God!
The only way to do that is to be transformed… And that happens with the renewing of our mind.
To let go of the Teaching and Patterns of this age… and to take hold of the Truth in God’s Word.
Now, it’s not just that easy… Renewing our minds is a process that requires the help of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to continue to retrain your thinking.
By replacing what we have thought to be true with what is true according to His Word.
So, this morning we are diving into some of the truths that Paul is telling the Roman Church here in Romans 12-15.
Let’s dive in to verses 3-8 now.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if 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.
This morning we are going to Sober up our thinking...
I believe Paul was intentional in using the words “Sober Judgement” to help us understand that many of us have been thinking with unclear and incorrect thoughts.
Some have viewed themselves too highly… And others have viewed themselves too poorly.
Paul wants us to take an honest assessment of ourselves and realize that we are not better than others and others are not better without us.
In fact… We are all necessary and vital to the Church!
This morning I want to show you...
3 sobering truths that we need to renew our minds with today.
3 sobering truths that we need to renew our minds with today.
1. Only together are we complete as the Body of Christ!
1. Only together are we complete as the Body of Christ!
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
LIE: I don’t need the Church to be complete in Christ.
LIE: I don’t need the Church to be complete in Christ.
Today’s growing trend in Christians, is the neglecting of the Church.
Many have started to think that they don’t need to be a part of the Church in order to have a thriving and healthy relationship with Christ.
There is enough truth in this lie that causes many to fall for it.
Yes, you can grow in Christ through your prayers and devotions but you can not be complete.
There is only so far you can grow on your own. The rest of your maturity and growth in Christ only comes by being in unity with the body of Christ!
There is only so far you can grow on your own. The rest of your maturity and growth in Christ only comes by being in unity with the body of Christ!
We need each other. We need to live life together. We need to be a part of the entire body of Christ!
You are not strong enough on your own… because you are not complete without the other members of the Body of Christ!
Paul is letting us know that we are only complete as one body, when we come together.
Paul is letting us know that we are only complete as one body, when we come together.
The days’s are growing shorter… Christ is returning soon… Let’s renew our minds and realize that we need to live life together!
Even more so as we approach the last days.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Look at someone next to you and say… “I Need You.”
That’s still only part of the truth…
You need them… But you also belong to them...
No… Not that they own you.
But this passage of scripture is saying that there is an intertwining of one another that we can not just separate ourselves from one another.
You are just as important in their life as they are in your life.
I like this visual to help explain it found in 1 Corinthians.
16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
We all share the one loaf…
We all come from the one loaf. Different parts but necessary to complete the loaf.
We need each other and belong to one another.
We need each other and belong to one another.
You are not your own. You belong!
Each one of us are vital and necessary in each other’s life!
Renewing your mind with this truth is sobering!
That mental shift helps you see others as vital to your own life and it helps you see how vital you are in their life.
That mental shift helps you see others as vital to your own life and it helps you see how vital you are in their life.
We need one another! Because we are one Body in Christ Jesus!
Let’s look at the 2nd Sobering Truth we need to renew our minds with today.
2. Your gifts are just that, gifts.
2. Your gifts are just that, gifts.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
Let me first be clear and get rid of one major lie…
LIE: I don’t have any gifts.
LIE: I don’t have any gifts.
Yes you do! We all have different gifts.
And if you keep looking at what other’s have and compare your abilities to theirs, you will always struggle with this.
Because your gifts are different than others!
You may not have identified what your gift is yet, But according to God’s word you have gifts. Go and Discover them!
You may not have identified what your gift is yet, But according to God’s word you have gifts. Go and Discover them!
A second lie that I want to spend a little more time on is…
LIE: These are my gifts, I have worked hard to develop them, I have earned them.
LIE: These are my gifts, I have worked hard to develop them, I have earned them.
If we look at verse 6 a little closer we see the word… “Grace”
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
Grace means… The gifts each and everyone of us have… are just that gifts.
It is not given to us because we deserved them… and it isn’t because we earned them.
They are gifts of grace. Given only to you by the Holy Spirit.
They are gifts of grace. Given only to you by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
Church...
Only by the grace of God are you able to operate in your gift!
This is the Sobering truth…
Only by grace do you have the gift today and only by grace will you have that gift tomorrow.
Only by grace do you have the gift today and only by grace will you have that gift tomorrow.
Church...
Only by the grace of God are you able to operate in your gift!
You didn’t earn it… it’s not yours!
So..
Don’t identify yourself with your gift, Because your identity is not in that gift.
Don’t identify yourself with your gift, Because your identity is not in that gift.
Your identity is in Christ!
Your identity is in Christ!
That gift will come and it may go. There is no guarantee for that gift tomorrow.
But you, as a Son or Daughter of God will not change!
So don’t consider yourself better than another because you have a gift that seems more important.
That gift isn’t yours. Its on loan to you. And it can be recalled tomorrow.
Today I get to preach… What a gift God has given me!
But my identity can’t be in my preaching and I can’t think my success in preaching is because of me!
It is only by the grace of God that I get to preach.
So the Sobering truth is… Your Gift is just that… a gift!
Let’s now look at the 3rd Sobering Truth we need to renew our minds with today.
3. Your gifts are for the Body of Christ!
3. Your gifts are for the Body of Christ!
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if 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.
LIE: I can use my gift IF I want to and WHEN and HOW I want to.
LIE: I can use my gift IF I want to and WHEN and HOW I want to.
The gifts you have been given… were given for you to use!
They are not meant to keep to yourself.
Here is the sobering truth...
Your gifts were given to you with the intention of you using it to serve others!
Your gifts were given to you with the intention of you using it to serve others!
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so 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.
Here in 1 Peter we see that we can’t just use them when and how we want to...
according to verse 11...
Our gifts are to serve others so that… God may be praised through Jesus Christ!
Remember last week how we kicked off talking about living a life that is Holy and Pleasing to God?
Using your gifts to serve others is one way that you live a life pleasing to God!
Using your gifts to serve others is one way that you live a life pleasing to God!
So, Ask yourself:
“Am I using the gifts God has given me to serve others?”
“Am I using the gifts God has given me to serve others?”
And when we use our gifts to serve one another, the Body of Christ grows in strength and in love!
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
What a beautiful picture here Church!
Each one of us are important to the success of the Church and its mission!
Each one of us are important to the success of the Church and its mission!
Each of us need to do our part!
CLOSING
Will you stand with me as we begin to close...
Let’s look at verse 3 again.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
“For by the grace given me...”
What Grace is Paul speaking about?
The grace God has shown him by giving Him the gift of apostleship… Which then he is choosing to operate in for the edification of the body of Christ!
He is practicing what He is preaching!
And because Paul was obedient in using his gift for the body of Christ… Today millions are affected by the words he wrote!
Whatever gift God has given you… Operate in it! Use it for the building of the body of Christ!
Whatever gift God has given you… Operate in it! Use it for the building of the body of Christ!
But you can only make these changes if you sober up!
It’s not about you… It’s not about your wants, wishes, or desires.
You are part of something bigger than yourself!
God has uniquely designed you with a purpose and a role to play.
Your gifts and talents are not to advance yourself but to advance the Church in its mission to reach the lost!
And if we all do our part… We will greatly change this World!
ALTAR CALL
Salvation Call
Blank Piece of Paper
Questions:
What gifts do I have that I need to start using?
What gifts do I have that I need to start using?
How can I use my gifts to serve others?
How can I use my gifts to serve others?