What are we doing here?

heath haney

N/A - LL East In View • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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This morning, I want to recognize the elephant in the room. I know that you guys are nervous. Some of the normalcy that you have known for the last 6+ years is changing. It’s ok to be nervous!

This morning, I recognize that you guys are a little nervous. Some of the normalcy that you have known for the last 6+ years is changing. It’s ok to be nervous! And I recognize that most of you have not gotten to meet me personally or sit it on the incredible interviews that have occured over the last couple months. So, instead of just trying to preach my heart out today and impress you, I want to preach in such a way that you see my heart. I want to let you behind the curtain of my leadership style, philosophy of ministry and what I perceive from God’s Word to be the purpose of the gathering of believers. That sound good? Alright.

And I recognize that most of you have not gotten to meet me personally or sit it on the incredible interviews that have occured over the last couple months. Let me just say that your leadership team here is awesome! When my wife and I interviewed with the lay leaders of this church, we almost left in tears! Because the team asked such good questions and right there in building B we sought the Lord together. Both sides of the table were open and honest and it was a beautiful meeting that I won’t soon forget.

Enough of the feelings stuff!

So, because not all of you could be in that meeting, instead of just trying to preach my heart out today and impress you, I want to preach in such a way that you see my heart. I want to let you behind the curtain of my leadership style, philosophy of ministry and what I perceive from God’s Word to be the purpose of a pastor and the local church. I believe today’s message will help you see how I believe God has called and equipped me to pastor to lead a church and will sum up many of my answers to the questions that came my way during the interviews. That sound good? Alright.

When we come to a Biblical text (this morning it will be three verses), we can sit down with those three verses, read them and I believe God can use them to impact our lives. But to understand the depth of any biblical text, the more you know what’s going on around it, the better, Amen?

Turn in your bibles to Ephesians chapter 4.

Ephesians was a book written by Paul. And as with his other books they are actually LETTERS to real people and real churches. Many of them are written to address issues that were going on in the churches or to affirm good things Paul had heard about them. We can miss these issues because we only read portions of a letter at a time. But if you read the letter in one sitting, you will see the flow of the text and how each section is part of this larger argument or THEME.

If you read the Book of Ephesians in one sitting you will see the major issue Paul is addressing is “unity.” And it is important to recognize that on the front end.

I’ll show you what I mean...

Chapters one and the first part of two can seem very theological. Paul is teaching them a healthy soteriology, or theology of salvation, first from God’s perspective and then from man’s perspective. This section includes many ideas that Paul doesn’t speak of in his other letters. But what’s interesting is the way that Paul speaks of salvation. It is a much more communal salvation. Lots of we/us language instead of “you” language in other letters. Listen as I read a section...

Ephesians 1:3–6 CSB

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

Ephesians 1:3-

Do you see all that? It just continues on from there! And then in chapter two Paul tells them that God has “made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.” It isn’t all we/us language, but it is mostly.

Why is Paul doing this? Because he is establishing a baseline of unity, right? He wants them to first see that God has saved them not just as individuals, but as a body! He wants them to live in union not just with Christ but with one another because Christ’s blood was shed for all of us!

This theme comes to a high point in chapter 2 verse 11 as Paul speaks plainly how God has put together ONE BODY in the church.

The book comes to one of its climaxes in verse 11 of chapter 2 as Paul speaks plainly how God has put together ONE BODY in the church.

It’s this image that is still at play in verses 11-13 of chapter 4.

Let’s look there together. I will read the passage in its entirety, pray, and then we will begin looking at this together.

And in verse 11, Paul dives off into a great description of what the church is to look like. He begins with the gifts he has given for leadership in the church.

Let’s look there together. I will read the passage in its entirety, pray, and then we will begin looking at this together.

Ephesians 4:11–13 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

Let’s Pray Together

There is a lot going on in this passage and could be three different sermons or more if you took it phrase by phrase, but we’re going to look at this from a high view and not get down into the weeds about the details today. Hope that’s ok.

The first thing that Paul says to his readers is that

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), .

Leaders use their gifts to equip the members.

Paul lists a few spiritual gifts in verse 11 for us to take note of. It should not be taken as exhaustive though.

Ephesians 4:11 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:11–12 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

There are many other gifts listed in other places by Paul. however, the gifts listed here have a particular function in the church. Tony Merida is the pastor of Imago Dei church in Raleigh, North Carolina, he sums these things up into gifts given for “articulating the Gospel, teaching the word, and shepherding God’s people.” God gives these gifts to people so that they might lead in his church. They are gifts of leadership.

One of the commentaries I read this week summed up these five gifts as gifts given for “articulating the Gospel, teaching the word, and shepherding God’s people.” The should be viewed as gifts of leadership given to normal follower

Paul goes on to say that when people with these gifts serve in their church using these gifts, they have one great task: “equipping the saints for the work of ministry.”

It is my understanding of God’s word that this is one of my major tasks as a pastor in a church. God does not gift pastors so that we can do all the work of ministry, but that we might in Christ, lead others to find their giftedness and be used in the church for the glory of God. The body of Christ is made up of many members each doing his or her job!

This is the way that I try to lead. I don’t lead to be the center of attention. I don’t lead by trying to control every single ministry of the church so that things are done my way. I lead to empower others to greater faithfulness and obedience. I lead so that more and more of our members might get involved in what God is doing in and through our church. That’s what I did as youth pastor at Salem Springs and that is what I am currently doing as Assoc. Pastor at Community.

I believe everything a pastor does in his role has to be towards this end! The goal of preaching is equipping the saints. The goal of staff meetings is equipping the saints. The goal of one on one breakfast and lunch meetings and hospital visits and phone calls is equipping the saints. This must be the goal of a pastor’s responsibilities.

This would be no different for me if I came here as pastor.

But Paul then tells us why this is so important. What happens when leaders lead this way?

ALL the members serve in ministry of the church.

“Equipping the saints for the work of ministry, TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST!”

I know that seems like such a “duh” statement. We all know that this is why ministries exist in our churches, right. But, if it’s such common sense thinking, then why are so many content to not get involved in ministry? Why are so many Christians content to coast with church attendance and not get their hands dirty in ministry?

This is the problem in many churches today. Far too many people have settled for a life and a church that is less than what God intended them to have and experience because they are not using the gifts God has given them!

If God has brought this group of people together as Christ’s bride here in Harvest (and he has) and if he has gifted each one the believers here for service in the church and community (and he has) then you guys have everything you need to make huge impact in one another’s lives and

You see, when all of us are using our gifts in and through the ministries of our church, everyone benefits! When the teachers are teaching, the exhorters are exhorting, the helpers are helping, the servers are serving, and the hospitalitiers are hospitaliting… When all of us are serving through our gifts, the body is strengthened! The health of Lindsay Lane East lies solely on the shoulders of each and every member of it! This is a team thing!

You see, when everyone is using their gifts in and through the ministries of a church, everyone benefits! When the teachers are teaching, the exhorters are exhorting, the helpers are helping, the servers are serving, and the hospitalitiers are hospitaliting… When all are serving through their gifts, the body is strengthened! The health of Lindsay Lane East lies solely on the shoulders of each and every member of it! This is a team thing!

This is what I believe the local church is to be: a body of people uniquely gifted and called to serve one another and their community! The role a pastor plays in that church is not trying to keep everyone happy but to pull those who are scared, feel ill-prepared, or complacent off the sideline and into the game!

I started playing football in 7th grade. I was a bean pole. Not much shorter than I am now but maybe 150 lbs by the time I was a 9th grader. For whatever reason, I was placed at Defensive end. So, in practice, I’m lining up against our starting tackles that are 300 lbs. I eventually figured out how to do it.

But when I was in 9th grade, I was the second string defensive end behind a senior who just so happened to be one of our team captains. I’ll never forget one home game that was so embarrassing.

We had had this long grueling defensive stretch, and to give our captain a break, our defensive end coach sent me in to get him for a couple plays. I was scared to death! I hadn’t played in a varsity game and the team we were playing was pretty big! But, I waited for the play to be whistled dead and I ran in.

I tapped the guy on the shoulder and said. “I got you.” To which he said, “No, you don’t. Go back to the sideline.” I stood there for a second… I didn’t know what to do. I knew I wasn’t strong enough to force him out of the game, and I knew that another play would be starting soon and we could be penalized for too many men on the field. So, I jogged back to the sideline (20 yards from my defensive end coach.) A play goes by and he notices that I’m not in the game. He comes and finds me. “Why are you not in?” “He said no.” “What do you mean he said no? Get back in there!” So, here I trot BACK out onto the field. When I get there, I say the same thing, “I got you.” This time, he did leave for one or two plays. He wasn’t happy about it, but he did.

This is kind of the role that pastors play. I was totally content to stand on the sidelines as a player. You got all the water and gatorade you wanted and you got to talk and hang out with friends, and best of all, not get banged up.

But my coach knew I needed to be on the field. Not just for my own personal growth, but for the sake of the team! Our starter needed a breather! And when I got turned down that first time, he didn’t settle. He kept pushing!

That’s an imperfect analogy, but it’s close! As a pastor, I have always tried to invest in people by teaching and spending time with them and calling out the gifts I see in them. Then I try to help them find the best place that they can help the team. Then I push and push them to step out on faith. One more member on the field, makes us a stronger team.

This is what Paul is saying! When pastors equip people, and those people step out and serve the Lord in and through the church, the WHOLE CHURCH is strengthened.

He makes that completely clear in the last part of these verses with this cool image…

But Paul doesn’t stop here in his explanation, and praise God he doesn’t because it gets even better!

ALL the members begin looking more like Jesus together.

This is where we are so messed up by our 21st century, American, self-centered minds. Most of us have been raised to think about Christ-likeness as something that we are to strive for individually. We want to put sin to death in our lives and pursue Christ. The ultimate end for me is me looking like Jesus, right? Yes! That’s true, in a sense. But what does Paul say here?

He says that leaders equip the saints for the work of ministry to build the body of Christ...

Ephesians 4:13 CSB

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

What is the purpose of building the body of Christ? For ALL in our midst to reach a place of unity together. That unity is described as being rooted in faith and knowledge of God’s Son. That unity is every member growing into a place of maturity that is measured by Christ’s fullness, or completeness, or holiness.

What should be the chief goal of your ministries here? Not your own personal sanctification but the sanctification of THE WHOLE BODY! Why should you serve in kids ministry, in the parking lot, on the worship team, or as a small group leader? Not only so that you might grow in Christ but so that EVERYONE who calls LLBC East home can look more like Jesus!

I never became a great defensive end. I started from 10 through 12th grade, but I didn’t get any accolades. I wasn’t a superstar. Not even a star. But I helped my team win games and helped my teammates get better. There were many guys who made the team through the years who were much more talented than the rest of us, but they weren’t team players. They were more concerned with themselves than they were the team. And they didn’t make it long.

What should be the chief goal of your ministries here? Not your own personal sanctification but the sanctification of THE WHOLE BODY! Why should you serve in kids ministry, in the parking lot, on the worship team, or as a small group leader? Not only so that you might grow but so that EVERYONE who calls LLBC East home can look more like Jesus!

This is the same for the church! We as believers, have got to lay aside the self-centeredness of our sinful nature so that we can invest in the lives of others. And it’s our job as pastors to remind you of that and equip you through theological and practical training.

We as believers, have got to lay aside the self-centeredness of our sinful nature so that we can invest in the lives of others. And it’s our job as pastors to remind you of that and equip you through theological and practical training.

The one thing about East that has been most attractive to me as I’ve watched God grow you has been your focus on leadership development! As I’ve been through this process of interviewing and getting to see behind the curtain some, I am even more impressed! You guys have a great system of leaders that many pastors would kill to have at their church! That is something that I am passionate about as well. I believe a big part of equipping the saints for the work of ministry is multiplying my leadership into others who can invest in others who can invest in others. And the thought of getting to be a part of the further development of leaders here at East fires me up!

So, this is Paul’s explanation of how a local church should function and grow! First, leaders use their gifts to equip the members. Second, ALL of the members serve in the ministry of the church. Last, ALL of the members begin looking more like Jesus together!

I am passionate about helping people learn to read the Bible for themselves. I hope you gathered that this morning from the way I try t

This is the what I believe the Bible says the church should look like. This is what I believe the pastor’s role to be. When a church functions together in this way, there is no ceiling to what God might do in and through them! Amen?

When a church functions together in this way, there is no ceiling to what God might do in and through them! Amen?

All of this is only possible though because of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood. We are the church that Christ died for! The Bible calls us his bride that he laid down his life for. He purchased us with his blood and through that blood, we can be forgiven as individuals and united together as a body.

That’s why your staff here has simplbeen encouraging you to do three things! What are they? Come to the gathering. Attend a group. And be a part of the movement of the church in this community. If you guys would buy into that, this church would explode with growth and strength.

I know that today is a different type of Sunday. But I hope you weren’t listening as a critic today but as someone in need of a word from the Lord! If you have, then God may have spoken to you today through his word.

Patrick

Patrick’s going to come now and we are going to sing one more song today. This song will serve as a time of response. If you are a member of this church who has not been serving the Lord here, that can end today! Come tell Andy John or Greg that you want to start serving! They will hook you up.

Or today, if you have never responded in faith to what Christ has done for you on the cross, you can! I or one of these two guys would love to talk with you about how Jesus has changed our lives and how he can change yours too.