SF750 - THE MAKING OF A MINISTER - 3 GIVING OUR ALL FOR JESUS (Romans 12 1-8)
Romans 12:1-8
Introduction
West Haven's Purpose Statement
To share Christ with and bring people to Jesus and membership in His family, to develop mature believers who are equipped to minister as part of the on-going mission of their Lord and His church, in order to magnify God's name.
Not every believer is a pastor – but every believer is called to be a minister!
Therefore, every member is to be a minister
The West Haven Vision…
It is the Dream of a place where ministry describes who we are and what we do - not what we expect. A place where "Every Member is a Minister" is more than a slogan but is a reality.
One of the surest tests of our spiritual maturity is…
Do we see Church as a place to do ministry or to be ministered to.
As we grow spiritually, we develop the character and motive of Christ.
(Mark 10:45 NIV) "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
One of the results of spiritual maturity is the desire and drive to minister to others.
What does the Bible teach about who is to be a minister.
1A. Every Believer is Created for Ministry
(Ephesians 2:10 NIV) "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
1B. We are created on purpose for a purpose
You are not an accident God made you just like you are.
(2 Timothy 1:9 NIV) "Who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,"
2B. We are saved to serve
Salvation has placed us in Christ; this speaks of our security and our significance.
(1 Peter 4:10 NIV) "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
(Ephesians 6:7 NIV) "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,"
(Galatians 5:13 NIV) "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
3B. We cannot fail when we fulfill God’s plan
God will show us His plan
(Amos 3:7 NIV) "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets."
Can God fail?
We cannot fail when we obey the Lord.
(Job 42:2 NIV) "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted."
Therefore, we can minister confidently!
2A. Every Believer is Called into Ministry
(1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV) "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. {10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
1B. What we are called from…
We are called from nothingness (9c)
Ø No light – no direction
Ø No light – no freedom
(John 8:36 NIV) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
We are called from no-body-ness (10a)
(Ephesians 2:12-13 NIV) "Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
2B. What we are called to be… (9a)
We are called to be a chosen people
(Ephesians 1:4 NIV) "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world "
We are called to be a royal priesthood
We are called to be a holy nation
We are called to be a people belonging to God
(Revelation 5:9 NIV) "…You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."
3B. What we are called to do… to praise Him (9b)
3A. Every Believer is Commanded to Minister
1B. When we minister, we are acting like Jesus
(Matthew 20:26-28 NIV) "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."
2B. When we minister, we focus on others
(Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV) "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, {12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"
3B. When we minister, we receive more than we give
(Colossians 3:23-24 NIV) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, {24} since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Application
Ministry is more than what we do.
Ministry is who we are.
Ministry begins and ends with Christ.
Ministry is all about relationships…
Our relationship with Christ
Our relationship with Christians
Our relationship with those who need Christ
If you ever become a minister, it will be a result of your relationships.
Do you have your relationships in order?
THE MAKING OF A MINISTER
Giving Our All For Jesus – Part 3
Sunday, February 8, 1998 - Romans 12:1-8
1A. Every Believer is ______________ for Ministry
(Ephesians 2:10 NIV) "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
1B. We are created on __________ for a purpose
(2 Timothy 1:9 NIV) "Who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace…,"
2B. We are ___________ to serve
(1 Peter 4:10 NIV) "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
(Galatians 5:13 NIV) "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."
3B. We cannot __________ when we fulfill God’s plan
God will show us His plan
(Amos 3:7 NIV) "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets."
We cannot fail when we obey the Lord.
(Job 42:2 NIV) "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted."
2A. Every Believer is _____________ into Ministry
(1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV) "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. {10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
1B. What we are called _____________…
We are called from ________________
(John 8:36 NIV) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
We are called from no-body-ness
(Ephesians 2:12-13 NIV) "Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ… {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
2B. What we are called to be…
We are called to be a __________ ___________
(Ephesians 1:4 NIV) "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world…"
We are called to be a __________ priesthood
We are called to be a ___________ nation
We are called to be a people belonging to God
3B. What we are called to do… to __________ Him
3A. Every Believer is ____________ to Minister
1B. When we minister, we are __________ like Jesus
(Matthew 20:26-28 NIV) "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, … 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."
2B. When we minister, we ___________ on others
(Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV) "It was he who gave some to be … pastors and teachers, {12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"
3B. When we minister, we ________ more than we give
(Colossians 3:23-24 NIV) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, {24} since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward…."