Created for Service

 CREATED TO SERVE Given Vancouver May 25, 2018 By Craig Minke * What are your gifts? Do you know what they are? * How has the LORD gifted you? * If you could do anything for your local church, what would it be? * What do you enjoy doing? * What keeps you from using your gifts in our church? We know: Church isn't a spectator sport. Church is not a country club where we go to be served. Church is a family. And yet, many Christians have little more involvement in family life than rocking up to the family dinner late, and leaving as soon as they've finished their meal. I would like to start my message by giving 29 reasons that people give for not serving. I will be addressing these excuses in my message today. 1. I'm not a Christian - I'm checking Christianity out. 2. I'm a member of another church - I come here for more teaching / to meet other Christians. 3. I'm too busy with work. 4. I'm too busy with family commitments (we have kids). 5. I'm too busy with family problems (e.g. my sister's sick). 6. I'm too busy with other things (e.g. preparing to get married). 7. I'm married to an unbeliever who doesn't like it when I go out. 8. My husband / wife and I don't get to spend much time together so the week nights / weekends are precious to us. 9. I don't know what opportunities are available. 10. I don't have enough information about the available opportunities (e.g. what would be required of me to serve on a fair trade market?). 11. I don't know what gifts God has given me. 12. I don't have the skills required to serve in the available areas (e.g. I don't know how to use the computer to operate PowerPoint) 13. No one asked me. 14. I've come here from another church because I'm burnt out. I just need to be fed for a bit. 15. I'm serving in other ways outside of church. 16. I don't want to commit to anything in advance (I'd like to keep my options open). 17. I live too far away and it's a struggle to get to church outside of service times. 18. The staff team is paid to serve so I don't have to. 19. I don't know anyone who's serving in the area I would like to. 20. I serve the people I know by encouraging them in their faith. 21. I'm generous in other ways (e.g. with my money). 22. Serving is what the young people do - they've got the time and energy. 23. We've just got married and we're concentrating on our marriage for the first year. 24. Everything seems under control - I'm not needed. 25. I offered to serve, and no one followed me up. 26. I offered to serve, but I wasn't needed (e.g. I was told the ministry was full). 27. I served for a while, but I felt unappreciated and no one thanked me. 28. I don't get anything out of it. 29. I just don't want to. * Some of us probably have more we can add? * Do any of these sound familiar? * Are we using any of these excuses? * Andy Stanley asked the question "Are you too busy to serve at your local church? FYI: Every Saturday you attend your local church you are served by very busy people. Get involved!" On the handout given out today is a list of areas you can serve or get involved in our local congregation. Some of you are serving already, some of you are wondering where can I help after the pandemic. * One thing we know for sure many people are need to operate as a church. * We will not be effective as a body if only a few volunteer Today I want to address the topic of SERVING, * WHY DO WE SERVE? * IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE DO, * HOW CAN WE SERVE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND * WHAT ARE THE BLESSING THAT COME FROM SERVING * WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT WE SERVE? According to Scripture, every Christian or everyone who calls themselves a Christian has been given at the very least one spiritual gift in be used in service to the body of Christ II PET 4:10 says 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. * Using our God given gifts in not an optional for Christians * Why to we serve - IT IS A COMMAND * ILLUSTRATION: Many today celebrate Christmas. It seems no matter the size of the tree, it is never big enough to shelter the number of presents beneath it. How bare the tree looks How bare that tree looks all of the presents have been removed and unwrapped! The gifts begin their life of usefulness only after they've been unwrapped. * In a peculiar way, many churches are like that tree on Christmas Eve. They shelter a number of beautifully wrapped, lovingly purchased presents that remain unmoved and still wrapped. We believers have been wonderfully gifted by our Lord for service, yet many are content to nestle themselves uselessly beneath the tree. * The presents of gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit are in essence useless until they are unwrapped and used. It is our job as the church leaders to help equip the saints and help one another to develop and use our gifts. Notice what it says in Ephesians: EPH 4:11-16 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.....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. * God has provided this church pastors, teachers, evangelists to help what - TO EQUIP US THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE BUILT UP. * Another reason why are we using our gifts to help build up the church the body of Christ. * As believers we all have a part to play in the process of building one another up in love. * There are many gifts God give us from prophesying, teaching, encouraging, serving, giving, leading, extending mercy, to wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, performing of miracles, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, discernment etc. Our service should be wholehearted. When we serve in the church we serve other * Christ said when you have done it to the least of one of my brethren you have done it to me. * Eph 6:7 admonishes us to "serve wholeheartedly, as if we are serving the Lord, not people." Every member of the church should be serving in some way and every servant of the Lord should remember there is more to just serving others - BUT TO SERVE HUMBLY IN LOVE GAL 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love ROM 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Another reason why we serve is there will always be more needs than willing workers, this was true in Christ's day an is true of our day also MATT 9:37 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ILLUSTRATION: A popular business principle is one called the 80/20 principle. Basically it goes like this: typically 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Myriad are the applications to this in the local church: 20% do 80% of the giving, 20% of the people do 80% of the outreach. You get the idea. I don't know how accurate the percentages are in any particular church. What I do know is that I'd like to be in the 20%. Remember the commission Christ gave us is great to take his message to the world, our service in the church is a critical part of that process. Brethren the power of the Holy Spirit has come upon us - this is our work to do today. ACTS 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." * Another reason why we serve is the worker are few As followers of Christ we are responsible before the Lord to obey all the "One Another" commands in Scripture, this cannot truly be done outside the walls of the local church For example, * we need to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24), * build up one another (1 Thess 5:11), * be of the same mind as one another (Rom 12:13, 15:5), * comfort one another in the face of death (1 Thess 4:18), * pray for one another (James 5:16), * be devoted to one another (Rom 12:10), * be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50), * encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11), * greet one another (2 Cor 13:12), * not become boastful in challenging one another (Gal 5:26), * be kind to one another (Eph 4:32), * abound in love for one another (1 Pet 1:22), * live in peace with one another (1 Thess 5:13), * love one another (2 John 5), * have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7), * not judge one another (Rom 14:13), * take communion (the Lord's Table) with one another (1 Cor 11:33), * accept one another (Rom 15:7), * regard one another as more important than yourself (Phil 2:3), * bear one another's burdens (Gal 6:2), * admonish (counsel) one another (Rom 15:14), * serve one another (Gal 5:13), * not lie to one another (Col 3:9), * bear with one another (Col 3:13), * forgive one another (Col 3:13), * care for one another (1 Cor 12:25), * cloth yourselves with humility toward one another (1 Pet 5:5), * be hospitable to one another (1 Pet 4:9), * not complain against one another (James 5:9), * show forbearance to one another (Eph 4:2), * give preference to one another (Rom 12:10), * not bite and devour one another (Gal 5:15), * seek the good of one another (1 Thess 5:15), * and not forsake assembling with one another (Heb 10:25). Rick Warren said: The only way you can serve God is by serving other people. * So another key reason why we serve is to fulfill the one another commands given to us. Serving is an opportunity for us to store up treasure in heaven * Another reason why we serve is to store up treasures in heaven. IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH OUR PRIORITIES IN LIFE. MATT 6:19-21 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. * The main point in this text is to warn people of the folly of working to accumulate worldly and temporary possessions ("treasures on earth") rather than dedicating one's time and resources for the benefit and furtherance of God's Kingdom. Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. The visionary who is serving God ceases to live for personal ambitions, but rather for God's ambitions. By George Barna * Jesus got to the heart of the matter. What we seek to amass in this life is a clear indication of where our heart is. * In our culture, it's too easy to be preoccupied with savings accounts, career goals, vacations, retirement, comfort, rest, and recreation, among other things. * These things are not wrong in themselves but we need to make sure they are not more important, than spending time serving others. As believers we need to make sure serving our local church is a priority in our lives, not just in our churches but in our homes, families and our marriages. * We serve in the body of Christ why? We are told to do so. * Notice what it say in Galatians GAL 6:10 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. God created us, we are his handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works. EPH 2:10 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. How are we created in Christ Jesus - to SERVE * Another reason why we serve is to follow the example of Christ, and how he asked us to live our lives Mark 10:45 ESV For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 23:11 ESV The greatest among you shall be your servant. LK 22:26-27 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves JN 13:15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. The measure of a man's greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves. John Hagee Another reason why we serve is to be an example. Children tend to emulate what they see, not what they hear. EXAMPLE: When Jesus selected His apostles, He chose them to be "with Him." How significant. It's not trite: ministry is more often "caught" than "taught." Perhaps this principle is what motivated Luke to write of all that Jesus began both "to do and to teach." Teaching is most effective when doing on the part of the teacher precedes it. ILLUSTRATION: When my oldest son got his driver's license a number of years ago, I found myself riding shotgun on occasion. One day, as we traveled along a local highway I noticed that he was committing two fatal flaws: (1) He was not wearing a seatbelt, and (2) he was driving 80 mph. Appalling! Where did he learn to be so reckless? Certainly not from the driver's manual. And definitely not from what I preached to him. Oh, yeah, but then there's the nasty little thing about my example-oops. * What are your children learning about positive, heart-motivated ministry by watching you? * Service to God enhances one's knowledge of God. .There is an old Chinese proverb that says. "Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I'll understand." Brethren for us to growing as God wants us to be must be involved in serving. ILLUSTRATION: Story of Work Done as a Youth: One of my jobs as a teenager was to work at a local hospital. While there I met many different types of people and many different types of workers. One young man named Vince was a particularly hard worker in that he worked hard to avoid work! On one particular afternoon, I ran into Vince "hiding" by the loading dock. In his hand was a broom. Now, mind you, he wasn't using the broom, he was just holding it. Curious, I asked him, "Vince, why did you bring the broom with you to the loading dock?" To which he replied, "Oh, this? Just in case the boss shows up!" Maybe Vince has changed since those days, but at that point in his life Vince focused on avoiding responsibility, only feigning work when the boss happened to be looking. His thinking betrayed his wrong view of the nature of work itself (that it was somehow a bad thing) and of the motivation to work (the taskmaster might show up). For us believers, the boss is always watching. But our motivation is not one of duty or fear. He loves us, and we love Him! What we do is of inestimable value because He orders us to it, energizes us in it, and rewards us for it! THERE ARE MANY MORE REASON WHY WE AS BELIEVERS SHOULD SERVE - I HAVE ONLY GIVEN YOU A FEW OF THEM. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE WONDERFUL BLESSING THAT COME OUR WAY FROM SERVING 1.FRIENDSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS: It is through our service we often forge some of our longest lasting friendships and relationships. * While single I served alongside my wife and got to build a wonderful relationship * Adam and Eve served together in tending the Garden of Eden. * Paul talks fondly of his close friends such as Barnabas, Silas, Aquila and Prisilla. 2. SERVING ALLOWS US TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS * If is often the case we learn what our gifts are by volunteers in areas to serve. * We may discover gifts we never knew we had, that is how God works * I Cor 12 compares the church to a human body. * Just as the human body is made up of many parts that serve different functions, the church is also comprised of people whom God has gifted with different skills and abilities for the greater good of the body * Alone these gifts or individuals are useless but together God is creating something beautiful. 3. SERVING ALLOW US TO EXPERIENCE MIRACLES * Remember the story in Jn 2 at the wedding feast, when the host ran out of wined. This would have been a huge oversight if they were out of wine but Jesus here turns water into wine. * Jesus tells the servants to fill the empty big jars with water. * The guests never knew what happened, it was the servants who were the ones who witnessed the miracles. * The same is true for us when we serve. 4. SERVING HELPS US TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS * We shift our focus off of ourselves onto others through serving. * We begin to see others as Jesus sees them. * And we see Jesus IN others. Notice what it says in MATT 25:40 40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God. By Rick Warren 5. SERVING SURROUNDS US WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS WHO CAN HELP US FOLLOW JESUS. * When we're working side by side with other people, a bond inevitably forms. * This was part of God's plan for how the church is supposed to work. * That's why Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another." HEB 10:24-25 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. 6. SERVING INCREASES OUR FAITH * As we move out of our comfort zones, God increases our faith by revealing new potential - in ourselves and in His Church. * When we see what He can do when His power is at work within us, we begin looking for the doors He's opening rather than pushing our way through the one's He's closed EPH 3:20 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 7. SERVING IS GOOD FOR OUR SOUL * Studies have shown that volunteering is so good for the mind and body that it can ease symptoms of stress and depression. * Tapping into our gifts and passions builds self-confidence, energy, and strength. * Serving others can also be the best distraction from our own worries. * We make all sorts of rational explanations for not serving: * I don't have time. * I don't know what I would do. * I don't have any special skills to contribute. * They don't need me. * I read some of those at the start of my message * But the reality is "The Lord doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. * God used men and women with similar doubts to change the course of history. * Moses didn't think he was a leader or speaker, but God worked through Moses to bring Israel out of slavery. * David was the youngest (and therefore most insignificant) of all his brothers, but God worked through David to defeat a giant and eventually made him a king. * Paul used to kill Christians before he met Jesus, but he went on to become one of the most highly-regarded and prolific writers/church planters in history. * "God doesn't just want to work through you, He wants to work in you". * Faithful servants never retire. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God. By Rick Warren One of our greatest barriers in serving others is our own selfishness. Paul warned believers by saying "Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. * The number one reason we don't have the time or energy to serve others is that we're preoccupied with our own agendas, dreams, and pleasures. * Only a small minority of people use their lives to serve others, but Jesus said, "If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live." (Mark 8:35) Finally in all our service, there is a final key. * Serve one another in love * Notice what it says in the Message Bible I COR 13:3 3 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. * God is far more interested in why you serve others than in how well you serve them. * He's always looking at your heart, serving willingly and eagerly out of love for Jesus and gratitude for all he's done for you. * You are most like Jesus when you're serving others. * After washing his disciples' feet, Jesus said, "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." (John 13:14-15 NLT) * Amy Carmichael said: "You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving." What if you are not sure where you should serve in the local church * Seek God's guidance in prayer * Talk to those who are closes to you about where they think your gifts may lie. * The Holy Spirit will direct us if he allow him to lead us. * Step out in faith, you may discover gifts you never knew you had. * We all learn through trial and error or experimentation I COR 12:4-7 "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." BRETHREN WHEN IT COME TO SERVING WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE WORDS OF HELEN KELLER * "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." * There is synergy and power when God works through each of us individually as we come together and serve as a unified body. As you can see scripture is very clear to us in its admonition for us to SERVE. * Serving is not optional for a believer * Jesus spoke and lived the example for us to follow * Church is not a place where we come to "get" * Church is a place we come to "Give" Yet I have heard these words spoken many times by people who drift in and out of churches "I'm just not getting anything out of church" Maybe we have been asking the wrong question all along * John F Kennedy in a famous speech uttered these words "Ask not what your country can do for you but rather, What can you do for your country" * WE NEED TO ASK NOT "WHAT CAN MY CHURCH DO FOR ME, BUT RATHER WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUR CHURCH" On today's handout I encourage all of you to check off areas were you would like to get involved in serving in our local church. Some of you are presently serving in a number of areas ALREADY. * Check off as many areas as you like. * You may just discover gifts God has given you that you never knew you had. * Whether you are a senior, a teen, a young adult, a single, a child, married with children, a widow YOU CAN SERVE. Check off as many areas where you would like to get involved. * Some areas we will begin immediately * We may have 20 children, but if NO one volunteers to help we will not have children's church * Some areas will begin in the fall * Some will begin ONLY IF WE HAVE COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP. * Some of the areas of serving are critical to our functioning as a church, some are not. * Some areas are ones we plan to begin as we rebuild our LIVESTREAMING PROCESS - so we can reach out to those unable to attend. * Some areas - the first 2 on the list are yet to be determined by our new EVANGELICAL TEAM if we have enough volunteers - where we will be researching areas where we can more effectively serve and reach the community we are in. The key brethren is I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND TO TRY NEW THINGS. ONE THING IS SURE - DON'T BE SURPRISED BY WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH ALL OF YOU - AS YOU STEP OUT IN FAITH. CLOSING PRAYER