Diversity of Gifts
Notes
Transcript
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Re-tread group -
Prayer Revolution -
*Book give away is next week! Send people to The Open Room M-F 8:00-5:00 for their free book
*Community Prayer services Sept 15 and 20.
Church Garage sale - again on September 10th - bring items and sign-up to help next Sunday. (Thanks for help yesterday!!!)
Men’s Conference September 11th from 8am to 12pm ($20)
41st Anniversary celebration: Wiener Roast September 25th
Oct. 14th Pregnancy Resource Center Banquet
Pray for storms heading for Louisiana
Pray for Trish Bright - Procedure Monday at 11am
PRAY FOR KAREN!!
CHURCH UPDATES:
Kitchen picture
DECLARATION:
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.
We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.
INTRODUCTION:
Story: Going to a place that lets you put on your own toppings and then paying per pound for it…who likes to add a lot of different flavors..most of us even in our taste realize the importance of diversity.
WHY?… In this second half of Ephesians Paul is telling them how to WALK, which is to say how to live as Christians…Paul is continuing on telling them to walk in Unity
TODAY: Diversity of Gifts for the Maturity of the Church
Every believer is gifted by Christ
Every believer is gifted by Christ
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
v. 7 Grace-gifts given to each by Christ
v. 8 Quoting Ps. 68:18 and ultimately it brings us back to our position of being seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph 1:20-21)
The gifts for the church
The gifts for the church
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Apostles – commissioned messengers carrying out their sender’s mission (SENT ONES)
Prophets – spokespersons for God
Evangelists – proclaimers of good news
Shepherds – minister God’s Word and elsewhere in NT overseers of local congregations (Acts 20:28) – Pastors
Teacher – expounders of the Scriptures (Shepherds and Teachers have a common focus)
*Notice the order from sent, to hearing, to being shepherded and taught*
Leaders are given to equip the saints and saints are called to serve
Leaders are given to equip the saints and saints are called to serve
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
The goal is the building up of the church
The goal is the building up of the church
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Last week we talked about maintaining the unity and here in v. 13 we’re to attain the unity which is marked by “unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God” (i.e. Theology of Play in that we experience God)
v. 15 Picture of a baby with a big head that grows into it later on
Conclusion and Reflection:
Illustration: Have you ever tried to use the wrong tool to get the job done...
Today: Diversity of Gifts for the Maturity of the Church
Ephesians: 11 Studies for Individuals or Groups (Study 7: Living Our Calling (Ephesians 4:1–16))
Where does our church need to grow toward maturity and How can we use the gifts God has given us to enable this to take place?