I'm Invaluable

Recap: ‘I’m Invited’

Last week we looked at the sinful woman who knew that Jesus would forgive her despite her sin. She didn’t know how he would do it, but she trusted that he would. Jesus had been building a reputation on the things he did and said towards the outcast and downtrodden. They, just like us with all our baggage, were/are invited to be part of God’s family.

REMINDER: Our overarching theme for this series:

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

‘I was made for the day and the day was made for me.’ SAY THIS when you look in the mirror.

We have a purpose, we are uniquely made and divinely designed to serve God in ways that only we can. Today our focus shifts from the invitation to walk in these good works, to the ways in which we are equipped for those good works.

Today: ‘I’m Invaluable’

Intro/Illustration - LOST SHEEP…

Luke 15:3-7 “So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

If one of my children went missing I would not simply be satisfied that I had one child left. Both children are unique - different personalities and both of GREAT value to me. I would pursue them with all I had… God sees us the same way. We are unique and invaluable...

Bible

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 ESV

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

These words are important, and something I often return to in scripture ahead of a Church meeting, as I think about the ways we have all uniquely been made and gifted.

We are image bearers of God. Unique… We each have a story and a set of gifts/talents. Some of these we have obtained through hard work and practice, which God redeems and uses, or we have been supernaturally gifted by God. Sometimes just for a time/season. You might have gifts laying dormant you don’t know about or haven’t used for some time. You might be getting ready to lay down a gift for a time, in order to head in the new direction God is calling you.

Bold claim: If you are here today I believe God may well be encouraging you to use your gifts and skills to serve him in and through the ministry of this church. More in a moment...

Scary story: Storms in Car crash/tree