SERVICE: In SHAPE V

Romans 9:20–21 CSB

On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

INTRO—

[[Walk-Up Music Video…For the Cause - Gettys… SHAPEd FOR THE CAUSE!!!]]

1,000 steps…1,000 attempts…this is how many times it took Thomas Edison to successfully find the right combination for a light bulb! We are too often conditioned to avoid ‘failure.’ So much so that we are afraid to try…to venture out on the path of discovery—BUT, this is exactly the mindset we need to have in our lives and our life-together as a church. Set out, try areas of service/ministry…and then make adjustments as necessary.

Along these lines, lets finish out the consideration of how our Lord has SHAPEd us for service.

Completing our consideration of our SHAPE for service…

Spiritual Gifts… we have talked about. NEXT!!

SHAPE: Heart

What are you passionate about?

Proverbs 27.19 “As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person.”

What grabs your attention and is something you often can’t stop talking about?

Reading…Music…Art…Building/Fixing…Relationships/People… Teaching/Learning…

Our heart is an important, necessary component of our worship/service/ministry!

1 Samuel 12.20 “Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart.”

[[Ephesians 6.6 “Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.”]]

SHAPE: Abilities

What do you do well…find fulfillment in doing?

1 Chronicles 22.15-16 “You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and people skilled in every kind of work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron—beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you.”

A ‘short’ list: Entertaining…Creating a Team…Researching…Helping (Council, Physical Labor [setup, etc])…Math (Numbers)…Singing (etc)…

Anything and everything we do is an opportunity to glorify God and serve someone!

Colossians 3.17 “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

SHAPE: Personality

The way we are wired may not be changed but rather redeemed for Christ-honoring purposes...

Galatians 1.13-14 “For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.”

Romans 9.1-3 “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.”

[Timothy, too! (1 Timothy 4.11-16 & 2 Timothy 1.3-7)]

Four Questions Regarding Our Personality:

How do I interact with other people?

Outgoing (social, energized by people; last to leave a party; many relationships)

Reserved (introverted, drained by people; not bothered being alone; limited number of relationships)

How do I make decisions?

Facts (likes, trusts facts; appreciates past experiences; ‘practical’)

Feelings (‘head in the clouds,’ dreamer; futuristic thinking; loves to speculate, go on hunches)

How do I deal with relationships?

Dependent (needs people; high expectations of others; need others to bring validation)

Independent (doesn’t need others; rely on self to get through tough times; self-validation)

How do I handle my time?

Determined (organized; plan ahead; deadlines)

Spontaneous (adapt as-you-go; spur-of-the-moment; deadline?)

SHAPE: Experiences

It’s been said that God doesn’t waste an experience…[[He has a plan through it all.]]

Romans 8.28 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Genesis 50.20 “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.”

One major part of the plan specific to our hard times…

2 Corinthians 1.3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.”

CONCL—

Ephesians 2.10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

2 Timothy 1:6 CSB

Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.