When you think about the church what first comes to mind, sitting or serving?
In the comic
strip Calvin and Hobbes Calvin was talking to Susie, his arch enemy, about
the test they had just taken. He asked, “What grade did you get?” Susie
says, “I got an A.” Calvin
replied, “Really? Boy, I’d hate to be you. I got a C.” Susie asked,
“Why on earth would your rather get a C than an A?” Calvin replied, “I
find my life is a lot easier the lower I keep everyone’s expectations.
We are raising expectations and are focusing on
what it means to be a member of PVCC. We expect members to worship the Lord
with fellow believers every Lord’s Day.
We expect members to be generous in giving. Today we will look at the third expectation: We expect a
member of PV will connect to find his/her place of service.
It was the
first football game of the season. After taking the opening kick-off, the
home team went into a huddle to get the formation from the quarterback and
to encourage one another. Then came the unusual. The team didn’t break the
huddle to move into action! Soon
the red flag was dropped, and the referee stepped off a 5-yrd penalty for
delay of game. The team still didn’t leave the huddle! They seemed to be
talking and encouraging to one another, but it appeared they had forgotten
the object of the game is to move to the line and carry the ball across the
goal. Again the red flag went down, another 5-yrd penalty!
The crowd howled! At this point the team was overheard talking about ways to
improve the appearance of the huddle. As
the crowd watched with amusement, the team changed the shape of the huddle
from a circle to a triangle and then to a square!
But they never left the huddle to move into action.
The coach challenged them to get to the line and a few players left
the huddle, they wanted to get into the game, but their teammates wouldn’t
join them. So they returned to the huddle to try and persuade the team to
move toward the goal! The talking continued and another red flag and penalty
followed. The crowd became
angry, they booed until they were bored.
But the team kept talking in the huddle, patting each other on the
back. Finally the ref ruled that the home team had forfeited the game and he
awarded the victory to the opponent. The crowd filed out of the stands, but
the home team, still in a huddle, still talking, didn’t seem to notice
that the stadium was empty. -
It is important to huddle for Christian worship, to receive
encouragement and instruction, but unless we move to the line and carry the
ball across the goal, we fail.
In Acts 8:1-5 we note a
persecution arose against the church. This incident gives an important
insight into the nature of the church. Two things are noted: 1. The Apostles stayed in Jerusalem. 2. The people were scattered.
If we didn’t know better we might assume that was the end of things.
The leaders were in one place and their followers were in many places.
But it wasn’t the end, it was the beginning of tremendous growth
because, “they who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
I Corinthians 12:12 says, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one
body. So it is with the body of Christ.” I Corinthians 12:12 NLT
Their
responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the
church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and
knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord,
measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12,13 NLT
Let
no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good
for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will
give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 NASV
Therefore
we have been buried with Him through baptism into death,…so we to might
walk in newness of life. Romans
6:4 NASV
The Dead Sea is so salty that it contains no fish or plant life. What accounts for this unusual condition? There are absolutely no outlets! A great volume of water pours into this area, but nothing flows out. Many inlets plus no outlets equal a dead sea. Believers who only take in and never give of themselves in service risk spiritual stagnation and deadness.
Dad
was skeptical of his son’s newfound determination to work out, but he went
to the sporting goods department to admire a set of weights. “Please, Dad,
I promise I’ll use ‘em every day.” “I don’t know, Michael. It’s
really a commitment on your part.” “Please
Dad!” The father came back, “They’re not cheap.”
“I’ll use ‘em Dad, I promise. You’ll see.” Dad paid for the
equipment and started for the door. He heard his son yell, “What! You mean
I have to carry them to the car?” – God has equipped us. It is up to
us to use what He has given and exercise our gifts in service.
Since
we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is
to exercise them accordingly…Romans 12:6a NASV
…Be
honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much
faith God has given you. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part
has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of
his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all
one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the
others. Romans 12:3-5 NLT
There was a wealthy man who enjoyed giving his mother unique gifts for Mother’s Day. Every year he outdid himself until finally he couldn’t think of anything else to give her. He was visiting a city for business reasons and had time to kill. He went to the local mall to see what was offered there. He walked into the pet store in that mall and discovered a beautiful bird in a cage. Not only was the bird beautiful, it could speak five languages and sing Amazing Grace, his mother’s favorite hymn. The man knew that this was THE gift for his mother. Although the bird cost $10,000.00, he paid for it and had the storeowner ship the bird to his mother’s address. When he got home from his business trip, he called his mother and asked her, “Mom, how did you like the bird?” His mom said, “It was delicious!” --What have you done with what God has given you?
Great churches are made up of the people of God who believe and practice
these concepts.
The church is the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the world. The God-given
abilities each of us have are to be used in mutual ministry.
One day while walking with some children,
England’s Queen Mary was caught in a sudden shower. Quickly taking shelter
on the porch of a home, she knocked at the door and asked to borrow an
umbrella. “I’ll send it back tomorrow,” she said. Queen Mary queen had
deliberately disguised her appearance by putting on a hat that partly
covered her face and by wearing some very plain clothes. The homeowner, who
was reluctant to give a stranger her best umbrella, offered her a castoff
she found in the attic. One rib was broken and there were several holes in
it. Apologizing, she turned it over to the Queen, whom she did not
recognize. The next day she had
another visitor—in man with gold braid on his uniform and an envelope in
his hand. “The queen sent me with this letter,” he said, “and also
asked me to thank you personally for the loan of your umbrella.” Stunned,
the woman burst into tears. “Oh, what an opportunity I missed that did not
give my very best,” she cried.
If you are already ON BOARD or are considering
coming ON BOARD, we expect you to serve!
Where are you volunteering to serve?
The
following material is provided to assist you in application of the sermon.
You may go over this individually, share it with a small group or your
family.
OPEN - Share your “story” with some others.
DIG – Look
into the Bible’s “story” to discover insights that will help your
understanding.
REFLECT –
Here you apply the “story” of the scriptures to your own life; to take
personal inventory and share with others what you will do about it.
1. How many “ministers” are there at PVCC? When does a person enter the ministry?
2. Explain the concept of “team ministry”.
3. When you hear that the members of the church are expected to be serving in some way how do you react?
4. What steps can one take to find the ministry to which God is calling him or her?
5. If someone walked up to you and asked, “What ministry do you have?” how would you answer them?
6. How would you describe your involvement in PVCC? Place an X on the line that indicates where you currently see yourself.
Spectator__________________________________________________Minister
Additional
Insight:
What a Servant Needs
As Christians it is sometimes hard to remember that being a church member
isn’t about the church catering to our every desire. We have been trained by our culture to be consumers and have
a hard time leaving that behind when we come to the church.
We expect every member of PVCC to find their place of service.
What does it take to be a servant?
We need the
heart of a servant. When we
have a servant heart, we are motivated to serve because of what God has done
for us. I Timothy 1:12 I’m deeply grateful to Jesus
our Lord for trusting me enough to appoint me to His ministry in spite of
the fact that I previously blasphemed His name. – Phillips
The heart of a servant is motivated to serve
for God’s glory. …let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV
We need the
eyes of a servant. One of our problems is we tend not to see. (There are those who have eyes but do not see.)
Isaiah 6:9,10 is quoted twice in the New Testament, once by Jesus
(Matthew 13:15) and at the conclusion of Acts by the Apostle Paul (Acts
28:27) Here is Matthew’s
quote: For
the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and
they have closed their eyes so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot
hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let
me heal them. Matthew 13:15 NLT The fact this is repeated indicates to us we need to
be more aware of our surroundings.
We need the
mind of a servant. Servants don’t focus on
self. The Good Samaritan was on
his way to take care of things on his schedule. But, unlike the priest and
Levite, he chose to stop and help the man who had been beaten and robbed.
Sometimes we need to check our attitude in to see if we have ulterior
motives for serving. Two good questions to ask ourselves would be:
We need the
hands of a servant. Not
only are we to feel, think and see, we are to act. As Christians we need to
ask ourselves four crucial questions:
There are plenty of things that just need to be done in and by those of us
in the church. Although they might not fall under anyone’s gifts,
passions, or abilities, they still need to be done. As Christians we are
called to serve, not because it will bring us glory but to bring glory to
our God who is more than worthy of our service.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men. – Colossians 3:23 NIV
(Insight material mainly from Kyle
Idleman)