Go

Contact Us

  • Phone: (111) 222-3333
  • Email:
  • Mailing Address: 2707 Congress Street Ste. #2G San Diego, CA 92110

 

 

Serving

Serving

Aug 12, 2018

Preacher: Michael Grigsby

Series: I Love My Church

Category: Stewardship, Church

Detail:

I Love My Church

Title:Serving

Text:1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Romans 12:3-8 NLT

Theme:Help people identify the important role serving plays in communicating love.

 

            What do superheroes and Christmas presents have to do with the church? That’s the question I want to answer today as we continue in our I Love My Church series. The implications of the answer to this question for our church family are bigger than you can imagine.

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

            Superheroes and their superpowers, what are they good for? When you were growing up, did you have a favorite superhero? Mine was always Spiderman. Normal guy who got his powers from a spider bite. Able to climb up walls, jump around like crazy, swing from webs, anticipate danger with his spider-sense. Spiderman was the man in my book! You can say this is all kids’ stuff, but hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from superhero movies over the last few years would beg to differ. There is something about superheroes that we are fascinated with.

 

            I looked up the definition of “superhero” in Webster’s. It says, “a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers; an exceptionally skillful or successful person.” Now, I don’t mean to criticize Webster on their ability to create definitions. It is their business.

 

            However, I don’t think this one is correct. It’s not inaccurate; it’s just incomplete. Superheroes are more than just extraordinary, super-powered, exceptionally skilled people. That’s not even half of what makes them who they are. Superheroes are superheroes because they utilize their abilities within a specific context to help in a specific way. Who is the superhero of Metropolis? Who is the superhero of Gotham? New York? Okay—NY is spoiled, there’s actually a few, but you get my point.

 

            I don’t care what the superpower is someone may claim to have, whether it is flying, fighting, webbing, running, strength, or anything else. If they aren’t using that power in a specific context to help in a specific way then they are not a superhero, period. Having superpowers is one thing, but it takes action to make one a hero.

 

            Author Leon Bloyonce said,Leon Bloy, “Any Christian who is not a hero is a pig.”I love that quote! And I believe Scripture affirms it. If you are a follower of Jesus, did you know that God has given you superpowers so that you can be a superhero?

 

            I’m not saying that He’s made it possible for you to become famous, and have movies made about you. Most of us will never be widely known, but fame is not part of the equation in what makes a superhero.

 

            A superhero is someone who utilizes his or her abilities in a specific context to help in a specific way. In fact, I think part of loving your church is being the hero God has made and called you to be.

 

You Have Superpowers: Spiritual Gifts

            1 Corinthians 12 starts off letting us know that Paul, the author of the letter, is going to talk about spiritual gifts. In elaborating on them he says this: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” NLT.

 

            The part I want to zoom in on is the last part of verse 6: God works all things in all persons, meaning that God empowers gifts in His followers. We’ll spend a little bit more time on this first part.

 

            God gives each and every one of His followers at least one, sometimes more than one, spiritual gift. A spiritual gift is a Holy Spirit–empowered ability that is given to serve others. It is a spiritual superpower given for you to use in a specific context to help in a specific way.

 

            Though not exhaustive, some of these possible gifts could be exhortation (encouraging someone to something), giving, leadership, mercy, service, teaching, administration, discernment, faith, helps, knowledge, and wisdom.
And these are just the gifts that we are comfortable talking about.

 

            There are two really important things to remember about spiritual gifts. First, God is the one who picked yours. The passage tells us that God is the one who empowers us. Paul tells us in Romans: Romans 12:6, “6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.” NLT.

 

            It’s important to realize that we didn’t apply, request, campaign, petition, or do a kick-starter to get these gifts going. God, in His infinite wisdom, love, care, and power knew exactly which gifts you needed, and which gifts were best suited for you.

 

            So don’t waste time being jealous of someone else’s gift when you should be spending time developing your own. Just think, God blessed you and entrusted you with this specific ability to make a difference in your church, community, and the world! 


 

            Second, It is a Spirit-empowered gift.When you hear the list of possible gifts, you might be doing a proverbial scratching of the head. You might be stumped, thinking, “I’ve had some really good teachers in my life and some of them didn’t love God, didn’t even like Him. How can they be a good teacher if they weren’t given the gift of teaching?” Great question, if you were thinking that.

 

            The thing to realize is that there are some really amazing and incredible teachers out there, but there’s a difference between great teaching and teaching empowered by the Spirit. One is exhibiting their natural ability (which is also God- given I might add), and the other is exhibiting an ability infused by the power of the Spirit of God to speak in such a way that surpasses the mere passing on of information, but also inspires one to change.

 

            One teaching with the spiritual gift of teaching does so while being led by the Spirit, guided by the Spirit, powered by the Spirit, supported by the Spirit, and sustained by the Spirit. That’s incredibly different. Think of it like this: When Mike Tyson, even in retirement, throws a punch, it is going to be powerful and it is going to hurt. Even more so if it was thrown during his prime. That’s his natural talent. There have been many great leaders throughout history, but someone leading with the gift of leadership is exhibiting something supernatural and will standout in history.

 

            You have been given an amazing ability to be used by God! That is incredibly exciting. It might also be slightly confusing because the natural question is, “What are my gifts?” Here are three ways you can discover your gifting:

 

  1. Experiment in serving.Get involved in the church somewhere. If you’re not sure where, then get with Jake, Wade or myself and we will be more than happy to talk to you about the different opportunities we may have for you. Try out a ministry for a month or two. After that time ask yourself how it is going. Ask the leader how it is going. If you are both ecstatic about what you’ve been able to do, then what you’ve been doing might make clear what your gifting is.

 

            If one or both of you feel it’s just not your area, then don’t be discouraged—move on to something else. The big thing is where do you see results? Specifically, where do you see results of impacting people for Jesus?

 

            If you are gifted in a specific way, then it is going to bring people to Jesus, help people in their relationship with Jesus, and show people Jesus. Having given this suggestion, I don’t think it can be separated from the next two ...

 

  1. Ask others.Ask specific people whom you’ve spent time with, whom you trust, and whom you know love you. Ask them how they see God using you in the church community. Specific questions you could ask them are: When you hear the different spiritual gifts, which one or ones come to mind when you think of me?  What am I doing when you see Jesus in me or coming out of me? How is it that I make this community better?

           

            Remember, this isn’t to give us a big head. This is to help us discover how God has gifted us. No one will know better than the people you are in community with, and serving with.

 

  1. Check your energy level.As you try different serving opportunities, ask yourself how you’re feeling. Are you are tired, dreading going to the serving opportunity, or not feeling a lot of passion. Then whatever you’re doing probably isn’t something you’re gifted in. It may be the wrong context for your gift, so be mindful of that. A “right gift, wrong setting” type of thing.

           

            If you are ready to go, looking forward to the opportunity, feeling passion, then that is more than likely something that complements your gifting. 


 

            Whatever your gift or gifts are, they were supernaturally given to you by God. They are something you are empowered by the Spirit to do, not for your own gain, but for the benefit of others. You have a superpower in the church. But you’re not alone!

 

You Have a Superhero Team: The Church!

            The thing I love about the Avenger movies is that it wasn’t about one person. The Avengers were a team, a group of very different individuals with very different and very specific abilities working together for the greater good. They couldn’t meet the specific needs of earth alone; they needed one another. This is God’s plan for you and me as well. Listen to Paul in Romans 12:3-8, “3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” NLT.

           

            This passage complements what we read in 1 Corinthians 12, that you and I need each other. Here’s the hard truth:
Your gift was not given to you for you!

 

            The Bible teaches that spiritual gifts were given to us, but for others. What does 1 Corinthians 12:7 say but that your gifts and my gifts were what? Given to us “so we can help each other.”

 

            Your gifts were given to you to help others, to serve others, to benefit others. They weren’t given for you and your enjoyment. Romans 12 clarifies that we purposely and specifically designed to NOTall function the same way with our gifting.

 

            We have different gifting, because we need one another. Romans 12:5 even takes it so far as to say that we are “We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”Meaning each member belongs to all the others. So your gifts aren’t yours; they’re mine, and my gifts aren’t really mine; they’re yours, because God made the DNA of this church to be supernaturally infused with all of these gifts.

 

            This should be a lesson in both humility, and responsibility for us. Humility because the gift is not about us, but responsibility because God knew someone else would need our help. He knew someone would need to experience Jesus working through our gifts to minister to them.

 

            Thor couldn’t save the world on his own; he needed the rest of the Avengers. It was the same for the rest of them. The truth of the matter is that God doesn’t need any of us, but He chooses to use us and invites us to be used by Him, but He does that by bringing us together, teaming us up, and by using us together.

            Sure, there’s strength in numbers, but numbers brought together by the hand of God and empowered by God ... that’s more than natural strength. That’s the type of power that can change a church for God, change a neighborhood for God, change a nation for God, change the world for the Gospel. You have been given superpowers. You are part of a superhero team. But remember ... to just have power isn’t what makes a hero. There has to be action.

 

This Superhero Team Has a Community and a City in Need

            This church needs you. This neighborhood needs you. This community needs you. Not because they need you, but because they need God, and God in His wisdom and plan has decided that He would empower us with the ability to serve one another, and the world around us.

 

            We have a children’s ministry that needs people to step up and model Jesus to them. We have a youth ministry that needs people to step up and model Jesus to them, befriend them, and mentor them. This city needs the gifts that God gave you to be in action, and in motion.

 

            Can you imagine with me a little bit right now? Can you imagine what our church would be like if everyone was overflowing in their gifting? Can you imagine what our community would be like, what this city would be like; if we all were serving in ways that utilized the gifts that God has given us? Think about it, and let’s take it back to our initial question.

 

            What do superheroes and Christmas presents have to do with the church? This is the question I opened with. We talked a lot about superheroes, not a whole lot about Christmas. So let’s switch gears.

 

            Christmas presents. Who doesn’t like opening Christmas presents? I’ll tell you who—the Grinch! The Grinch doesn’t like opening Christmas presents, but everyone else does. If you’re not too excited about opening Christmas presents, well, maybe we’ll get a Grinch support group going on, but until then, imagine back to childhood when you did love it.

 

            Picture being six years old, coming down to the tree, and there was your presents. Maybe that wasn’t your Christmas experience—well, imagine what it would be like to come down and see that biggest present waiting for you. Just sitting there waiting to be opened, waiting to be discovered, waiting to be enjoyed and used and played with.

 

            Then picture looking at it, shrugging your shoulders, saying “eh,” and then walking back upstairs never opening the gift. There would be something super wrong with that! That’s the support group we’d need to start, the “Helping-People-Who-Ignore-Their-Christmas-Presents-To-Open-Them-And- Experience-The-Excitement-Of-Childhood Group!” When you’re given a gift, you open the gift! You don’t leave it sitting there!

 

            What do superheroes and Christmas presents have to do with the church? If you are a follower of Jesus who is not utilizing the spiritual gifts that God has given you for the betterment of the church and community, then you are like a Christmas present that’s ignored and unopened. You are walking up to the gift that God has given you, shrugging your shoulders, saying “eh,” and then walking away. That’s not how it is supposed to be!

 

Here’s myfinal question: Why did God give you to our church?

 

            Most of the time we ask what we can get out of church. That’s the wrong question. Why did God give this community the gift of you? Was it because of your teaching, your leadership abilities, your ability of encouragement, your discernment, or whatever it is that makes you the super-powered you? Why did God give us the gift of you? (pause for thought)

 

            Don’t be an unopened gift. Discover the gifting God has empowered you with. Discover the ways you can passionately utilize those gifts. Be the gift that you are—serve this church and this community the way God made you to, with the gifts He’s given you. Be a hero for Jesus. I can’t speak for you, but I know for myself I want to be a hero for Jesus. I certainly don’t want to be a pig.

 

            I want to close our message this morning with my favorite quote about serving; Charles Spurgeon, “In all of my years of service to my Lord, I have discovered a truth that has never failed and has never been compromised. That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities that one has the ability to out-give God. Even if I give the whole of my worth to Him, He will find a way to give back to me much more than I gave.”

CLOSING PRAYER