Well, this post wraps up our six part series on serving. I hope you have enjoyed it. I will conclude with a call to understanding that our service is for a lifetime...
Not only are we to serve in love, but we are to serve for a lifetime. We have not been called to serve when we feel like it or serve when everything is convenient.
We are to serve for a lifetime in the same way we are to worship for a lifetime.
Consider Romans 12:1 (NIV):
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
God has not called us to be weekend worshipers. Rather, we are living sacrifices, which means a life of worship. Worship is expected for a lifetime. We are also to serve for a lifetime in the same way we are to be stewards for a lifetime: Look at 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV):
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Stewardship is required for a lifetime. God has not called us to be token givers, but faithful managers of all he has entrusted to us. We are servants of God for a lifetime. We have all heard this before…The Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint.
So just as:
Worship is expected for a lifetime;
And Stewardship is expected for a lifetime;
So Serving is expected for a lifetime. Galatians 5:13 (NIV):
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
God commands us to “serve one another.” Our service has never been optional. We are to serve and we are to serve for a lifetime. Can you imagine a group of believers (the church) who actually believe they can make a difference in this world. Imagine with me a group of believers using the gifts God has given them to touch others. God has called you and He has gifted you to do some pretty amazing things. Are you ready to serve?
Now...walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called. - Ephesians 4:1
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Serving Part 5
Part 5 of 6
We've discussed our Spiritual Gifts, our Heart (or Passion), we've discussed the Abilities that God has given us, we looked at our Personality, and we discussed that God will even our Experiences in life to make an impact in the lives of people around us.
In this post we will discuss the fact that our service needs to be rooted in love. I think God is more concerned about the way we serve than what we do with our Spiritual Gifts.
1 Corinthians 12 lays the a foundation for ministry. We learn how God has designed the church to function as the body of Christ. It is interesting to note that in Romans 12, one of the other key passages on Spiritual Gifts, that the discussion on Spiritual Gifts is also followed by a passage on Love. Is it a coincidence that two of the major Biblical passages on Spiritual Gifts are each followed by a passage on Love? I don’t think so…
And now I will show you the most excellent way. -1 Corinthians 12:31b.
Now we are going to be shown a more excellent way of serving, which is to serve in love.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. -I Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
It is important to note that the people being spoken of in the above passage are using their Spiritual Gifts. You can do things for the church, but if you are not doing it with love it means nothing. You’re not going to make the difference God wants you to make! Our service expressed without love do not reflect who God is and it will not make a Kingdom Impact.
We've discussed our Spiritual Gifts, our Heart (or Passion), we've discussed the Abilities that God has given us, we looked at our Personality, and we discussed that God will even our Experiences in life to make an impact in the lives of people around us.
In this post we will discuss the fact that our service needs to be rooted in love. I think God is more concerned about the way we serve than what we do with our Spiritual Gifts.
1 Corinthians 12 lays the a foundation for ministry. We learn how God has designed the church to function as the body of Christ. It is interesting to note that in Romans 12, one of the other key passages on Spiritual Gifts, that the discussion on Spiritual Gifts is also followed by a passage on Love. Is it a coincidence that two of the major Biblical passages on Spiritual Gifts are each followed by a passage on Love? I don’t think so…
And now I will show you the most excellent way. -1 Corinthians 12:31b.
Now we are going to be shown a more excellent way of serving, which is to serve in love.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. -I Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
It is important to note that the people being spoken of in the above passage are using their Spiritual Gifts. You can do things for the church, but if you are not doing it with love it means nothing. You’re not going to make the difference God wants you to make! Our service expressed without love do not reflect who God is and it will not make a Kingdom Impact.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Serving Part 4
This is part 4 of 6 in our Serving series. I have been highlighting several areas that help us better understand that we have been uniquely gifted to serve within the local church. God has designed us with a purpose and He wants to use our gifts, talents, experiences, and passions to touch the lives of those around us. In this post I will highlight how God uses our personality to make a Kingdom impact.
Have you ever wished your personality was different?
By nature I am more of an introvert. To be honest, there are times I struggle when I'm invited to a party with a bunch of people I don't know. It's times like these when I wish I was more of an extrovert. When you find yourself out of your comfort zone...let it remind you that God has created you just the way He wanted. That's a good thing! Let's find out a little more about our personalities...
Our Spiritual Gift(s) helps us answer the WHAT question (What should I do?).
Our Passion helps us answer the WHERE question (Where should I do it?).
Our Personality helps us answer the HOW question (How should I do it?).
Our personality is God-given and He wants us to use that special uniqueness to touch lives for His glory. After all, that is why we serve...To glorify God and to build others up.
Psalm 139 is a fantastic passage that helps us understand God’s creation of ourselves as a unique individual. Looking at the end of verse 16, you will see that God wrote down all the days he had planned for you in His book – before you were ever born. Amazing!
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
I hope this passage helps you begin to see why God made you the way he did! He has a very special purposes for you, He loves you, and He wants to use you to make an impact.
You are special, you are unique, and you are wonderfully made.
How is God using you?
Have you ever wished your personality was different?
By nature I am more of an introvert. To be honest, there are times I struggle when I'm invited to a party with a bunch of people I don't know. It's times like these when I wish I was more of an extrovert. When you find yourself out of your comfort zone...let it remind you that God has created you just the way He wanted. That's a good thing! Let's find out a little more about our personalities...
Our Spiritual Gift(s) helps us answer the WHAT question (What should I do?).
Our Passion helps us answer the WHERE question (Where should I do it?).
Our Personality helps us answer the HOW question (How should I do it?).
Our personality is God-given and He wants us to use that special uniqueness to touch lives for His glory. After all, that is why we serve...To glorify God and to build others up.
Psalm 139 is a fantastic passage that helps us understand God’s creation of ourselves as a unique individual. Looking at the end of verse 16, you will see that God wrote down all the days he had planned for you in His book – before you were ever born. Amazing!
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
I hope this passage helps you begin to see why God made you the way he did! He has a very special purposes for you, He loves you, and He wants to use you to make an impact.
You are special, you are unique, and you are wonderfully made.
How is God using you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)