[Drama:
The drama: "The Orchestra."
There's a band director and three musicians.
Director talks to each member one at a time and each says that they're ready, but then says they have one little problem.
First one. At the piano. "Ready, but my right hand isn't working right." Director asks shocked but then says we'll just hope for the best.
Second one. Maybe a flute or woodwind. "Ready, but my lower lip isn't working." Maybe she could be talking funny throughout. Same response from the director.
Third one. Guitar. "Ready, but two of my fingers aren't working." Same response from director.
Director says let's go through them one at a time. Piano comically bad. Flute comically bad. Guitar comically bad. (All three are enthusiastic though and positive about themselves.) Director: "All together now!" Comically bad.
Director: "That's terrible. Terrible! Nothing could redeem that!"
One of the musicians: "Maybe it'd be better if our violinist was here."
Director: "Which one is she?"
"She's the one who looks like this." Flops neck over to the side. "Her neck isn't working."
Director: "I give up!" And walks away. The three musicians say, "I don't know what her problem is. Let's play some more!" And play a little more horrible music.]
THE SPIRIT'S PLAN FOR A CHURCH OF IMPACT: Everyone does what they’re gifted at.
- 1 Corinthians 12:20.
- Verse 20 tells us that there is one body. That is the body of Christ. That’s the collective efforts of the church as all the people work together.
- We talked last week about what a spiritual gift is: a divinely-chosen ability for divinely-empowered service. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift.
- Verse 20 tells us that there are many parts but one body. That means that we’re all supposed to be working together to bring together a unified effort.
- To sum that up (as the sermon outline says): everyone does what they’re gifted at.
BUT I'M A CHURCH MEMBER: The word “member” never appears in the Bible in reference to “a name on a list” but always “a part of the body.”
- “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” – 1 Corinthians 12:20 (NKJV)
- Some will argue against everyone doing what they’re gifted at. “I’m a church member,” they’ll say. “That’s all that’s asked of me.”
- Well, that may be what we talk sometimes like within the church, but that’s not what the Bible teaches.
- In the NIV, it uses the word “part” where some other translations use “member” (like NKJV and NASB). Both are solid, valid translations.
- Let’s talk about the word “member” for a minute though.
- When we talk about someone being a “member of the church,” we mean that that person has their “name on the roll.” They walked forward at the close of worship, expressed their desire to join, and then become a “member” of the church.
- The word “member” is never used that way in Scripture.
- When it speaks of a “member,” it’s speaking in the context of the body of Christ. It means that we’re an active participant. It means that we’re doing something.
- This is a significant and unfortunate change. It makes us believe that by putting our name on a list that we’ve done our duty. In truth, our duty needs to include serving.
WHAT'S EXCITING: The Spirit looked at you and thought, “This is how I want to use him.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:18.
- There is a negative aspect to the idea that your spiritual gift was chosen by the Holy Spirit and not you. There’s a part of us that wants to make the choice ourselves.
- But there’s an excitement to the idea that the Spirit who knows us better than we know ourselves has selected our spiritual gift.
- Along with that, it is also an exciting thought that the Spirit looked at us and thought, “This is how I want to use him.” “This is how I want to use her.”
- First of all, that He saw value in us.
- Second of all, that He’s chosen a specific role for us that fits us.
- Unlike the kid on the baseball team that’s told to “just go stand in the outfield somewhere,” each of us are designed for impact.
WHAT IF I DON'T USE MY SPIRITUAL GIFT?
1. THE CHURCH WILL HAVE LESS IMPACT.
- I noted in week one of this sermon series that the church is not the back-up plan. Likewise, using you is not the back-up plan. This is how God intends to run things.
- The church cannot be what God wants it to be with you sitting on a pew. You have a gift that is necessary to the full potential of the church.
- Sometimes people focus on the pastor or the choir or the building in terms of the impact of the church. All those are important.
- But at least equally important are the countless behind-the-scenes things that go on. The handshake from the greeter at the door. The food brought to the neighbor whose husband is in the hospital. The person sharing a testimony with a co-worker. The church getting cleaned up. The team that comes together to do an outreach event.
2. YOU WILL BE JUDGED NEGATIVELY FOR HAVING "BURIED YOUR TALENT."
- Matthew 25:25.
- There is a passage in Matthew 25 where the master entrusts his servants with some money and then goes off on a long trip. When he returns, he asks each servant what he has earned with that money. The money there is symbolic of what God has entrusted to us: it can stand for money, our spiritual gifts, our time, etc.
- The money back then was called a “talent.”
- The first two servants use what the master entrusted to them. In response, he says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- The third servant “buries his talent” (i.e. the money). He is rebuked harshly.
- As I said, one of the things that God has given us as a trust is a spiritual gift. He expects results from it.
- It’s not there in case you want to do something with it. He expects you to do something with it.
- If you don’t, you will be rebuked for your failure.
- True faithfulness results in fruitfulness.
- God expects results. Now, we’re not on our own in making that happen. God will work through us (see John 15:1-8). But we have to do our part in using what He’s given us.
A FINAL CHALLENGE: Are you causing the ugly music?
- Going back to the drama earlier. That was some ugly music, wasn’t it? Here’s a sobering thought: if you’re not using your talent and spiritual gifts, you might be the one causing the ugly music.
- The “body of Christ” is composed of many members, just like those musicians’ bodies are. If the hand refuses to work, the music gets pretty ugly. If one of the lips refuses to work, the music gets pretty ugly.
- On the other hand, when all the parts of the body are actively working in unity, it’s a beautiful thing.
- We often complain that the church is not all that it needs to be. It’s not because the Spirit doesn’t have a plan. He does: everyone does what they’re gifted at. Are you doing what you’re gifted at? If you’re not sure what you’re gifted at, are you actively seek to discover that?
- Don’t be the one causing the ugly music.
