EQUIP GOD’S PEOPLE FOR SERVICE
Ephesians 4:11-13
INTRODUCTION:
A. We’ve been talking about being God’s Church on Purpose
1. Instead of just meddling along in our comfort zone hoping that something will happen, we want to be a church that is doing things for a reason
2. We stated that our purpose is to evangelize the lost
ILL> I always think about the guy who visited the very large Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. He said he didn’t like the church because it was too big. When asked what kind of church he was looking for, he stated, "I want to go to a small, friendly, highly evangelistic church."
a. The goal of a congregation should never be to remain small
b. Our goal should always be "one more"
c. That is God’s hope–God’s desire
d. 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
B. In addition to reaching the lost, our purpose is to edify the saints–that is, to help people grow in their relationship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ
1. We do that in a variety of ways–worship, fellowship, preaching and teaching, prayer
ILL> One of the most exciting times in a couple’s life is a baby being born. The parents are all excited and everyone "oohs" and "ahs" over it. So the couple takes the baby home and then reality sets in. They are constantly changing diapers and losing sleep and trying to figure out why the baby is crying.
The joy of the new birth is followed by the responsibility of caring for and raising that child.
2. While babies are cute and all that, nobody thinks it great when a person remains a baby for too long
a. If a small child never learns to walk and tlk, never figures out how to feed himself, never outgrows his need for diapers, it’s asign that something is terribly wrong
b. We love babies, but we expect every baby to grow
3. 1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
4. Maturity takes time
a. God can grow a squash in 3 months, but He’s not interested in growing Christian squashes
C. Today we want to look at the last part of our stated purpose
1. "To equip God’s people for service."
a. To help people to find their gifts and to unleash them for ministry
D. Putting it all together
1. "Our purpose is to evangelize the lost, to edify the saints, and to equip God’s people for service."
2. John’s version
a. "MGCC’s purpose is to simply chill...to just exist and maintain its course until Christ comes again so that we can rightly say that we didn’t waste the one talent God gave us - but rather buried that sucker deep in the sand for safe keeping."
b. "Our purpose is to evangelize the lost, to edify the saints, and to equip God’s people for service."
E. READ: Ephesians 4:7-16
I>EXPECTED TO SERVE
A. Every person in God’s family is expected to serve
1. VS 7
a. To each one of us–no one has been left out
2. The Bible plainly states that it is by God’s grace that we are saved by grace–it is a gift that God offers to every single individual
a. In VS 7 Paul is not saying that we are saved in differing amounts
3. But, he is saying that we do receive differing gifts and abilities from God
a. Paul says the same things when writing to the Christians in Rome
b. Romans 12:4-6
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
B. We need to understand something about God here–God does not give us something that He does not expect us to use
1. That is what the parable of the talents is all about
a. A man called his servants together and gave to one man 5 talents, another 2, and another 1
b. When the man returned, the servant that had been given 5 talents had doubled that amount to 10
c. The one that had been given 2 now had 4
d. The one that had been given 1 talent brought that single talent back–he had hidden it in the ground
e. He was called a wicked and lazy servant
2. Yes, when we first believe we have a lot of growing up to do, but there comes a time when we need to take off the bib and put on an apron
a. Babies wear bibs and expect others to meet their needs and cry until they get their way
b. Those who wear aprons have the joy of serving others
II> EQUIPPED TO SERVE
A. So, our responsibility as a church is to equip others
1. Now, I realize that there are some that believe that they put money in the offering plate to pay someone to do their work
ILL> In the first church that I served there was a fellow who had gotten upset with me. He asked me, "Did you go see so and so?"
Not having too good of an attitude myself I replied, "No, did you?"
He answered, "No, we pay you to do that!"
ILL> People will sometimes say things like, "I can’t wait until we get a youth minister so I can quit teaching that class."
a. But, you see, that’s not the way it works
B. VS 11-12
1. Why has God given some to serve as leaders in the church?
a. Answer: to prepare God’s people for works of service
b. In other words, part of my job and the elders’ job is to help you to find a job–to help you find a way to use your gift
2. "To prepare" is the same word that is used in Matthew 4:21 when James and John were preparing their nets
a. This involved cleaning the nets of seaweed and sticks, mending parts of their nets that had been torn or damaged, and then untangling and folding their nets to that they would be quickly useable at a moment’s notice
b. All of this was so that their nets would be ready to catch more fish
c. They were not being prepared for storage, but for service.
C. I have felt for a long time that we could do a better job in this area–equipping people for God’s service
1. However, we are blessed with many people willing to help
2. Have you ever wondered how many people there are who are serving in some way in the ministry of this congregation?
a. I wondered that this week
around 20 people teaching in some area
6 - music
9 - audio/video ministry
more than 35 people involved in the serving of the Lord’s Supper
45 - cleaning
b. 15 - Monday School
One of those is Bobby Dotters
If God can use Him to serve, then I know that God can use you, too!
3. We can’t do everything, but we are expected to do something
a. That holds true for the church, but also for individuals
b. We want to unleash you for ministry
D. What are we doing to help equip you to serve?
1. Class on evangelism
a. Sometimes a class such as this will put people into uncomfortable situations and force people to do "cold turkey calling"
b. That is not the goal of this class
c. Our goal is to encourage people to live an evangelistic lifestyle and to provide the tools to talk to people about Christ
2. Purpose Driven Life
a. Our goal is to help you discover the talents and abilities that God has given you and then encourage you to use those gifts for the building up of God’s kingdom
3. Leadership - after April
a. You need to become a leader before you are chosen to be a leader
4. Provide opportunities to teach
Sunday School
Youth
Jr Church
Encounter
III> THE EFFECT WHEN A CHURCH IS EQUIPPED FOR MINISTRY
A. So, what is the effect or the result of a church when it is equipped for ministry?
1. Maturity happens
a. Grow in knowledge - VS 14
Sometimes new Christians are so anxious to learn that they will believe just about anything that anybody tells them
They are a sponge trying to soak it all in
ILL> Callouses - didn’t want to have to go to a doctor
b. Grow in love
c. Church will be built up
2. Ministry takes place - as each part does its work
3. Message of Christ is proclaimed
4. All of that works together to make a healthy, growing church
IV> CONCLUSION:
A. "Our purpose is to evangelize the lost, to edify the saints, and to equip God’s people for service."
1. That is the great commission
a. Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
b. Equipped to go and make disciples
c. As we evangelize, we will introduce people to Christ and baptize them
d. People will be edified as we teach them to obey the Lord’s commands
e. As we grow we will continue to serve and go
2. "Our purpose is to evangelize the lost, to edify the saints, and to equip God’s people for service."
B. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord we encourage you to make that decision this morning
1. Simply come forward as we sing the invitation hymn
a. Humble yourself before God, seeking His forgiveness
b. Be buried with Him in baptism so that your sins may be washed away
2. If you are not a member of this congregation, we invite you to come and join us in our mission
