This month we have been involved in a focus on being faithful. The first Sunday we talked about being faithful to God. The next Sunday we talked about being faithful to church. Last Sunday we talked about being faithful to family. Today, I want to talk about being faithful to ministry. Sometimes we are not as faithful as we think. A bus driver and a minister were standing in line to get into heaven. The bus driver approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a bus driver. Since I’m in charge of housing, I believe I have found the perfect place for you. See that mansion over the hilltop? It’s yours. The minister heard all this and began to stand a little taller. He said to himself, "If a bus driver got a place like that, just think what I’ll get." The minister approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a minister. See that shack in the valley?" St. Peter had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when the irate minister said, "I was a minister, I preached the gospel, I helped teach people about God. Why does that bus driver get a mansion, and I get a shack?" Sadly St. Peter responded, "Well, it seems when you preached, people slept. When the bus driver drove, people prayed." SOURCE: James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited. (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 146.
(Contributed by SermonCentral)
For a text I want to examine I Peter 4:10."As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." From this text we will learn four important principles about being faithful.
1. Every Christian has a gift! In I Peter 4:10 we read “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another.” Any time you discuss spiritual gifts there are certain questions that arise.
A. How do I discover my gift? Rick Warren gives the following suggestions.
S= Study (Take CLASS 301)
T= Trial & error (Nothing wrong with trial & error)
A= Analyze- take spiritual gifts tests
R= Request other’s opinions
T= take training
(Acrostic taken from Rick Warren’s CLASS 301 material)
B. What do I have to offer? Rick Warren gives the following suggestions in affirming your unique qualities.
S= What are my spiritual gifts?
H= What is my heart passion?
A= What are my abilities?
P= What is my personality?
E= What are my experiences?
(Acrostic taken from Rick Warren’s CLASS 301 material)
No gift is small, in God’s eyes.
No gift is insignificant.
2. Every Christian is a minister. In I Peter we read “as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another.” You may be like I was when the Lord called me to preach. I did not like the idea. However, ministry is supposed to be a rewarding experience. Ministry is supposed to be a fulfilling experience. This does not mean everyone is to be a professional clergy. It means everyone is to minister.
In our 301 material there are some principles about ministry that I wish to emphasize with you.
I’ve been created for ministry. (Eph. 2:10)
I’ve been saved for ministry. (II Tim. 1:9)
I’ve been called into ministry. (Gal. 1:15)
I’ve been gifted for ministry. (I Pet. 4:10)
I’ve been authorized for ministry. (Mt. 28: 28)
I’m commanded to ministry. (Mt. 20:28)
I’m to be prepared for ministry. (Eph. 4:11-12)
The body of Christ needs my ministry. (I Cor. 12:27)
I’m accountable for my ministry. (Rom. 14:12)
(Principles taken from Rick Warren’s CLASS 301 material)
3. Every Christian has a responsibility! We have a “one another” ministry.
Brenda Goodine shares a story about her friend who decided to talk to her bright four-year-old son, Benji, about receiving Christ. “Benji,” she asked quietly, “would you like to have Jesus in your heart?” Benji thought for a few minutes and then rolling his blue eyes answered, “No. I don’t think I want the responsibility.” Benji realized what many Christians still have not figured out: salvation is a free gift but it comes with some strings attached. Service is not an option for a follower of Jesus – it is a natural outgrowth of our relationship with Christ. Are you serving the Lord?
(Contributed to Sermon Central by R. Darrel Davis)
The New Testament lists a number of ways we are responsible for “one another.”
We are “members of one another.” Rom. 12:5
We are to “Be kindly affectionate to one another.” Rom. 12:10
We are to“honor giving preference to one another.” Rom. 12:10
We are to “Be of the same mind toward one another.” Rom. 12:16
We are to “Love one another.” Rom. 13:8
We are to “Be like-minded toward one another.” Rom. 15:5
The one another ministry requires self giving, sacrifice, and service. Each of us are to be responsible for encouraging, supporting, and uplifting the body of Christ.
4. Every Christian is a steward. A steward is someone who manages, supervises, or administers something. For Christians we are called to manage, supervise, or administer our gifts, our abilities, and our possessions for God’s glory.
A steward is like a manager of a local McDonald’s Restaurant who carries out the aims of the owners, maximizes profits, while handling all the problems. Dr. Towns teaches a stewardship lesson in the Pastor’s Bible Class at Thomas Road Baptist Church which is the most requested lesson of all he has taught. "Who Owns Your French Fries". It is the story of a man who buys his little boy some french fries. Then the father does what all fathers do, he reaches over and takes one french fry to taste it. The little boy slaps his father’s hand and says, "Don’t touch my french fries." The father thinks that his son is selfish. The father knows that he bought the french fries and they belong to him. The father knows that his son belongs to him. The father could get angry and never buy his son another french fry again to teach his son a lesson, or the father could "bury" his son in french fries. The father thinks, "Why is my son selfish, I have given him a whole package of french fries; I just want one french fry." God has given us money, when He asks for a tithe, people figuratively slap His hand and say, "Keep Your hands off my money." God owns everything we have. He wants us: 1. To manage what we have for His glory. God expects us to manage our time, talent, temple, testimony and treasures. 2. To give back a portion of what he has given us.
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Jerry Falwell)
A steward is called to be faithful. Paul tells us “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (I Cor. 4:1) I think we sometimes struggle with self doubt as we compare ourselves to others or entertain false assumptions about what God expects of us. God never expects anyone to be more than he is or do more than he is capable. He merely expects us to be faithful. Let me mention some ways you and I can be faithful.
• We can be faithful to pray as best we can.
• We can be faithful to study as best we can.
• We can be faithful to minister to others to the best of our ability.
According to Peter’s words we have "received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." May we be faithful to ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ.
