Summary: A brief teaching, before the Ministry Fair, on the importance of using our unique gifts and anointings to serve the Lord and one another.

Everyone Has A Ministry

 We are a church that believes that everyone has a ministry and should use the gifts and deposits of grace in our lives to glorify God

MAIN TEXT

Rom 12:1-13

12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 We present ourselves to God for holiness & for service

 1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 Each one of us must glorify God in our bodies

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 We are not like the world, our motivations are godly

 We may start with His good will but you will be transformed to know His perfect will

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

 One of the dangers in serving in ministry is to let

pride enter in

4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

 There are many functions (giftings, anointings, callings, talents)

 We should be thankful for how he made us

5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

 We are all part of the Body of Christ, We are all important

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

 Use your gifts in proportion to your faith

7 or ministry (diakonia – to minister, relieve, serve, an office), let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 Whatever gift you have, use it with enthusiasm

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

 If we see that which is evil, carnal, contrary to the Word enter in – have no part of it

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

 Our heart for ministry should be to bless one another

 Luke 9:48 "He who is least among you all will be great."

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

 Ministry is not a casual thing – be fervent & diligent

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

 Even through hard times, be patient, don’t give up

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

 Our gifts are given to meet each others needs

 We all share in each others blessing