I am starting a new series of sermons “Renewal of the Church”. We need to cooperate with the Father God, so that the church might bear much fruit.
John 15:1-2 NIV “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
The church is struggling for renewal today. The nature of the struggle which is conformity to the world or transformation according to God’s will. It’s also God’s plan that all members of the body function according to the measure of faith He has given us and for us minister as the grace of God directs us.
Sermon Scripture
Romans 12:1-6 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
Ephesians 4:7-13 NIV But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Text:
Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ephesians 4:7, 12 NIV But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Introduction
I am starting a new series of sermons “Renewal of the Church,”. We need to cooperate with the Father God, so that the church might bear much fruit.
John 15:1-2 NIV “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
The church is struggling for renewal today. Romans 12 spells out the nature of the struggle which is conformity to the world or transformation according to God’s will. When you get an opportunity read Romans chapter 12.
This struggle between conformity and transformation is the same struggle that the Corinthian church had between the carnal and the spiritual that resulted in Paul writing a letter, that we know today is 1 Corinthians, which gives instructions concerning the type of conduct that should not be tolerated in a Christian Church. Among the myriad problems in the Corinthian church were: claims of spiritual superiority over one another, suing one another in public courts, abusing the communal meal, and sexual misbehavior. We talked about one of those things when we took the Lord’s Supper today.
Paul wrote to demand higher ethical and moral standards.
In addition to Romans 12 also read 1 all of 1 Corinthians.
It’s also the same struggle as the church in Laodicea that Jesus addressed in His revelation to John, between the cold, the lukewarm, and the hot.
Revelation 3:14-18 NIV “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
God’s plan for the church is for each person to present himself or herself as a living sacrifice, not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that we can fully demonstrate God’s will.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
It’s also God’s plan that all members of the body function according to the measure of faith He has given us and for us minister as the grace of God directs us.
As it says in:
Ephesians 4:7, 12 NIV But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
So my prayer is and yours should be that God renews not just Christ Church but the entire Body of Christ so that every member of the body answers the call to the ministry of believers.
According to scripture, we all have a Christian duty toward others.
First, we have a Christian duty to serve each other.
1 Peter 4:10 NIV Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
It is in our service that all will see God's grace in action as we demonstrate our faith. Service is the embodiment of Christian love toward others.
Second, we have a Christian duty to encourage one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
It is easy in this world to become discouraged. It is through encouragement that people can rise up and overcome any obstacle they may encounter. So, it is our Christian duty to help them believe, overcome and stay faithful in a discouraging world.
Third, we have a Christian duty to help carry burdens for others.
Galatians 6:2 NIV Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Nobody should have to walk alone in the valley of being burdened. We need to walk with others and share in and lighten the heavy load many carry on their shoulders. Jesus removed our greatest burden at the cross. Therefore, we -- just as Jesus did -- need to help our brothers and sisters.
Lastly, we have a Christian duty to pray for each other.
James 5:16 NIV Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
The heavy loads we carry just don't stay in the natural world, but also belong in the spiritual. We must pray for each other. Sometimes when we are tired and burdened we just don't feel like praying. So, we as Christians must intercede for our brothers and sisters and pray on their behalf. Powerful and effective prayer will make all the difference.
So let’s look at our call to ministry from two viewpoints.
A scriptural understanding of ministry
A practical application of ministry
I. Scriptural understanding of ministry.
A. Romans 12:3–6 contains several insights that describe ministry.
Romans 12:3-6 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
In verse 3 in it Paul talks about the grace that was given to him and then he says that all believers are given faith to express grace but not all to the same degree. We all have a ministry but we don’t all have the same ministry. We don’t all function in the same way.
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
In order for us to execute our individual ministry every believer has gifts given to them by grace.
Romans 12:6 NIV We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
All believers have gifts given to them by grace, but not all have the same gift.
This Scripture passage calls us to be renewed in our minds toward the church because God has given every member of the body a call to ministry.
Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Everybody has a gift and everybody is called to minister so none of us should think we are more important than anybody else.
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
B. The passage that we read at the beginning, in Ephesians 4:7–12 adds to this concept.
Ephesians 4:7 NIV But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Every believer is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ
Every believer!
Compare that verse
Ephesians 4:7 NIV But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
with with Romans 12:3
Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
2. Paul said that God gave different believers different roles to fulfill so that the body of Christ may be built up” So, God gives some gifts to believers so they can prepare other believers for ministry.
Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
God gives us these gifts to be used not hidden or neglected. He gives them so that we can fulfill His purpose that the gospel be preached everywhere and to everybody through the church.
Scripture says that all believers have been created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Scripture also says that all believers are priests,
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 NIV As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
What does that mean. It means that every believer now has direct access to God.
God has called us to serve Him from our hearts by first of all offering our lives as living sacrifices.
Romans 12:1 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
When we do that we are able to serve the Lord and use our gifts, abilities, time, resources, and energy to help make disciples of all nations.
This does not mean each believer can serve independently of others. As we read earlier.
Romans 12:4-5 NIV For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Each person is given gifts to use in serving within the church. With each person serving together, we can make major accomplishments in changing lives and reaching people for Christ.
Although our gifts and ministries may differ, no believer is exempt from serving God to build up the body of Christ. So we need to value our gifts as precious from the Lord and we need to use them to fulfill our purpose in God’s plan of salvation.
II. In addition to the scriptural application of ministry there is also a practical application.
Now that we understand that we all have a ministry let’s look at some practical applications.
A. Today Christ ministers through His body the Church.
John 14:12 NIV Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
If we confine ministry to the pastor or the church staff, we miss God’s plan for the church. This confines too few people to a work that is too big to be done.
Matthew 9:35-38 NIV Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
C. So it’s “all hands on deck” Everybody is a servant, not a spectator.
Leave the stands and get on the playing field. Leave the balcony and get on the stage. We are players; God is the coach! We are actors; God is the director!
D. I must warn you, there will be a price to pay for ministry
Matthew 16:24-27 NIV Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
We must die to ourselves and live in obedience to God’s perfect plan.
Commitment calls for a living sacrifice!
Romans 12:1 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
God has equipped His church and given gifts so that none of us have to stand alone. As we read earlier we have all been given grace and a measure of faith and gifts to be used in ministry. No one should just be along for the ride. We all have a purpose and a ministry that only you can do. I can’t do your ministry, you can’t do mine but both ministries are equally important.
I encourage each of you if you don't already know your spiritual gift to identify it because we need it to operate in the church for us to accomplish the task that God has for us. If you are sitting on your gift then the church iis missing it like a part of the body missing a finger. It can’t function at the optimal level without that finger as small and insignificant as you might think it is. It still keeps the body from functioning as God would have it.
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