Faithful and Relevant

5486. χάρισμα charisma, khar´-is-mah; from 5483; a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (spec.) a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subj.) religious qualification, or (obj.) miraculous faculty:—(free) gift.

spec. special, specially

subj. subjective, subjectively

obj. objective, objectively

Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 1, p. 77). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Gift - A gift of God’s grace.

we are expected to use our gift

Reminder: we are to act in light of the mercies of God toward us.

Two weeks ago I spoke on the topic of happiness. A biblical definition of happiness is a happiness in service to God. True happiness flows out of God’s salvation that results in a living by faith in obedient service to God.

In the same way the grace of God should motivate Christian living.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:1–11, NIV)

Ministry takes into consideration the minister and those to whom they minister.

Live a life worthy of the calling

Be humble

Be unified

Be diversified

Be Controlled By Grace

Ephesians 4:7–10 NIV

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Eph 4:7-10 Grace should result in leading a humble life in view of God’s grace and mercy.

What does God’s grace look like?

God’s grace is given proportionately. It is by God’s grace that I am what I am.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)

God’s grave is victorious. He took captives

God’s grace serves His Church and supplies His mission

Verse 7: Apportioned: Measured in quantity - Could this mean that in His love and mission Christ has provided Calvary Independent church all the gifts and abilities needed to accomplish His call on our lives?

Verse 8: He gave gifts -

Kendall, R. T. (2000). Understanding Theology, Volume Two (p. 308). Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus.

1. He gave gifts. ‘This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men” ’ (Eph. 4:8).

a. This may refer to several kinds of gift:

(1) Motivational gifts (Rom. 12:3–8).

(2) Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8–10).

(3) Abilities in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:14–27).

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 5485. χάρις

5485. χάρις charis, khar´-ece; from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):—acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Divine influence: Its reflection:

Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

grace

The unmerited favour of God, made known through Jesus Christ, and expressed supremely in the redemption and full forgiveness of sinners through faith in Jesus Christ.

This set of themes consists of the following:

6667 grace, in OT

6668 grace, and Jesus Christ

6669 grace, and salvation

6670 grace, and Holy Spirit

6671 grace, and Christian life

6672 grace, in human relationships

In human relationships Christ equipped His church to Serve

We are Equipped to Serve

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

Eph 4:11-13 God through Christ established the way to be unified in His church.

Jesus Christ is the head of the church

He calls us to build-up the church in unity in the faith

The test is the full measure of Christ

Verse 12 The purpose of gifts is to “be built up.” closer to completion!

Verse 13 reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God

Mature

whole

Fullness

Through His Word God told us in so many different ways His intention for the church. Listen, God sees the big picture and we obey and follow Him in faith. So, are we as a local church committed to serve one another so that unity in faith leads us to a greater knowledge of Christ and maturity. How do we know when we completed the call? We know when we have attained the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Be Relevant in Christian Love

Ephesians 4:14–16 NIV

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Eph 4:14-16

Not infants tossed back and forth

speaking the truth in love

diversified - each doing our own part

Verse 14

Not infants

not concerned about every wind of teaching

Speaking truth in love

Growing a mature body

Joined

building up in love

As each does it’s work

Introduction

Serving the body of Christ through a local church has its hurdles.

Hurdle #1 The church is in the people business and not in the business of programs.

Romans 12:3–8 NIV

3 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. 4 For 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, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 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; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 NIV

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

The Bible is Relevant

2 Corinthians 2:17 NIV

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

We believe the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, consisting of the 66 Books, that is, the Old Testament and New Testament, as the verbally inspired and infallible Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, and the supreme and final authority in faith and life.

Calvary Constitution. (n.d.).

Calvary has made it our goal to remain under the authority of the Bible.

We speak before God with sincerity - as those sent from God and not for profit.

In what ways can the church of today peddle the word of God?

The word of God can be peddled when the goal is to add numbers to our congregation. Multiplication is an important work in God’s plan; however, the Bible teaches that multiplication is to be accomplished through discipleship.

Taking up one’s cross.

Following the life and example of Jesus.

Elevating love and serving others as a priority

It is very difficult to implement change midstream. The Sunday morning service is an important meeting for the church. It is a meeting in which all members should participate. However, attending the morning service is not the reason the church exists.

Each and every believer is an agent of God. I worker who is called to be faithful to the Lord. We cannot define our Christian service according to the world’s standard.

2 Corinthians 4:2 NIV

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

We define our Christian service in the sight of God

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

We present ourselves as approved workers

Those who are not ashamed (

And those who are correctly operating according to the world of God.

2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Operating the word of God is equivalent to preaching.

Be prepared: In and out of season - the word season could imply the things that accompany a certain time of year.

Season could also imply a time of life.

What should we be doing, correcting, rebuking, and encouraging one another - this is to be done with great patience and careful instruction.

Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Education Philosophy of Ministry

The descriptor “philosophy of ministry” indicates that one has deliberately sought to understand coherently both the nature and practice of ministry.

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