SERVICE: In Shape

Philippians 2.12 “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

1 Timothy 4.7 “But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.”

To improve the health of my ‘serve’ as a Christ-follower, I must be in SHAPE…or, better yet, recognize I am SHAPEd for this life (of service) to which Jesus has called me.

Our SHAPE for service/ministry includes...

Spiritual Gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experiences

Today we focus on the essential aspect of our SHAPE which drives our spiritual services of worship…SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

SHAPE: Spiritual Gifts

God’s plan for gifting his church for service (1 Corinthians 12.4-6)

MOTIVATIONAL (ENABLING; Everyone has at least one!)

1 Corinthians 12.4 “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.”

“Gifts” = χαρισμάτων; enablings or empowerings

Romans 12.6-8 “According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”

MINISTERIAL (EQUIPPING; Everyone has at least one!!)

1 Corinthians 12.5 “There are different ministries, but the same Lord.”

“Ministries/Service” = διακονιῶν; way of serving

Ephesians 4.11 “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,”

1 Peter 4.9-11 “Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

MANIFESTATIONAL (EFFECTUAL; Everyone has been blessed with at least one…and another…!!!)

1 Corinthians 12.6 “And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person.”

[and 1 Corinthians 12.7 “A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:”]

“Activities/Effects” = ἐνεργημάτων; resultant activities

1 Corinthians 12.7-11 “A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.”

Ephesians 4.12-13 “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

CONCL—

When it comes to spiritual gifts…WE ALL HAVE THEM (Though no one of us has them all—ever!)!!

Recap: Motivational=1+; Ministerial=1+; Manifestational=1++

Wednesday Night: Adults, we will dive a little deeper into the Motivational gifts and how we discover them (& I’ll have something to say about that next Sunday, too).

Next week…we will finish out our focus on our SHAPE for ministry as we look into the other components of our selves which God has designed to shape us to serve/minister…in the body of Christ (the church) and in our community, cultural context (our neighbors) as well.

As we think about the value of investing in strengthening our service...

Hebrews 6.10 “For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.”

Matthew 22.39-40 “The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

1 Corinthians 12:5–6 CSB

There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person.

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