Empowering Purpose: Serving the Body One Role of the Pastors: - Equip the saints to serve. Ephesians 4:11-13 - Next step in a growing relationship with God. - Maturity. S.H.A.P.E. Survey (QR Code on screen; Home Screen of FS App) - Why? – to help you think through and understand how the Holy Spirit has gifted you. (Romans 12:4) - How it will be used – understanding of the gifts present in the church so that we might be able to meet needs within the body. - How it won’t be used – make you serve in some way you don’t want to; locked in to serve in a particular area until Jesus comes back. Serving our neighbors Training & Prayer Walk: September 18 (details to come) THE HEART OF SERVING THE BODY WE ARE GIFTED EACH OF US IS GIFTED IN UNIQUE WAYS (Jerry will explain more in depth the specific gifts later in the series) Romans 12:6 “According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts…” 1 Peter 4:10 “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” Paul’s concluding remarks in his letter to Galatian believers: Galatians 6:9-10 “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” - There are no exceptions or qualifiers – everyone has a gift. - When each of us use our gifts individually, the body of Christ is strong collectively. WE ARE COMMANDED John 13:12-16 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - As followers of Jesus we are to model our lives after His example. - God created you for good works! WE ARE CAUTIONED 1 John 3:16-18 16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. - We are expected to share our stuff! - We are expected to put our love into action! WE ARE LIVING TESTIMONIES Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - When others see your good deeds, they will know you are a Christ-follower. - When we do good, we show our love for one another and for our God. WE ARE TO BLESS OTHERS 1 Peter 4:10 “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” Denzel Washington video clip The gifts God gave you are not meant to be used selfishly. The gifts God gave you are meant to be used for others. WE ARE TO BLESS GOD 1 Peter 4:10-11 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 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. The gifts God gave you are meant to bring glory to God. Romans 12:3 – Don’t think of yourselves more highly than you should. THE HANDS OF SERVING THE BODY How do we serve the body? 59 “One Another's” in the New Testament - Care for - Build up - Serve - Teach - Comfort - Care for - Show hospitality - Pray WE SERVE THE BODY BY CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER - Tommy and Gracie (visitation; encouragement) - Tye and Julia (community group - meals, encouragement, prayer support) - Larry & Carolyn Neighbors, Derek Douglas (physical support) - Ernest and Julia King - We have a prayer team (not just the pastors are praying, but fellow believers are praying for you.) WE SERVE THE BODY BY SERVING ONE ANOTHER IN MINISTRY - On any given Sunday over 65 volunteers serve in ministries throughout our campus. - Baptism team. - Sunday morning breakfast team. - We have a Wednesday night meal prep team. WE SERVE THE BODY BY TEACHING ONE ANOTHER - Pastors - Bible study teachers - Community group leaders - We teach one another from the experiences of our lives. - We teach our children and students. - ids entering our nursery through the time they graduate are learning the Word of God! - Volunteers are serving our kids by teaching them the Word! Next Steps: - S.H.A.P.E. Profile - fivestonechurch.com/serve (working on new ways of communicating opportunities in the future) - Email Pastor Steven: steven@fivestonechurch.com