An Invitation to Serve

The Worth of the IndividualSteve McClure

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AUTUMN TERM PLAN

1. An invitation to Follow – Jesus is Enough 2. An invitation to Grow – Growing to Maturity

3. An invitation to Build – Building to Last 4. An invitation to Labour – God’s Harvest 5. An invitation to Go – A Cause to Die For

6. An invitation to Serve – The Worth of the Individual

7. An invitation to Pray – The Lord of the Harvest

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” Genesis 1:26-27

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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IMPLICATIONS OF CREATION & THE

FALL

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

We were Created… The Impacts of the fall…

Relational – Made for intimacy with one another and supremely with God

Impact on our Relationships – Relationships with one another became difficult; vulnerability and nakedness before God.

Responsible – Able to make moral choices and given the task of stewarding the world

Impact on our Responsibility – Blame-shifting and weakness crept in

Rational – Able to think and talk with intelligence.

Impact on our Rationality – Darkened understanding

Real – Able to experience emotions. Made to find our acceptance, significance and worth in God.

Impact on our Reality – Negative emotions and a temptation to hide.

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A MARRED BUT WONDERFUL IMAGE

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” Psalm 139:13-14

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” Luke 12:6-7

“…Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” Matt 10:29

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REDEEMED IN LOVE

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” 1 Peter 1:18-19

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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REDEEMED FOR A PURPOSE

“He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, ‘Cornelius!’ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter” Acts 10:3b-6

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

“Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION (1)

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

1. What do you think you are worth and how does that compare with what creation, redemption and God’s ongoing work of sanctification say to us?

2. What do you think it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made? What difference would it make if you truly believed that you were a wonderful work of God?

3. Why is understanding our intrinsic worth and value to God so important in releasing both our own potential for service to God and the potential in others?

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THE PEOPLE GOD USES

(1) EXAMPLE OF TIMOTHY

Timothy is described as Paul’s “son in the faith” 1 Timothy 1:2

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” 2 Timothy 1:6-7

“I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” Philippians 2:20-21

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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THE PEOPLE GOD USES

(2) EXAMPLE OF PAUL “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials…For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain…But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith” 1 Thessalonians 3:2-10

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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DEVELOPING HEART…LOOKING BEYOND THE

EXTERNAL Heart gives ‘life’ & ‘vitality’ to our ministry; it’s the basic desire to want to do something that will have an eternal impact

“…Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 1:6-7

“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skilful hands he led them” Psalm 78:70-72 God said that David was “a man after my own heart” Acts 13:22

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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EXERCISING VISION…IN LINE WITH GOD’S PURPOSES

If our ministry needs “heart” in order to keep it from being ‘dry’ and ‘lifeless’ – you need a vision to keep it from being aimless.

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed” Acts 13:36

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart […] it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” Proverbs 19:21

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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USING SKILL…IN GOD’S STRENGTH

You may have heart to do something and a vision to know where to do it, but without skill to know how to do it you’ll become very frustrated.

Paul said “I laid a foundation as a wise builder” 1 Cor 3:10

“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it” 1 Sam 17:34-35

“…to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” Ephesians 4:12

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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SKILLMAX LUCADO QUOTE

“Giants. We must face them. Yet we need not face them alone. Focus first, and most, on God. The times David did, giants fell. The days he didn’t David did. Test this theory by listing the observations David made regarding Goliath. I find only 2. One statement to Saul about Goliath (v36) and one to Goliath’s face (v26). That’s it. Two Goliath-related comments (and tacky ones at that) and no questions. No inquiries about Goliath’s skill, age, social standing, or IQ. […] But he gives much thought to God (9 references in v26, 36, 45, 46 & 47). God-thoughts outnumber Goliath-thoughts 9 to 2. How does this ratio compare with yours? Do you ponder God’s grace 4x as much as you ponder your guilt? Is your list of blessings 4x as long as you list of complaints? Is your mental file of hope 4x as thick as your mental file of dread? Are you 4 times more likely to describe the strength of God as you are the demands of your day? No? Then David is your man.”

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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RECOGNISING OUR POTENTIAL: (1) PRAYERFUL

SERVICE

“Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you” 2 Corinthians 8:16

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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RECOGNISING OUR POTENTIAL: (2) SERVING

FROM AN OVERFLOW

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

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(3) SERVING IN OUR WEAKNESS

“[God] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Cor 4:6-7

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor 1:27

“He [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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QUESTIONS (2)

AN INVITATION TO SERVE – THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

1. What has God been saying to you tonight about what it takes to be the kind of person He uses (think heart, vision & skill)?

2. What holds you back you from believing that God can, and will, use you to reach others?

3. To what extent do you think God can use you and those around you?

4. How would you describe your heart, vision and skill right at this moment? Where do you think others could help you in preparing you for future works of service?