dec 7-13-08 all are ministers & spiritual checkup
DESCRIPTION
Our little Church is using a Chronological Bible Reading Schedule by Skip Andrews. It can be found here: http://www.churchofchristduluthga.org Each Sunday a lesson is given from some of that week's reading. This lesson covers Dec 7-13TRANSCRIPT
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
A simple way to define "ministry" is that it is the work of God for the people of God. Ephesians 4:11 NET It was he who
gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and
some as pastors and teachers,
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God — a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ's full
stature.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
It is the work of serving others, using the gifts, resources, and
power that God gives us.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
This is important for the church today to understand, because many Christians assume that
"ministry" belongs only to professional ministers, or clergy.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
But ministry belongs to everyone in the body of Christ. All believers are "ministers." All have been gifted to carry out the work of
God.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
Romans 12:4 NET For just as in one body we have many members, and not all
the members serve the same function, 5 so we who are many are one body in
Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
6 And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is
prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is service,
he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he
must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so
with cheerfulness.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
What, then, is the role of the clergy? To equip, or prepare, the
"ministers" to do their work of ministry.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
Ephesians 4:11 NET It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets,
some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is,
to build up the body of Christ,
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
This involves teaching the truth of God's Word, helping believers overcome the problems that
hinder them, giving them a vision for reaching out to others with the
love of Christ,
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
and helping them develop and utilize the practical skills required to carry out their God-given tasks.
Ministry is the calling, privilege, and responsibility of every member of
the body of Christ.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
Some congregations help to remind their people of this truth by listing
professional workers under the title of "staff" or "pastors" in their bulletins and
newsletters, and reserving the term "ministers" for all members.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
It has been said that when believers are baptized, they are
ordained into the ministry. Perhaps it would help to recover
this perspective.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
It might free pastors and other church leaders to focus on their
crucial role of equipping the saints for the work of ministry.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
It might also help to redistribute the load, which is often crushing for
clergy and their families.
ALL Believers ARE “Ministers"
Broadly shared ministry would mobilize and affirm the whole
church and enrich every part of the world where the "ministers"
live and work. (Word In Life Study Bible)
Time for a checkup
How can we evaluate the quality of our faith? Are there any ways to
assess spiritual progress and growth? Yes, Paul gives us a
number of them here in Ephesians 5.
Time for a checkup
Ephesians can be viewed as two halves of one big picture about
giving and receiving faith. Chapters 1-3 describe what God
has done for us in Christ.
Time for a checkup
Chapters 4-6 describe what we are to do in response to what God has done
for us.We are called to live for God and to be
imitators of God, Ephesians 5:1 NET Therefore, be imitators
of God as dearly loved children
Time for a checkup
Just as children follow after the patterns seen in their parents.
Here are some of the patterns that a godly lifestyle would include:
Time for a checkup
(1) Living in love, which means giving of ourselves sacrificially for the benefit of others, just as Christ has done for us.
Ephesians 5:2 NET and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and
fragrant offering to God.
Time for a checkup
(2)Forsaking selfish pursuits such as self-seeking immorality and ruthless greed.
Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be either sexual immorality,
impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.
Time for a checkup
Ephesians 5:5 For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or
greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God.
Time for a checkup
(3)Replacing filthy talk, flippant chatter, and unkind jesting with communication rooted in thanksgiving to God and affirmation of others.
Time for a checkup
Ephesians 5:4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or
coarse jesting — all of which are out of character — but rather
thanksgiving.
Time for a checkup
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Time for a checkup
(4)Exercising discernment about what we are told so as not to be susceptible to trickery from others.
Time for a checkup
6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's wrath comes on the sons of
disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,
15 Therefore be very careful how you live — not as unwise but as wise,
Time for a checkup
(5)Bowing out from situations where evil is the agenda.
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For the things they do in secret are shameful
even to mention.
Time for a checkup
(6)Managing our time well.16 taking advantage of every
opportunity, because the days are evil.
Time for a checkup
Perhaps you'll want to develop your own list of Christlike patterns from this passage and others. Consider asking a close believing friend to
assess your progress over several days or weeks.
Time for a checkup
Allow these patterns of godliness to affect your own life before using
them to evaluate others.(Word In Life Study Bible)
Time for a checkup
Matthew 7:1 NET "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For by
the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.
Time for a checkup
3 Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to see the beam
of wood in your own? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me
remove the speck from your eye,' while there is a beam in your own?
Time for a checkup
5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and
then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eye.
Time for a checkup
6 Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around
and tear you to pieces.
Let’s Review
The Apostle Paul tells us that Emmett’s, Dewy’s, & my purpose
as teachers is to prepare Believers in Christ for the work of
ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ.
Let’s Review
Have you ever thought about that? Calling the one who preaches “The
Minister” is not really correct! He is a minister whose job is teaching God’s Word so God’s people are able to go
into the world and minister.
Let’s Review
Believers in Christ minister to people in order to build up the
body of Christ. Something to think about isn’t it? Are we as teachers doing our job so you are prepared
to minister?
Let’s Review
How did you do on the little Spiritual Check-up? Perhaps each of us should have a copy of those 6
Check-up points and review them everyday to help keep us on the
straight-&-Narrow?