Sermon Series: The Essential Expectations, Part One 

Serve the Ministry of My Church 

1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:11-12; Philippians 2:4-6 

PSBC: 5/13/01 AM

In a nutshell: Every one at our church is expected to serve the ministry of our church by doing three things: First, discovering his or her spiritual gifts/passion/and style; Second, by being equipped to serve by the pastors of the church; and Third, by developing a servant's heart. There is no room for debate on these three things.

I. Introduction

A. India story

Doug Nichols was a missionary with Operation Mobilization in India. While on assignment in India, he contracted tuberculosis. The disease forced him into a government run sanitarium for several months, to recover.

Doug was new on that mission field. He didn't even know how to speak the language, yet. But, being a missionary, he felt it was his duty to at least try and give some Christian literature, written in the native language, to the patients, doctors, and nurses. But everyone politely refused. He sensed many of the people weren't happy about an American being in a free, Indian-run sanitarium.

The first few nights he awoke around 2:00 A.M. coughing. On one of those mornings during his coughing spell, he noticed one of the older and sicker patients across the aisle trying to get out of bed. This man would sit up on the edge of the bed and try to stand, but in his weakness he would fall back into bed. Doug didn't understand what he was trying to do. The man finally fell back into bed exhausted, and he started to cry, softly.

The next morning Doug realized what the man had been trying to do. He had been trying to get up and walk to the bathroom! The stench in the ward was awful. Other patients yelled insults at the man. Angry nurses moved him roughly from side to side as they cleaned up the mess. One nurse even slapped him. The old man curled into a ball and wept.

The next night Doug woke up, again, coughing. He noticed the man across the aisle sit up and again try to stand. But, like the night before, he fell back whimpering.

Doug, like most human beings, didn't like bad smells, and he really didn't want to become involved, but he got out of bed and went over to the man. Doug touched his shoulder, and the man opened his eyes wide with fear. But Doug smiled, put his arms under the man, and picked him up. Doug carried him to the washroom, which was just a filthy, small room with a hole in the floor, and stood behind him with his arms under his armpits as he took care of himself.

After he finished, Doug picked him up, and carried him back to his bed. When Doug laid the man down, the old man kissed him on the cheek, smiled, and said something he couldn't understand.

The next morning another patient woke Doug and handed him a steaming cup of tea. He motioned with his hands that he wanted a Bible tract. As the sun rose, other patients approached and indicated they also wanted the booklets. These were the same booklets Doug had tried to distribute before. Then, throughout the day nurses, interns, and doctors asked Doug for the literature he had.

Several weeks later an evangelist who spoke the language visited Doug, and as he talked to others in the hospital, he discovered that a number of them had put their trust in Christ as Savior as a result of reading the literature, and many more were open to talk about what they had read.

Friends, what did it take to reach those people with the gospel? It wasn't health, it wasn't the ability to speak their language, and it wasn't persuasive talk. Doug simply took a trip to the bathroom, and ministered to a man in need. (adapted from an article by Doug Nichols, Bothell, Washington. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 2.).

B. Transition

-Ministry is how we accomplish the vision of being a FORCE, that comes against the gates of Hell, -Ministry liberates the captives that are held by Satan and his demons. -And without MINISTRY, a church becomes nothing more than a fortress, where the good news of Jesus is kept safe and secure from the world that needs it!.

David Livingston, the great missionary pioneer said, (front of WIG) Do not think me mad. It is not making money that I believe a Christian should be doing. The noblest thing a man can do is, just humbly to receive, and then go amongst others and give.

And friends, those words capture this third essential expectation, very well. We should expect that everyone of us will serve the ministry of this church. Or in the words of David Livingston, we must go amongst others and give.

So, let's get practical, and let's get specific this morning. What is it about ministry we should all be expecting from each other? Well, at the very least, there are three ways we can and should and must serve the ministry of this church. And those three things will form the outline for this morning.

II. The three ways to serve the ministry of this church

A. …by discovering my gifts, my passion, and my style

The first way to serve this church, or your church(if this isn't your home church), is to discover your spiritual gifts, your passion and your style.

Just look around you this morning… Do you see anyone the same as anyone else? Of course you don't! Every person in this room is unique. And that's by God's design.

But everyone of you unique individuals, have not arrived here by your design. God in His providence has brought you to this place, at this time, to be involved in what is most important to Him-reaching pre-Christians with the good news of God's love for them. It is because of your uniqueness, that God wants to use you at this time and in this place. God wants to use you in ministry.

The apostle Paul talked about this in his own life when he said…

Galatians 1:15-16 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,

That's how God works. He's been preparing everyone of us from birth, for our ministry, now! And because God wants to use you, he has equipped you with some important tools.

1. Gifts

One of those tools is your spiritual gift or gifts that the Holy Spirit gave you when you became a follower of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Illustration: On our 25th anniversary, Diane gave me this watch. I need a watch to keep me on time with appointments and commitments. This watch has everything I need and want in a watch. But wouldn't I be a real stooge, if I put this watch in the drawer of my dresser, and never used it? -Who would be to blame if I didn't arrive at meetings on time? -Who would be to blame if I kept you waiting for an hour, because I didn't realize what time it was? It would be me. I'd be the one to blame, because I didn't' use the gift of the watch that was given to me.

Well, folks, who is to blame when pre-Christians don't become Christians in this end of the Coachella Valley? Who is to blame when the people in your unique circles of influence don't come to know about the Savior?

The apostle Peter says…

1 Peter 4:10 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

We are the ones to blame, if we have not discovered and are not using our spiritual gift or gifts in ministry. Because ministry is one of the key ways that God uses to accomplish the Great Commission.

2. Passion

A second tool, is your spiritual passion.

On your outlines this morning, are two questions. I want you to take a few minutes and write out your answers to these two questions:

a. What topic of conversation would keep you talking, late into the night?

b. What would I most like to do for others?

(After a few minutes say…) What you've just begun to do, is define your passion. Everyone of us has at least one. Passions can change according to our stage in life. Passions can get sharper in focus, or they can get broader in focus, as the years go by. But the fact of the matter is, everyone of us is passionate about something.

Well, imagine what would happen, if you'd combine your spiritual giftedness with the passion you have? Do you know what the result would be? You'd be passionately doing something supernatural.

And that's my point. Ministry doesn't have to be drudgery. In fact we have people in this church involved in using their gifts in a variety of passions: motorcycling; building; teaching; accounting; leading; cooking; and singing… just to name a few. A crucial part of ministering effectively is doing something that you are passionate about.

3. Style

Then we have a third tool. Some of us work best, when we work alone. Others of us work best when we are the leader. Others work best when they are the followers. Still others work best in small groups. Others work best in large groups. We all have a different way we work best with others. We call the way you work best, your personal style. And there are no right or wrong styles. God didn't make a mistake when He created the style in which you work best.

Psalms 139:13-16 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

When you've discovered your personal style, you've uncovered a third essential tool you need to do ministry very well.

4. NETWORK

Now, if you're wondering how you'll find all this information out about yourself-your spiritual gifts, your spiritual passion and your style of working with others… we've got you covered. You see, after you have taken our 101 course on our church's mission and vision; and after you've taken our 201 course on Becoming a Contagious Christian; we have a 301 course, called Network. In the Network course you'll discover your spiritual gift or gifts, you'll identify your spiritual passion, and you'll discover in which situations you'll work best.

And friends, we expect you to take this course. Everyone of you. This is the first way you can begin serving the ministry of this church.

B. …by being equipped to serve by your pastors

The second expectation regarding serving the ministry of this church is that each of you needs to be equipped to do ministry by your pastors.

Ephesians 4:11-13 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's 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.

I came across this in a church newsletter… Several million members of the church are to be recalled because they are not performing properly. Symptoms include frequent missing, lack of power and poor adaptation to rough roads. Regular maintenance should have prevented most of the difficulties. Sadly, many only come for maintenance when a major breakdown has occurred and, therefore, it is difficult for service personnel to attempt to correct the basic problems at these times.

So the recall is under way. God has set up Service Managers, also known as Pastors, who are being trained to deal with the problems. One member who came in for a recall a year or so ago was pleased with the results. "It's amazing," she said, "I'm getting much better mileage now. I don't notice the rough spots so much, and I find I have enough power to give others a helping push now and then." Service personnel are available around the clock and shops are open seven days a week. (adopted from Grace Current, Grace Brethren Church, Winchester, VA, Jan 1996, p. 2).

Friends, God said this, not me… Pastors exist to equip the saints of the church to do the ministry work of the church. But we can't equip you, if you don't come in for servicing. Our 401 course is, in reality, a one on one consultation with any pastor of your choosing, to help you identify where and what ministry you should be involved in doing to advance the Kingdom of God. We do this based on your giftedness, based on your passion, and based on style, that you've discovered from the 301 Network course. Pastor Darrin, Pastor Darrell, Pastor Greg, and I are committed to helping you find the right ministry fit for you.

Sometimes that fit will be in an existing program in the church. Sometimes it will be in a program outside the church like Gideons, CMA, Christian Business men's club, or Christian women's club. And sometimes, we will have to design a whole new ministry that is just geared to you and others like you-like "Takin' It To The Streets".

But you must be committed to letting us help you. That's a Biblical expectation we all must have of each other…being equipped by my pastors to serve in ministry.

C. …by developing a servant's heart

The final commitment each of us needs to make is to develop a servant's heart. This is a command to Christians from God, in…

Philippians 2:4-6 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, … made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

A man I admire a lot, in Washington D. C., is Attorney General, John Ashcroft. He is a strong evangelical Christian man, who was greatly maligned in the press, during his confirmation hearings. You may not agree with all the decisions he's made in the past, but having talked with people who intimately know him, this man tries to put Christ and His Kingdom first, in his decision making. I want you to listen to something he wrote about developing a servant's heart…

People often discuss the importance of delayed gratification; but what is meant by "displaced gratification"?

In delayed gratification, we put off something so that we can enjoy something even better later on--avoiding a "sex life" before marriage, for instance, so that we can more fully enter into a deeper love of the marital union. But in displaced gratification, we put off something so that the gratification can go to somebody else. Within marriage, for example, we put our spouse's needs ahead of our own.

When William Booth finally left the Salvation Army, he sent a one-word telegram to every member of his army. That one word embodied the guiding principle of Booth's life: It simply said, "Others."

What is the reward of displaced gratification?

The man or woman who understands delayed and displaced gratification realizes that "others" are what it's all about. Instead of demanding our rights and satisfaction, we can work for the rights of others, we can find fulfillment in seeing other people satisfied, and we can serve instead of trying to conquer. Displaced gratification is the oil that keeps our society running smoothly.

Where do you draw inspiration to live this way?

Learning to put the needs of others above your own is the "displaced gratification" my father taught me about. The ultimate understanding of displaced gratification is reflected in the life of Christ, who gave up heaven for earth, who could have been crowned king, and who could have called ten thousand angels to rescue Him from the cross. Instead He accepted brutal, humiliating torture on our behalf. He put serving others ahead of serving His own needs. (John Ashcroft, Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 2).

Friends, when the people of this church, all together, start… -putting others ahead of themselves; -putting other families ahead of their family; -putting the common good of this church ahead of their personal good; -putting what's most important to God ahead of what's most important to them… …then we will become an unstoppable FORCE in the Coachella Valley and the rest of the world, for Jesus Christ.

-We will literally see the gates and walls that separate godless ideologies from morality, crumble into ashes before us. -We will see pagan demands of lifestyle acceptance and sin-tolerance, stop. -We will experience pre-Christian people coming to us, begging to know about a relationship with Jesus Christ. -We will see City Councils making decisions for all the right reasons, and none of the wrong reasons. -We will see people delivered from addictions. -and We will see people healed from the results of ongoing and willful sin in their lives. …all because we choose the way of the servant, instead of the way of the selfish.

One author I read this week, wrote, "The best way for people to learn about the church is by seeing a face and hearing a voice say, 'We're here to serve in the name of Christ, and God bless you whether you come or not.' " (Arthur Fretheim, Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 2.)

III. Conclusion

So there is the third of the four essential expectations we must expect from each other, from now on… First, we must protect the unity of our church Second, we must share the responsibilities of our church Now, third, we must serve the ministry of our church… …by discovering my spiritual gifts, passion and style …by being equipped to serve by my pastors …by developing a servant's heart

So, here's your question… "Are You Willing?"

This morning, we're going to give you a practical way to respond to what God is saying to you. In your WIG's is a golden colored handout. Take a look at that. We are attempting a ministry to the two cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City, that has never been done before. We're takin' it to the streets! We explained this program to you at the beginning of the service, you know the dates on Saturdays in June. Now, we need ministry helpers. We need a total of 100 adults to share in the responsibilities listed on that golden colored handout. Would you please take a moment and read the sheet, and mark what you could do, that you feel some passion about, and that you would be willing to equipped in doing?

Then as the offering plate goes by, people can put this sheet in the offering.

Now, while you're filling that out, let me explain the message that will be given in "Takin' It To The Streets" (give out gospel message).

Amen