I Believe In A Healthy Church

Eph. 4:1-16,  Rom. 12:1-12   Marked by Unity, Maturity and Diversity

"It was He who gave some to be..... pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Eph 4:11-12

Nine Reasons for Developing Your Personal Ministry

1. We have been ______________________ for ministry:

"God in His grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve Him." Galatians 1:15 (LB)

2. We have been ______________________ for ministry:

"It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work, not because we deserve it but because that was His plan long before the world began." 2Timothy 1:9 (LB)

3. We have been ______________________ into ministry:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." 1Peter 2:9 (NIV)

4. We have been individually and uniquely ______________________ for ministry: "We have different gifts according to the grace given us." Rom. 12:6

5. We have been _________________________ for ministry:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

6. We have been ___________________________ to minister: "Take heed to the ministry you've received from the Lord and fulfill it." Colossians 4:17 (NKJ)

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... just as the

Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." Matthew 20:26-28

7. We are __________________________ for our ministry: "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." Matthew 25:19-21 (NIV)

8. We will be _________________________ for our ministry:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

9. The Body of Christ ______________________ our ministry:

"All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it." 1Corinthians 12:27 (LB)

Five Steps to Discovering Your Personal Ministry

Romans 12:1-8 instructs us to:

1. Dedicate your _________________ "I urge you.... to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Rom 12:1

2. Eliminate worldly _________________________ "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 (NIV)

3. Evaluate your _______________________ & __________________________

"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3 (NIV)

4. Cooperate with other ____________________________________

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)

5. Activate your ________________________

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us... prophecy... serving... teaching... encouraging... contributing... giving.... leadership... mercy...." Rom

12:6-8 (NIV) "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 1Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)

1Corinthians 12:12-26  "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body [i.e. the Body of Christ]........... "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.... "God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;

if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

• Every member is a _______________ of Christ's Body

• Every member has a different _______________________

• Every member's ____________________ is important

• Every member ______________________ to the other members

• Christ wants to use each member to _____________________ His Body!

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God." 1Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

Discovering How God Has SHAPED Your Life for Ministry

• God has been forming and shaping us even ____________________________ we were born "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, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)

• We are God's _________________________________ "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

• We were made for a ______________________ "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

• We must accept ____________________ as we were created in order to be fully integrated and functional.

• The unique _________________________ God made determines your ministry.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same

God works all of them in all men." 1Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

The 5 Factors that Determine Your SHAPE

Spiritual Gifts

What you are ___________________ to do "Each one has his own gift from God." 1Corinthians 7:7 (NKJ) (Spiritual gift lists: 1 Cor. 12,  Rom. 12)

What are the spiritual gifts others recognize in you?

Heart

What you __________________ to do "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Prov. 21:1(NKJ)

What do you feel like doing? What has God laid on your heart?

Abilities

What you are _____________________ to do. "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, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)

What abilities has God allowed you to develop in work?

Personality

What your ____________________________ suits you to do.  "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4,5.  What is you personality like? Extrovert? Meticulous?

Experiences

What you've done __________________ you for the road ahead. "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20 What educational, positive? Difficult? Experiences have you had? (2Cor 1:3,4)

Ephesians 4:1-16  I believe in a healthy church

I. A Healthy Church Is Marked by Spiritual Unity (4:1-6).

A. United by divine calling (4:1)

B. United by Christlike conduct (4:2-3)

C. United by gospel confession (4:4-6)

II. A Healthy Church Is Marked by Spiritual Diversity (4:7-12).

A. We have diverse gifts (4:7-10).

B. We have diverse responsibilities (4:11-12).

III. A Healthy Church Is Marked by Spiritual Maturity (4:13-16).

A. Maturity involves Christlikeness (4:13).

B. Maturity involves doctrinal stability (4:13-14).

C. Maturity involves truth joined with love (4:15-16).

D. Maturity involves contribution (4:16).

Everyone has been given at least one Spiritual Gift—and most people possess two or more gifts to some degree

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.... and He gives them to each one, just as He determines." 1Corinthians 12:4-6,11b

2. Determining and Developing your Personal Ministry

• It is God's will for believers to minister to others:

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph. 2:10 (NIV)

Nine Reasons for Developing Your Personal Ministry

1. We have been created for ministry: "God in His grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve Him." Galatians 1:15 (LB)

2. We have been saved for ministry: "It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work, not because we deserve it but because that was His plan long before the world began." 2Timothy 1:9 (LB)

3. We have been called into ministry:  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." 1Peter 2:9 (NIV)

4. We have been individually and uniquely gifted for ministry: We have different gifts according to the grace given us." Rom. 12:6 (NIV)

5. We have been authorized for ministry: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

6. We have been commanded to minister: "Take heed to the ministry you've received from the Lord and fulfill it." Colossians 4:17 (NKJ)  "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." Matthew 20:26-28

7. We are accountable for our ministry:  "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." Matthew 25:19-21 (NIV)

8. We will be rewarded for our ministry:  "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

9. The Body of Christ needs our ministry:  "All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it." 1Corinthians 12:27 (LB)

Five Steps to Discovering Your Personal Ministry

Romans 12:1-8 instructs us to:

1. Dedicate your body

"I urge you.... to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 (NIV)

2. Eliminate worldly distractions

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 (NIV)

3. Evaluate your strengths & weaknesses

"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3 (NIV)

4. Cooperate with other believers

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)

5. Activate your gifts – now!

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us... prophecy... serving... teaching... encouraging... contributing... giving.... leadership... mercy...." Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 1Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)

1Corinthians 12:12-26  "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body [i.e. the Body of Christ]........... "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.... "God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;

if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

• Every member is a PART of Christ's Body

• Every member has a different FUNCTION

• Every member's MINISTRY is important

• Every member BELONGS to the other members

• Christ wants to use each member to BUILD UP His Body!

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God." 1Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

Discovering How God Has SHAPED Your Life for Ministry

• God has been forming and shaping us even BEFORE we were born "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, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)

• We are God's WORKMANSHIP "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

• We were made for a PURPOSE "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

• We must accept OURSELVES as we were created in order to be fully integrated and functional.

• The unique SHAPE God made determines your ministry.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same

God works all of them in all men." 1Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

The 5 Factors that Determine Your SHAPE

Spiritual Gifts

What you are  GIFTED to do "Each one has his own gift from God." 1Corinthians 7:7 (NKJ) (Spiritual gift lists: 1 Cor. 12,  Rom. 12)

What are the spiritual gifts others recognize in you?

Heart

What you LIKE to do "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Prov. 21:1(NKJ)

What do you feel like doing? What has God laid on your heart?

Abilities

What you are EQUIPPED to do. "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, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)

What abilities has God allowed you to develop in work?

Personality

What your PERSONALITY suits you to do.  "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4,5.  What is you personality like? Extrovert? Meticulous?

Experiences

What you've done PREPARES you for the road ahead. "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20 What educational, positive? Difficult? Experiences have you had? (2Cor 1:3,4)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDrLKog-Na8