BE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYONE IN THEIR PLACE. TWO KINDS OF - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE LOCAL CHURCH IS INTENDED TO BE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYONE IN THEIR PLACE.

TWO KINDS OF CHRISTIANS Workers And Shirkers

I. GIFTS ARE PREDICATED (1-2) A. Compelled To Be A Servant B. Changed To Be A Servant

MAJOR PASSAGES & CATEGORIES I Corinthians 12 Ephesians 4 I Peter 4 Speaking Serving Sign

II. GIFTS ARE PLACEMENTS (3A, 6A) “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it” (I Corinthians 3:10).

GOD DISTRIBUTES THE GIFTS “And He Gave” (Ephesians 4:11) “To Each Is Given” (I Corinthians 12:7) “As Each Has Received A Gift” (I Peter 4:10)

GOD DISTRIBUTES THE GIFTS “Appointing Me To His Service” (I Timothy 1:12) “Set Apart For The Gospel” (Romans 1:1) “Created In Christ Jesus For Good Works” (Ephesians 2:10)

III. GIFTS (PEOPLE) MAY BE A PROBLEM (3B) “Renewal Of Your Mind” “Not Think Of Himself More Highly Than He Ought To Think, But To Think With Sober Judgment ”

TWO-FOLD THOUGHT 1. Do Not Aspire Beyond “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” (I Corinthians 12:31).

2. DO APPRECIATE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (I Corinthians 4:6-7).

“ OUTDO ONE ANOTHER SHOWING HONOR ” ROMANS 12:10 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5a).

IV. GIFTS ARE A PARTNERSHIP (4-5) “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (I Corinthians 12:12)

I CORINTHIANS 12:24-26 “But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. ”

PAUL CALLS FOR … 1. Unity Not Division 2. Diversity Not Uniformity 3. Mutuality Not Individuality

IV. GIFTS HAVE PARAMETERS (3C) “Each According To The Measure Of Faith That God Has Assigned”

OUR STANDARD 1. Giving Not Grudgingly 2. Shepherding Without Dictatorship 3. Teaching Rightly Dividing The Truth 4. Leading With Integrity 5. Mercy With Cheer

J. VERNON MCGEE “Analyze Your Effectiveness. Are You Really A Blessing To Folks? Are You Building Up The Church? Or Are You Dividing The Church?”

J. B. PHILLIPS TRANSLATION “God Ordained You To Your Work – See That You Don’t Fail Him” (To Archippus – Colossians 4:17b)

JOHN MACARTHUR “It is estimated that even the brightest people use only about 11% of their brain capacity – leaving nearly 90% unused. A similar ratio probably applies to most Christians’ use of their spiritual gifts. ”