Week 4-Involvement

Membership Means

Involvement

Acts 2:39-47; 1 Corinthians 11:24-33

Week 4: Membership Means Involvement

Central Bible Truth

     The local church is made up of very distinct individuals, differently gifted by God, designed to work together, involved in ministering to one another.

Background passage:

     1 Corinthians 12, 14

Focal Passage:

     1 Corinthians 12:14-25

Lesson Aim for Week 4: (Instructional, How To?)

Week 1, 3, and 5 are to be informational, or “how come”. 

Weeks 2, 4, and 6 are to be instructional, or “how to”.

   To lead adults to discover their unique individual ministry as a member of the church and to lead them in knowing how to become equipped and involved in ministry to others. To encourage members to work together as individuals for the good of the whole church.

The Bible in Context

   Members of the church need to be involved in some form of ministry. We are not saved by serving, but we are saved to serve in the cause of Christ. That is our goal as members.

   The topic of spiritual gifts for the church is addressed in detail four times in the New Testament (in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40; Ephesians 4:8-16; and 1 Peter 4:8-11). Salvation was a gift by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), and our spiritual gifts are also given by grace. Being involved as a member should not be optional for believers. For every believer to serve is significant for three reasons:

   Grace Gifts. To say “God has not gifted me to minister” is not humility. It is almost the opposite to proclaim that God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, could not use us. In Judges 7:2, there is an amazing story about Gideon, going to battle with a formidable enemy, when God says to him, “Gideon, you have too many men.” God wanted to use the least of the least to lead the fewest of the fewest, so that God could show His greatest grace.

    In 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, Paul essentially said “Get over yourself and get busy in the ministry.” Okay, perhaps not exactly like that. In the New Living Translation, it reads, “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”

    That should take away our excuses and humble us all in knowing it is not about us, but all about God involving us in the service to others. The Potter has power over the clay (Romans 9:20-21) and God created you for His purpose. Don’t look at your inabilities but at God’s infinite abilities (2 Corinthians 12:9).

   Growth. When spiritual gifts are taught in the Bible, there are strong encouragements for the church to grow in love and unity. 1 Corinthians 13 is surrounded by teachings on gifts. After the gift passage in Romans 12:6-8 is the command “Let love be without hypocrisy...be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love” (12:9-10). Immediately before Peter’s description of the gifts, he wrote “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Christ’s gifts are for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13).

    In week one, we briefly mentioned LifeGroups and the various ways of getting involved through the POINT ministry (Prayer and worship, OutReach and evangelism, InReach and fellowship, Need-meeting and missions, and Teaching and Discipleship). Members do not grow simply by listening and learning, but in going and doing through involvement.

    In addition to LifeGroups that meet at church on Sunday mornings, small groups meet at home (HomeGroups), or at church at other times (“DT” or Discipleship Training). There are also DiscipleGroups which meet for consistent accountability, Scripture memory, and devotional “quiet time” development.

    Two weeks ago in the topic of “Interdependency”, we also discussed how members and non-members can serve on committees. While few people love to sit in meetings, strategic planning is a necessary part of growing and involvement.

   Glory. Last week we saw that glorifying God was in Jesus’s prayer in John 17 and in Paul’s Ephesian 4 passage. Both our identification which unites us and our unique involvement which diversifies us combine to bring God the most glory. Jesus said we are to let our light shine before men, that others would see our good deeds and glorify God in heaven.

    Failure to use our God-given gifts, our heart enthusiasm, our natural and learned abilities, and our experiences will hide our light, and potentially will cause us to miss the purpose of our salvation. Jesus compared it to salt that became so contaminated that it was trampled under the feet of the world, and failed to glorify God.

The outline for Week 4 explains the biblical basis of how
we can be activated and equipped for ministry in the church:

  Spiritual Giftedness – What gifts has God given you? .....Day 1

        Spiritual Gifts -- Gifts Distributed, Distinct, Different .Day 2

  Heart – What has God given you a passion for?

  Abilities – What talents do you have for ministry?

  Recognized – Have others discerned ministry in you?

  Experiences – How has God prepared you to serve?