Made For This Pt. 4
MADE FOR MINISTRY
1 Corinthians 12:18 – But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He pleased.
Psalm 139:14 – I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
The human body is absolutely amazing: Our body has over 100 trillion cells all working together. If our blood vessels were stretched out, they would be over 100,000 miles long. The human brain can hold up to 1 million gigabytes of information.
Jeremiah 1:5 – 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.
Father God has plans, purposes, and assignments for our lives.
We want to discover our destiny, say yes to His calling, and accept His assignments for the Glory of God.
1 Corinthians 12:13 – For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:27 – Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
Hebrews 10:25 – not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.
One of the ways we walk in our destiny is by discovering our assignment in the local body.
How do we discover our assignments and live those out for the Glory of God?
1. LIFT OUR FOCUS FROM ME TO HIM
1 Corinthians 12:12 – For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
We are one body at Joy Church, with many different members.
We have one head at Joy Church – Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:25 – That there should be no schism(division) in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
Our calling is to lift up Jesus Christ!
We come to Jesus and ask Him, ‘What is Your assignment for my life for this season?”
1 Corinthians 12:18 – But now God has set(assigned) the members each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
2. BROADEN OUR FOCUS FROM ME TO WE
We are the Body of Christ! Each one of us is a part of His Body!
a. The Body of Christ needs every believer.
Every believer is important!
1 Corinthians 12:15 – If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
b. Every believer needs the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:21 – And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
Message – Can you imagine your head telling your foot, “You’re fired, your job has been phased out.”
3. SHARPEN OUR FOCUS – STEP OUT OF OURSELVES AND INTO SERVING OTHERS
Every believer is called to serve. We serve God by serving others.
Every believer is a minister of Jesus Christ. A minister is a servant.
Father God has assignments for us in the local body to which we are called.
The best way to discover our place is to start serving someplace.
Rick Warren – The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, “who is going to meet my needs?” and starts asking, “whose needs can I meet?”
As we step out and serve, we discover two things:
a. We discover our assignments: I was made for this.
b. We discover a deep sense of Joy.
1 Corinthians 12:18 – But now God has set the members each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (As it gives Him great delight.)
As we walk in His assignments, we will experience His delight, His pleasure, and walk in His Joy.
Questions for Discussion
1. How is the Body of Christ like the human body?
2. How is the church in America today like the church in Corinth?
3. Why is it important to be a part of a local body?
4. Why is serving others sometimes difficult for us?
5. How has serving in a local body of believers enriched your life?
Memory Verse
1 Corinthians 12:18 – But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.