PONDERING... Are You Being Useful? (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Are You Being Useful?

GIST: The Church is made of many active parts with one uniting purpose: growing together in our love and service of both God and people.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Last week, we began a short study on what the Church should be like. In the morning, we looked at Hebrews 10, and talked about how we should be actively thinking about how to stir each other up to love and live like Jesus, and the need we have for that in our lives. In the evening service, we looked at Acts 2 and broke down 8 characteristics that are at the heart of the church, and watched a funny video, and had a generally good time :D.

Today, I want to look at 1 Corinthians 12. Probably the most recognizable thing about this passage is the end portion where we are told the Church is the body of Christ. That is, we are to function together like the varying parts of the body all work together for the same purpose: sustaining life. The other recognizable feature is that 1 Corinthians 12 comes right before 1 Corinthians 13, the love passage. We’re not directly looking at either of these this morning :D, but they are important to note because both of those illustrations spring from the point made in these first few verses (specifically 4-7). Here we see the Church is made of many active parts with one uniting purpose: growing together in our love and service of both God and people.

1. MANY ACTIVE PARTS

I titled this sermon “Are You Being Useful?” That being word is really important here. If I just asked, “are you useful?”, I’d be implying some of you may not be, and therefore it might just be time for you to move along :D. That’s not Biblical, nor is it what I’m getting at. Look at the end of verse 6 into the first part of verse 7: “6...God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit…”(Emphasis added). Every Christian has the capacity for being used by God. The question then is are you letting that happen?

Let’s look at what the passage says here. There are a variety of gifts, ministries, and activities.

1. Variety of Gifts. This is a big topic, and it is worth your time to look at how they’re addressed in the Bible (here’s a starting point: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 1 Peter 4, and Ephesians 4). For our purposes today, let’s just hit the big picture. Each person who is saved has spiritual gifts. I know to our modern ears, this can sound “too mystical”, but it’s not. God wants to use you, so He gives you the tools to use. There are no exceptions here. This is not just for preachers and teachers. God has equipped you to serve.
2. Variety of Ministries And there will be different ministry opportunities and roles you’ll play because of the tools you have, your gifts. This flows naturally, as well. If you’re gifted in music, you’ll be involved in that. If you’re not, you probably won’t...etc. (I want to say more on this in just a second.)
3. Variety of Activities And even within those ministries there will be different opportunities and responses to the service.
4. Gifts Are Not Excuses. Now, before we move on, let me just point this out. The danger in talking about spiritual gifts is twofold. Let’s just put people into two camps. You have some who are very certain they know what their gift(s) are, and you have others (more than likely the majority) who have no idea. Regardless, both groups have a tendency to fall into the temptation of...not serving at all. If you’re not sure where you gifts are, you might feel inadequate to serve anywhere (or at least use that as an excuse :D). If, however, you’re certain of your gifting, you might only feel the need to serve in that way. Neither is right. Let me just make two quick points here.
1. Regardless of gifting, we are called to serve Jesus. People are gifted in many ways, and having one gift does not exclude you from serving God in all other walks of life, as well. Tim Keller is one of my favorite preachers. His teaching ministry has taught me so much over the past several years. In 1989, he helped start a small church in New York City that has grown into a massive church planting center. He is a wonderful teacher, but doesn’t feel he’s gifted in the area of evangelism--telling people about Jesus when he’s not in the pulpit. It’s a struggle for him. But, he does it. Why? Because he’s a Christian, and he’s called to share his faith. Having a particular gift does not somehow exempt you from all other Christian service.
2. The only way to figure out where you’re gifted is to serve. I will always remember my dad giving me two criteria for helping determine spiritual gifting: joy in service and blessing to others. When you are beyond excited to serve in a particular way(s), and you and others are growing closer to Jesus as a result of that service--that’s probably a spiritual gift. But here’s the deal, you can’t figure that out until you’re actually doing stuff. If you’re struggling because you don’t know what you could possibly do, but you’re not actually doing anything, that struggle will continue. If you want to be used, please come talk with me, and we’ll pray together about where you can jump in. But unless we’re working in all areas of ministry, we may never realize the gifts God has given us. And that’s the blessing of a smaller church like ours: we all have to be involved in everything! :D

2. ONE UNITING PURPOSE

So, the Church is made of many active parts with one uniting purpose. Ultimately, we are to be growing together in our love and service of both God and people. And this unity of purpose is central to what it means to be the church. Look at the structure of the passage. Each time a variety is presented, we are reminded of a “same”. Though this may be different, this is the same. Though this may be different, this is the same. Though this may be different, this is the same. And these “sames” are far more important than the varieties. Let’s look at them.

• Same Spirit who Saves: Why we can even serve in the first place. This is the key uniting feature. There is no Church without salvation. Look at verse 3, “... no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.” None of this is even part of our lives if we haven’t given Jesus control, if we have not been saved by the Holy Spirit changing our hearts. If you’re a preacher, or a prayer warrior, or a music minister, or a behind the scenes everything(!), this is this most important truth about you, and there is no difference. We are all wretched sinners saved by marvelous grace.
• Same Lord who Controls: The reason we do serve. Regardless of gifting, we’re all serving the same master. Albert Barnes puts it like this: “all these offices had their appointment from him; and that since all were his appointment, and all were necessary, no one should be proud of an elevated station; no one should be depressed, or feel himself degraded, because he had been designated to a more humble office.”
• Same God who Empowers: How this service actually happens. Man, don’t we need to remember this! God does the work in us. Period. “13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure”(Philippians 2:13). It is true of our salvation and true of our service. It is all God; we cannot boast, nor should we ever be afraid of failure--it’s not about us.
• Manifestations of the Spirit for the Common Good?: The purpose of our service. To manifest means to make clear or known. The whole reason for these gifts is to help people see and grow closer to Jesus. Because, regardless of what our gifts might look like, we should be driven by love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” And if we love, we cannot look at our fellow believers or at the lost world and not want them to see Jesus.

TAKEAWAYS

1. God plans to use each of us. Remember my dad’s advice? Two possible criteria: Joy in service. Blessing to others. Get out there and be used.
2. There is not a scale of value in this purpose. If we had time we’d look at the body of Christ passage here. In fact, we might take a Sunday soon to look over that...because it’s great...I mean, there are talking ears and stuff! The message there is clear: there are no “good” or “bad” parts of body of Christ. Do not let sin creep in and make you ashamed or unduly proud of your spiritual gift.
3. There is, however, an inherent codependency. We need each other. I know I said we don’t have an excuse not to be involved across the board, but we do have a responsibility to use our gifting to bless others. I cannot play the piano like Judy. I don’t pray like Ruby. I can’t build like Bruce, or wire like Justin, I’m not as helpful as Kim, or creative as Becky Jaco, or as funny as Kent, or as patient as Becky Turnbough. The list could go on (and probably should). The reason why Christians need to be in church is because we need each other.
4. Are you being useful? Are you letting God manifest in your life?
5. Are we using our gifts to show Jesus to each other and the world? Are we doing that as a church?

But if we are the body

Why aren't his arms reaching

Why aren't his hands healing

Why aren't his words teaching

And if we are the body

Why aren't his feet going

Why is his love not showing them there is a way

Jesus is the way

-Casting Crowns, “If We Are The Body”