Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 8/29/10 (Ephesians 4:11,12):
1. In Ephesians 4:11 Paul once again takes up the topic of spiritual gifts which he raised in verse 7. Instead of listing spiritual gifts, as in other places (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12), here he mentions gifted individuals given to the church to build it up. The gifts mentioned are apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor/teacher. Two things tie these gifts together: each is a speaking gift and each is used in leadership.
2. “Apostle” and “Prophet” are called foundational gifts in Ephesians 2:20. An apostle was “one sent by God with a commission” and a prophet was a spokesman for God usually by direct revelation (to communicate God’s will to the church, necessary before the New Testament was completed). Together they laid the foundation for the church.
3. An “evangelist” was one who pioneered the work of the gospel in areas not yet reached. They were traveling ministers akin to missionaries today.
4. The last of the four gifted people Paul mentions is the “Pastor/Teacher.” These are not two individuals but rather one individual with two functions. The root meaning of “pastor” is “to protect.” A pastor/teacher protects the flock by teaching the Word of God. “The Word of God is the local church’s protection and provision, and no amount of entertainment, good fellowship, or other religious substitutes can take it’s place.” (Warren Wiersbe)
5. According to verse 12, the reason God gives these gifted people to the church is not to do the work of the ministry, but to equip God’s people for works of service. The word translated “prepare” or “equip” means to restore something to usefulness, to its original purpose. We are made useful for service to God and protected from errant theology through the teaching of the Word of God.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Arrested Development - Part 2
No Audio File This Week.
Recap of 8/22/10:
1. As with the Corinthian problem (1 Corinthians 12-14), spiritual gifts are open to misuse if a believer is immature, or doesn’t recognize the essential purpose of spiritual gifts as given for the common good of the church, not individual edification. The “Assessment Inventory for Ministry” (A.I.M.) identifies three potential misuses of spiritual gifts.
-Gift exaltation: Raising one gift over another beyond biblical teaching and using them as status symbols.
-Comparing with one another: feeling inferior and/or evaluating or judging based on another as the “norm.”
-Competing with one another: conditioned by home, school, and life we fight to be “number one” usually at the expense of others. Gifts are to be used in concert with, not in competition with other gifts, and should produce unity amidst the diversity of use.
2. Bible teachers such as Dr. Charles Ryrie and others have identified a process by which to identify our spiritual gift(s).
-be informed about what the Bible says about spiritual gifts
-be willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He opens up
-be active in serving the Lord
-ask ourselves: “What are our interests and desires as growing, maturing Christians?” and “What do others say that we are effective at?”
Recap of 8/22/10:
1. As with the Corinthian problem (1 Corinthians 12-14), spiritual gifts are open to misuse if a believer is immature, or doesn’t recognize the essential purpose of spiritual gifts as given for the common good of the church, not individual edification. The “Assessment Inventory for Ministry” (A.I.M.) identifies three potential misuses of spiritual gifts.
-Gift exaltation: Raising one gift over another beyond biblical teaching and using them as status symbols.
-Comparing with one another: feeling inferior and/or evaluating or judging based on another as the “norm.”
-Competing with one another: conditioned by home, school, and life we fight to be “number one” usually at the expense of others. Gifts are to be used in concert with, not in competition with other gifts, and should produce unity amidst the diversity of use.
2. Bible teachers such as Dr. Charles Ryrie and others have identified a process by which to identify our spiritual gift(s).
-be informed about what the Bible says about spiritual gifts
-be willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He opens up
-be active in serving the Lord
-ask ourselves: “What are our interests and desires as growing, maturing Christians?” and “What do others say that we are effective at?”
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Case for Creation - Guest Speaker, Charles Morse
Click here to download the sermon file.
We had Guest Speaker, Charles Morse in town from the Institute for Creation Research. He brought a message on why having a firm belief in Creation is so important to us as Christians.
We had Guest Speaker, Charles Morse in town from the Institute for Creation Research. He brought a message on why having a firm belief in Creation is so important to us as Christians.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Arrested Development, Part 1
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of Ephesians 4:7:
1. The unity of the Body of Christ is preserved when each believer does his/her part by exercising their spiritual gift(s). The key to doctrinal and practical unity, stability, and spiritual growth is gifted saints using their gifts to build up the church. The result is that believers live out the character of Jesus Christ.
2. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift at conversion (Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Spiritual gifts are given, not for private edification, but for the common good so that the body may be edified (built up). (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10,11)
3. A spiritual gift is a “God-given ability for service” (Dr. Charles Ryrie). Warren Wiersbe defines a spiritual gift as “a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified.”
4. Since every believer is gifted each is responsible to use their gift(s) to serve the body, enabling it to reach out in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
5. Other passages dealing with spiritual gifts are: 1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:4-6; and 1 Peter 4:10,11. Some gifts are temporary (given only in the first generation of the church, others are permanent given through-out the church age.
Recap of Ephesians 4:7:
1. The unity of the Body of Christ is preserved when each believer does his/her part by exercising their spiritual gift(s). The key to doctrinal and practical unity, stability, and spiritual growth is gifted saints using their gifts to build up the church. The result is that believers live out the character of Jesus Christ.
2. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift at conversion (Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Spiritual gifts are given, not for private edification, but for the common good so that the body may be edified (built up). (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10,11)
3. A spiritual gift is a “God-given ability for service” (Dr. Charles Ryrie). Warren Wiersbe defines a spiritual gift as “a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified.”
4. Since every believer is gifted each is responsible to use their gift(s) to serve the body, enabling it to reach out in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
5. Other passages dealing with spiritual gifts are: 1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:4-6; and 1 Peter 4:10,11. Some gifts are temporary (given only in the first generation of the church, others are permanent given through-out the church age.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Learning How to Walk
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 8/1/10:
1. The practical section of the book of Ephesians begins in 4:1. As was often the case, in Paul’s letters he would deal with doctrine in the first part of the book and then with the practical outworking of that doctrine in the second half of the book.
2. The key word for the rest of the book is the word “live” or “walk.” It was Paul’s characteristic word to describe the proper conduct or manner of life of the Christian. The main topic for the rest of the book is the “worthy walk” (4:1). One who wants to walk worthy of his/her calling must walk in unity (4:1); walk in holiness (4:17); walk in love (5:2); walk in the light (5:8); walk in wisdom 5:15); and walk wary of the enemy (6:10-20).
3. A “worthy walk” is a balanced walk, balanced between what we believe and how we live. “[Paul] wanted them to ‘lead a life, literally ‘walk,’ that will do justice to the glorious calling of God in their lives. Questions of behavior are to be resolved by asking, ‘Will this act express and honor the great mission in life which God has given me?” (David George).
4. This walk and the unity of the church depends on living out four virtues: humility (freedom from putting our selves first); gentleness (strength under God’s control, not easily provoked or provoking others); patience (never giving up in the face of suffering, opposition, discouragement, or disappointment); and forbearance (accepting others in spite of their faults and idiosyncrasies).
Recap of 8/1/10:
1. The practical section of the book of Ephesians begins in 4:1. As was often the case, in Paul’s letters he would deal with doctrine in the first part of the book and then with the practical outworking of that doctrine in the second half of the book.
2. The key word for the rest of the book is the word “live” or “walk.” It was Paul’s characteristic word to describe the proper conduct or manner of life of the Christian. The main topic for the rest of the book is the “worthy walk” (4:1). One who wants to walk worthy of his/her calling must walk in unity (4:1); walk in holiness (4:17); walk in love (5:2); walk in the light (5:8); walk in wisdom 5:15); and walk wary of the enemy (6:10-20).
3. A “worthy walk” is a balanced walk, balanced between what we believe and how we live. “[Paul] wanted them to ‘lead a life, literally ‘walk,’ that will do justice to the glorious calling of God in their lives. Questions of behavior are to be resolved by asking, ‘Will this act express and honor the great mission in life which God has given me?” (David George).
4. This walk and the unity of the church depends on living out four virtues: humility (freedom from putting our selves first); gentleness (strength under God’s control, not easily provoked or provoking others); patience (never giving up in the face of suffering, opposition, discouragement, or disappointment); and forbearance (accepting others in spite of their faults and idiosyncrasies).
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