"Needin' Every Hand"
September 25, 2005

The Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 26: 16 - 19
The New Testament Lesson: Romans 12: 3 - 13

To help people commit themselves to ministry in the church

I.  Ministry requires us to depend on each other’s skills
   A. The Western people are known for their rugged independence.
        1. They often display a “can do” attitude.
        2. You might find them living way out in the country by themselves.
        3. But that actually has bred more interdependence!
        4. Isolation is often a city attribute.
            a. coming from the Eastern City, it was typical to find people didn’t know their neighbors.
            b. Surrounded by people, they were often cut off from society.
        5. Out here in the West, people had a better sense of neighbor.
            a. It’s been theorized that it was because you might really need them.
            b. If you ran into trouble, you’re only help might be the neighbor.
            c. He might have been miles away, but he was still neighbor.
        6. People often traded out chores rather than pay for work to be done.
            a. shared farming equipment and took turns.
            b. Even help each other with the harvest.
        7. One of the best examples of that is the custom of barn-raising.
            a. With all the dry hay, barns were very vulnerable to fire.
            b. Every so often, one would burn to the ground.
            c. Many communities used that as a time to celebrate community.
            d. They’d gather at the victims home with picnic baskets and tools
            e. In a single day, they’d built a new barn and then have dinner
        8. despite their stubborn independence, learned to depend on each other.
   B. The church could learn a lot from their example because Ministry requires us to depend on each other’s skills.
        1. Like the early settlers, we have a variety of gifts.
            a. no one can do everything.
            b. but together, we can do anything!
        2. It only works however if we learn the skill of interdependence.
            a. That means that we willingly contribute the skills we have.
            b. And we learn to accept help when we need it.
        3. Some people are much better at giving help than receiving it.
            a. Like to think of ourselves as fully competent.
            b. So we try to do everything on our own.
            c. trouble is, without receivers, there can be no givers!
        4. Interdependence means we offer skills and trust others with our needs

II.  Every one has been given gifts to be used in ministry.
   A. Paul takes as fact something many people deny: We have gifts.
        1. The Greek word for gifts is Charismata
        2. you might hear in that statement the word Charismatics.
            a. That is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes gifts of the Spirit.
            b. It has a kind of wild reputation: Holy Rollers
            c. Comes from the enthusiasm of the group.
            d. But they are basing their belief on solid Biblical teaching.
        3. Each person has been given a gift for ministry in the church.
        4. Paul can make this factual statement because it relies on the Spirit
            a. It is not a human reality.
            b. We are gifted because we are part of God’s family.
            c. You can refuse to use your gift in ministry
            d. but you can’t deny you have it.
        5. Every Christian is called to ministry in the church.
            a. We are all asked by God to work within the church
            b. Each one is expected to improve the church’s function
   B. We are also told that our gifts differ according to God’s Grace.
        1. We don’t all do the same thing!
        2. Paul, using the analogy of a body, says we have different tasks.
        3. Every task is important and needed.
        4. God favors us by ensuring there is a person gifts for every function
            a. Now I believe that as an article of faith.
            b. If there is a job that needs to be done, God will give us someone
            c. The problem is we may be using people in jobs that aren’t needed
            d. And, of course, some may be refusing to do their job!
   C. We use them as a function of our faith!
        1. All work that gets done in the church must be on this foundation
        2. We don’t do it because we know it will go well.
        3. We don’t even have to be sure that we are capable.
        4. All we need is the faith that we are called to do it!
        5. The Seminary is a perfect example of that.
            a. The plan to start a seminary here is audacious.
            b. We are beginning a graduate school without sponsorship.
            c. We don’t have any endowment!  Not the part of enough money
            d. What we have is dedicated people and a vision.
            e. We believe that God is calling us to make this happen.
            f. And God is sending us the people to make it work!

III.  What Do You, Could You, Do?
   A. The difficult part comes as we try to get specific.
        1. For God’s plan to work here in Ogden, each person must participate.
            a. Every hand is needed in order to fulfill our calling.
            b. No one is unimportant, no gift is negligible.
        2. But, discerning God’s gift to us isn’t always easy.
        3. Some people I’ve talked to don’t see themselves as gifted.
        4. Others know their skills, but don’t identify their gifts as God-given
            a. Think they have developed them on their own.
            b. Don’t see themselves as obligated to contribute their gifts.
        5. And others may know their abilities, understand them as gifts, but can’t see how to apply them for God.
   B. Please, as you think of your gifts, remember God is your Creator!
        1. Everything that you are is part of God’s gift to you.
        2. Your voice, your hands, your intellect are fashioned by God.
        3. The way we use these things is how we express our gratitude.
   C. To identify your gifts, ask someone who knows you well.
        1. What kind of things can I do well?
        2. If you were to ask me to help with something, what would it be?
        3. I have seen and used gift inventories.
        4. You must remember that anything can be a spiritual gift.
            a. We often think of things like teaching as gifts.
            b. Sometimes we identify spiritual gifts as something spooky!
            c. But in the list in Romans, Paul names things like, serving others and giving generously as Spiritual gifts, Charismata
        5. Don’t overlook an ability because it doesn’t seem spiritual.
    D. The direction for your service is tied to your passion.
        1. What do you really care about in the church?
            a. Do you love to worship?  What to see it done well?
            b. Do you enjoy teaching or being with the youth?
            c. Care about the financial health of our congregation?  Love Math?
        2. The things to which you are drawn is where God wants you to serve.
        3. If you are having trouble finding a spot, come and see me.
        4. Is there nowhere that you want to pitch in?  Start praying for God to inspire you and guide you.

Friends, you have all heard the statement, “You only get out of something what you put into it.”  That’s not from the Bible, but it could be because it is true.  To the extent that you offer your gifts in ministry to the church, you will find that you are part of an important work.  If you just want to come and warm a pew on Sunday, you will not receive the real gift that God wants to give you: meaning!  Being a Christian means being connected as a body to each other.  You are an important part of the whole, your gifts are needed and your call to ministry has been issued!

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!