Main Point and Overview:
You are needed. The fact is that the church is all about “participation over performance.” It is the people who do the work through the Spirit of God speaking the Word of God (Romans 10:14). In the American church, so many people come to receive, but few come to give. That was the farthest thing from the 1st century church. In fact, both Paul and Peter taught that every person has been equipped with spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit of God meant to be incorporated into the life of the church. Using the analogy of the human body, Paul gave the visual of dysfunction when one body part thinks it can do the job of all of the body parts, or one body part decides not to function. In medical terms, we call that sickness, disease, or being handicapped. How many churches are “handicapped” because 10% of the people are doing 90% of the ministry? At Emmanuel, after someone gets connected, we expect engagement. You have a lot to offer, and we are trusting that you will fill a role on God’s team! From sacrificial service to selfless stewardship, we also see the importance of investing in God’s church from a financial perspective. It’s been said that a person’s grip on his “wallet” will tell you a lot about his attitude toward priorities. Over the years, the church has swung too far into two extremes – focusing on money too much or focusing on money not enough. The fact is that it takes money to do certain ministries. As maturing disciples, we are to realize that we are only stewards of our financial resources. In other words, everything you own comes from and belongs to God. So, how are you using the resources that God has given to you? Let’s be people who are eager to use our time, talent, and treasure to grow the Kingdom of God! Amen.
You are needed. The fact is that the church is all about “participation over performance.” It is the people who do the work through the Spirit of God speaking the Word of God (Romans 10:14). In the American church, so many people come to receive, but few come to give. That was the farthest thing from the 1st century church. In fact, both Paul and Peter taught that every person has been equipped with spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit of God meant to be incorporated into the life of the church. Using the analogy of the human body, Paul gave the visual of dysfunction when one body part thinks it can do the job of all of the body parts, or one body part decides not to function. In medical terms, we call that sickness, disease, or being handicapped. How many churches are “handicapped” because 10% of the people are doing 90% of the ministry? At Emmanuel, after someone gets connected, we expect engagement. You have a lot to offer, and we are trusting that you will fill a role on God’s team! From sacrificial service to selfless stewardship, we also see the importance of investing in God’s church from a financial perspective. It’s been said that a person’s grip on his “wallet” will tell you a lot about his attitude toward priorities. Over the years, the church has swung too far into two extremes – focusing on money too much or focusing on money not enough. The fact is that it takes money to do certain ministries. As maturing disciples, we are to realize that we are only stewards of our financial resources. In other words, everything you own comes from and belongs to God. So, how are you using the resources that God has given to you? Let’s be people who are eager to use our time, talent, and treasure to grow the Kingdom of God! Amen.
Posted in Devotional