A Little Does A Lot Series

“A Little Does a Lot”

Eph. 4.11-16

Series: Vertigo: Discovering Your Direction through Service:

1.The Way Up is Down

2.Firm Footing

3.A Little Does a Lot

4.Inside Out

Written by Steve Miller, with prep and collaboration through the NRHC Carolina Network, (pastor@centergrovebc.org)

Introduction

The sermon series is called Vertigo, because living the Christian life is often upside from the world’s standards. It can be very disorienting when “the way up is down,” and when the way to go forward is standing firm-footed.

Here’s another disorienting fact: The way you live as a Christian affects every other Christian in the world. … It is bewildering to think that each of us could have that kind of impact, especially when our American culture thrives on being so independent. But it is not that way with Christians. The Bible tells us that we are parts of the Body of Christ which are not independent, but interdependent. When all parts work properly in their unique way, the whole body is unified and healthy, but it if each doesn’t serve the other well, the body is incomplete and ineffective.

Some of you mentioned two weeks ago that you had experienced vertigo—that sensation of dizziness. Where does that sensation come from? Is it your legs that are unsteady, is it your eyes that twist reality, is it your head that’s spinning, or is it your stomach that’s turning? It really isn’t any of those things…it’s caused by a tiny tube of fluid that lies behind the eardrum. Such a small part, that you may never know you had, is the culprit that can cause a full system breakdown when it’s not doing its part. –A Little Does a Lot

So much can be affected by so little when that part is missing or malfunctioning. The same goes for you if you’re not serving in the Body of Christ in the way God has designed you to work.

On the other hand, the human body is truly a beautiful and effective machine when all of its parts are unified and healthy, and can even break records for strength and agility. Likewise, Scripture calls us to work as unified and healthy parts of the Body of Christ. When we find our fit and function properly in our place of service, the Body of Christ can do amazing things.

Read Ephesians 4.11-16

I. You have a special fit in the Body

A. God has used the physical body to illustrate the spiritual body of Christ, called the Church. When we believe on Christ and follow Him, we become part of the spiritual body of Christ. But problems can arise when we don’t understand that we have a special fit within that Body—a unique place of service that only we can fill in just the way God desires.

B. For instance Paul indicates that some have been specifically fitted to be apostles, others were fitted to be prophets, and so on. In other words different people are called to fit differently within the Body of Christ. (cf. Rom. 12.4-6)

Romans 12:4-6 (NLT) 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. 6 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.

C. I hope this makes you wonder how exactly you fit in. You may or may not think of yourself as an evangelist or teacher, but this is not an exhaustive list. Elsewhere Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us other gifts and other functions. And every one of them is just as important to the whole body as pastors. (btw—this is the only place in the new testament that you will find the word pastor, otherwise the Greek word is always translated shepherd)

D. The point is in Christ’s Body there are no insignificant parts, everyone has a special fit. (1 Cor. 12:18, 22) 18 But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. … VERSE 22 In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.

T.S. Some of you really doubt how significant of a part you do play. These offices such as evangelist, pastor, and teacher are really out there. But think back to that tiny tube in your inner ear. Have you ever seen it? No, it’s not very noticeable unless it’s not there. [Illustration of dad]