Collaboration That Isn't Competition Series

LITURGICAL OPENING — PSALM 34:1-8

• I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

• My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

• O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

• I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

• They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

• This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

• The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

• O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(Psalm 34:1-8)

GREETING

Good Morning ... and too, God be the Glory!

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. And there is a Word from the LORD ...

So let us turn our hearts and our Bibles to First Corinthians ... chapter 12, beginning at verse 1 ... and then to the Gospel of Luke ... chapter 14, beginning at verse 15.

SCRIPTURE READING — 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-7; LUKE 14:15-23 (KJV)

(1 Cor 12:1) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

(12:4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

(12:5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

(12:6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

(12:7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

(Luke 14:16) Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

(14:17) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

(14:18) And they all with one consent began to make excuse.

(14:21) Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

(14:22) Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

(14:23) Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

NEIGHBOR TURN

Turn to your neighbor and say ... Neighbor — GOD DOESN'T HAVE A BENCH. EVERYBODY PLAYS.

You may be seated ...

PRAYER

Father ... the task of teaching Your Word is once again in my keeping. I commit myself to do the very best that I can. Clear my mind of distractions. Warm my heart with compassion. Fill my soul with faith in Your goodness and power. Speak to me ... that I may speak for You. Right now, Lord ... remove self. Remove pride. Increase in me and I decrease in You. Hide me behind Your cross. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight. This is my prayer. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

Week 3 of Cultures That Don't Break ... and we are at the third pillar of C3PT ... COLLABORATION.

Collaboration is one of the most biblical concepts in the New Testament. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that God designed the church the way He designed a body — diverse parts, different functions, one purpose.

The problem is ... we have turned collaboration into competition. Instead of asking "how can my gift serve yours?" we ask "how can I make sure mine is noticed?"

And the culture breaks.

Point 1 — The Design of Collaboration

Point 2 — The Disease of Competition

Point 3 — The Table Has Room

POINT 1 — THE DESIGN OF COLLABORATION

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Paul opens with: "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you IGNORANT."

The Greek word for "ignorant" here is AGNOEO — ag-no-eh-o. To be without understanding of something that matters deeply.

(Greek: agnoeo — ag-no-eh-o — to be ignorant of, to not perceive, to be without understanding)

Verse 4: "Now there are DIVERSITIES of gifts, but the SAME Spirit."

The Greek word for diversities is DIAIRESIS — dee-ah-ee-res-is — a distribution, a deliberate apportioning.

(Greek: diairesis — dee-ah-ee-res-is — a distribution, a deliberate apportioning of different things for different purposes)

God did not make a mistake when He gave you your gift and gave somebody else a different one. That was deliberate. The diversity in the body is not a problem to be managed. It is a strength to be leveraged.

Verse 7: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man TO PROFIT WITHAL."

In the Greek, SUMPHERO — soom-fer-o — for the common good. For mutual benefit.

(Greek: sumphero — soom-fer-o — for the common advantage, for the profit and benefit of the whole group)