CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYBODY, ALL YEAR LONG!
--Love, God
1 Peter 4:10-11
(This was for “Family Sunday” at our church and the sermon, though part of an ongoing series on growing a healthy church, was designed more for the many young children that would be in attendance.)
“The last time we had family Sunday, each of you had a seed and we talked about how God makes those seeds grow into all kinds of plants, depending on the kind of seed they are. We also talked about how the church is kind of like a seed: God will make it grow, but like all plants, there are things we can do to make it healthy, or things that will make it sick.” (I used a large painted poster, done by one of our youth, showing a tree with 8 roots feeding it. The roots correspond to the “8 Quality Characteristics” of a healthy church, as found in “Natural Church Development” by Christian Schwarz.)
Now, for you children that are part of our “KidMo” Sunday School program, you know that after each lesson you get questions for your team competition. So, here is your question: (which side of the church will answer correctly?!)
What makes a church grow?
A. Lots and Lots of Rain
B. A really Large Llama name Burt
C. Yoghurt
D. God
YES!! You all did good (so I hand out “hugs” to each person . . . we are a smaller church. Not recommended for mega churches . . . )
But there are also things that we can do to help God’s church be healthy. Let’s take a look at 1 Peter 4:10-11 and see one thing (of many) that we CAN do!
10 God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully. 11 If you speak, you should do it like one speaking God’s very words. If you serve, you should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ.
Give him the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
What is this scripture about? “Gifts!” “Grace” (itself a gift) USE them! For others!
So,
Which of these things can we do to help serve God?
A. Feed everybody seaweed and mustard
B. Go to bed at 5:26 p.m.
C. Use the gifts God gave us to help people
D. Stand on our head and blow our nose
BIG IDEA: When we use God’s gifts to serve others. . . we help God’s church!
1. God gives gifts to his people (COOL, what’s mine?)
10 God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift
Now, the best gift we get is absolutely Jesus!
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23)
And we not only get him, but we can share him with others.
Now, Some gifts, God packs in our suitcases when we are born.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
OBJECT: Get a suitcase (or three . . . ) and use it to show things God gives us. (crayons/artistic talent, writing tablet—gift for communication, Cowboy hat—adventuresome, confident and able to lead others, etc. These or similar ideas I got from Max Lucado’s great little book: “Cure for the Common Life.”)
Other gifts, He gives us when we become part of his family, the church (some say when we are “born again,”—when we decide to follow him and be baptized in Jesus’ name.
(Look at the PowerPoint, each shows the word, pages from Sermon Central’s own powerpoints, along with pictures that illustrate it)
• Mercy
• Teaching
• Helping
• Healing
• Giving
• Tongues
• Encouragement
OBJECT: Use the adjustable white table. Ask for three volunteers to stand behind the table and give them each Use the three to give out an apple, hammer, nail/board. (more later)
Remember: All of these he has given us, show his love, and make us unique
2. God wants us to use them (COOL again, but how?)
(use it~! But be faithful in it!)
These gifts are kind of like tools, that are to be used, how they are designed.
Nail Apron/Magnet: “Stray Nail Finder”
llFirst, remember to look for ways to use them.
OBJECT: Show how each gift has a purpose:
• An apple is for _______.
• A hammer is for __________.
• A nail and board are to _________.
None of us ARE hammers and nails, etc, but we are “tools” that God uses. The gifts he gives us are to be used like tools to help others.
To illustrate how our gifts might work together—think of this scene at a potluck dinner . . .
At our potluck at our upcoming Harvest Party, suppose someone dropped a plate full of Broccoli Casserole on the new floor in the gym. This is how people with different gifts would respond.
Gift of prophecy – I told you that was going to happen!
Gift of service - Oh, let me help you clean it up.
Gift of teaching - The reason that it fell was because it was too heavy on one side.
Gift of encouragement/exhortation – you sure do a great job getting the food ON your plate! I’ll bet using two hands to carry out will help KEEP IT on . . .
Gift of giving - Here, you can have my plate of food . . .
Gift of mercy – Don’t feel too bad. It could have happened to anyone
Gift of administration - Lucas, would you get the mop? Soyoon, please help pick this up. Janet, could you get him another plate.
Gift of healing: Heavens! Did you break your leg?
We’ve all been gifted differently and so we act differently and we serve differently.
(adapted by an illustration from sermon central, using Korean food and a bit different dialogue on some)
DON’T MISUSE THEM!!!!
• Try to nail with the apple
• Try to cut with the hammer
• Try to eat the board . . .
o Then say “give them the apple to eat”
(have fun with this. . . the kids really get into it. The apple looks all nasty . . . then give it for someone to eat . . .etc)
What do you think happens when we try to do things we aren’t made for? (responses)
Like . . .
• We get frustrated (we just aren’t made to do this job!)
• Others get frustrated (we do a bad job)
• Others that have that gift won’t do the job because we are hogging it, even though we are not good at it.
Secondly, don’t be upset about the gifst you have, or compare with others (give examples, like jealousy over of the musical skills of others, etc.
God gave them, and he gives only good gifts.
He only asks that we are faithful in using them.
3. God helps people with our gifts
(Yes, COOL again, God is sooo loving!)
God really loves the people he has made.
• And he knows we have lots of needs.
i. Tired, overworked, sad, questions about life, confused about scripture, etc
• He uses us to meet each others needs (and he does stuff on his own, too).
• That means if we don’t use it, someone won’t be helped.
• That means if we aren’t around others, they can’t help us very well!
No one is supposed to be a loner. God doesn’t want his people to stay “broken”. He is a loving Father!
OBJECT: A hungry person doesn’t get fed if we keep the apple. A nail doesn’t get hammered if we keep the hammer. Get apples for every one and napkins. Some will get apples, other, napkins. Maybe a knife and cutting board. [this didn’t work out so well, but the idea was to get everbody in the congregation working together to supply what was needed. Some thought on this, and it could be a neat experiential moment. Or you could prep people ahead of time to share how others have helped them with a gift of theirs.)
4. God gets the glory when we use our gifts (Of COURSE! He deserves it!)
The Gifts we get, are just that: gifts!
• Gifts of Grace.
• Gifts with a purpose.
• But all are from God. And they are to be used to bring glory to him. It teaches us about how good he is, and how he loves us, and we remember that anything we get that is good is from him. This world is a tough place. And people can be very selfish and proud. When we use our gifts the way God wants us to use them, and when we remember that he gives us the strength and opportunity TO use them, we sing his praises: “thank you God, for using me!” “Thank you God, for helping me by using . . .” (and they will praise God in heaven . . . sermon on the mount.
Apples are sometimes used for encouragement: shout out how God uses people you know here in different ways . . .
• (Name and what they did!)
o Then all say: We Praise you oh God!!!!!!!!!
[at this point I showed a graphic from Max Lucado’s “Cure for the Common Life” that shows three overlapping circles. Each one is labeled: “My Strength”, “Used in Everyday Life”, “for God’s Glory.” Where these three elements converge, is our “sweet spot”. It is where we are living out how God made us, and it is GOOOOOD!!]
(Close with this quote
How “God gave me a gift,
not for me but for you,
and God gave you a gift,
not for you but for me.
If you don’t use your gift,
you’re depriving me;
if I don’t use my gift,
I’m robbing you.”
-----------------------Rick Warren
How will you use YOUR Gift, (show Monroe Christian Church picture . . .)
