1. John Ortberg tells about a carpenter in San Francisco who is a disciple of Jesus. For years he felt inferior as a disciple because he was “just” a blue collar worker. He had not fancy degrees. He had not special gifts of teaching. Then one day it dawned on him that if Jesus could be a carpenter (builder) then it would be acceptable for him and he began using his building skills to serve God by serving others. He prayed for wisdom and opportunities and then launched into his work. He purchased his building supplies with a credit card that gave him air miles. He would pay off his card when he was paid for his jobs and then turned his air miles into tickets to fly to impoverished areas. There he would help people build houses, etc. to the glory of God.
a. There were builders/craftsmen for the Tabernacle and Temple who were gifted by God for that task
b. Artistic crafts-people have a place in the kingdom of God
2. Today we are providing ways for you to determine Ministries in which you can serve God by serving others
3. Ministry Fair and Involvement Forms
4. Luke 6:20-38
I. Do We Choose to be Willing or Wanting? Contributors or Consumers? Luke 6:20-23
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
A. The Willing Contributors Experience:
1. Little Finances
2. Little Food
3. Little Fun
4. Little Friendship
Luke 6:24-26
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
B. The Wanting Consumers Experience:
1. Many Finances
2. Much Food
3. Much Fun
4. Many Friendships
C. Are You a Willing Contributor or Wanting Consumer?
1. If I had money/talents/
2. It’s not about amounts, it is about attitude – Widow in Luke 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Peter and Lame Beggar Acts 3:6 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
II. The Willing Contributors Understand:
A. Giving on a Higher Level – Luke 6:27-30
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
Choose: What Must I do? What Does God want me to do? or What does God want to do through me?
B. Giving Beyond Expectation Luke 6:31
31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
C. The Principle of Sowing and Reaping
1. Sowing and Reaping is not Trading
2. It IS Giving with No Expectations
3. Only then does God reward – Luke 6:32-36
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
1. Tchaikovsky put a sign on his gate which read, “Visiting hours Monday and Tuesday between 3 and 5 pm. I am a composer. This is how I’m going to bless the world – not by idle conversation.” He knew his purpose and lived his life to the fullest according to that purpose.
2. What’s your purpose? How are you fulfilling your purpose?
3. It takes a willingness to let God work through you to fulfill HIS and YOUR purpose in the world.
**Prayer Circles
Think about a formal or informal Ministry in which you feel God wants you to serve. Pray:
LORD, You are fulfilling Your purpose for this world in the life and ministry of Jesus. Help me to fulfill your purpose for me through ___________________________________.
