EQUIPPED For The Workshop
Introduction
“In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools. There are tools on the junk pile: outdated, broken, dull, rusty. They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling. There are tools on the anvil: melted down, molten hot, moldable, changeable. They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling. There are tools of usefulness: sharpened, primed, defined, mobile. They lie ready in the blacksmith’s tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.
Some people lie useless: lives broken, talents wasting, fires quenched, dreams dashed.They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose. Others lie on the anvil: hearts open, hungry to change, wounds healing, visions clearing. They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith’s hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called. Others lie in their Master’s hands: well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive. They respond to their Master’s forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all.
We are all somewhere in the blacksmith’s shop. We are either on the scrap pile, in the Master’s hands, on the anvil, or in the tool chest. (Some of us have been in all three.) From the shelves to the workbench, from the water to the fire…I’m sure that somewhere you will see yourself.” (Lucado)
Today, we begin a new series of messages. We spent a few months talking about the 8 “ones” - principles
that bring us together in unity from Ephesians 4. We followed that by seven Holy Habits that we add to our faith - helping us to grow in commitment and love. Today we want to put all of that to work for the Kingdom. Romans 12 says God has given us gifts to do the work He’s called us to. God gives to each of us spiritual gifts by which the body of Christ is supported and sustained. Our text for this series is Romans 12:6-8, but before we get down to the specifics, I want us to see the church as God’s workshop, where we can be used to accomplish His will. In Romans 12:1-2 - God wants us to be transformed, changing our thinking to be in tune with his. He then speaks of the church as a body - and this image reminds us that the church is God’s workshop - He is at work within each of us and through each of us.
1. A Warning for the Workshop
Romans 12:3 “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Something Paul wanted to warn the Roman church about is something he wrote about to other churches as well. Pride is a divider - humility is a uniter. Two ways this happens:
-We think too highly of our gift/talent, and think it’s better than everyone else’s!
-We fail to use our talent, thinking other people’s is more important or valuable than ours.
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul offers a more thorough explanation of the relationship of the members within the local body of Christ. In the Corinthians church, the spiritual gifts were leading to division, showing off, jealousy, and confusion. Paul writes them with warnings to avoid these reactions and instead pursue peace.
Michael Fox condenses this into three principles:
-The members of the body are united in spirit, that is, Purpose. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).
-Do not minimize your own function - your own worth - within the body (1 Cor 12:15-20).
-Do not minimize the function of other members - their worth - within the body (1 Corinthians 12:21-27).
Humility is a great strength that leads to great unity and great work together. Henry Augustus Roland was a professor of physics at Johns Hopkins University. He was once called as an expert witness at a trial. During cross-examination, a lawyer demanded, “What are your qualifications as an expert witness in this case?” The normally modest and retiring professor replied quietly, “I am the greatest living expert on the subject under discussion.” Later, a friend well acquainted with Rowland’s disposition expressed surprise at the professor’s uncharacteristic answer. Rowland answered, “Well, what did you expect me to do? I was under oath!”
Philippians 2:3-4 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
Paul: “Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
Ray Stedman says when he gets up in the morning, he tries to remember three things:
-I am made in the image of God. I have an ability within me, given by God Himself, to relate to God.
-I am filled with the Spirit of God. I didn’t deserve it in the least.
-I am part of the plan of God and what I do today has purpose and significance and meaning.
He said that gives him confidence without conceit.
“In the eyes of God, no one gift is more important than any other; there is no place for pride, for none of us can function properly without the whole.” - Grant Osborne
2. A Perspective for our Purpose
Romans 12:4-5 "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."
This is one of Paul’s favorite images for the church - we are a body. This recognizes significant truths:
-We are made up of many parts - and the church also is made up of many talents.
-Each of our body parts has a specific purpose - each member of the church has a talent that can be used to glorify God within the church.
-The parts of our body are united and belong together - as a church, we belong together, supporting, helping, serving, loving, and bringing God’s beauty into the Family.
-We need every part of our body - and we need everybody in the church.
3. Equipped for Excellence
Romans 12:6 "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…"
God has equipped us to serve him with excellence. In the 1 Corinthians 12 passage we referenced earlier, the Holy Spirit is the giver of gifts and every Christian has a gift. God hasn’t left us on our own to try to be the Body of Christ, he has EQUIPPED us for excellence through His Holy Spirit!
“The Holy Spirit has gifted every one of us and wants to do amazing things through us to expand the kingdom, strengthen the body, and serve the hurting world.” (David Owens)
The church is God’s workshop and he has equipped us to be at work in His will.Ephesians 2:10 (RSV) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Conclusion
The New Testament lists spiritual gifts in several places—Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter David Owens is right: the apostles weren’t giving us a complete list. They were showing us the many ways the Spirit works through ordinary people.
In the blacksmith’s shop, some tools are rusting in the junk pile. Some are on the anvil, being reshaped. Some are sharp and ready in the Master’s hand. Where are you?
If you’re in the scrap pile, God can restore you. If you’re on the anvil, stay there—He’s shaping you for something good. If you’re in His hand, stay sharp and ready.
Next week, we’ll open the tool chest and look at specific ways God equips us. But don’t wait until then. The workshop is open today. The Master is ready today. Let’s not sit in the corner gathering dust. Let’s let Him put us to work for His glory.
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Discussion Questions
1. Thinking about the blacksmith’s workshop image, what makes it difficult for someone to move from the “scrap pile” to the “anvil” or from the “anvil” to the “tool chest”?
2. What does it mean to be “available to the Master”? How do we cultivate that readiness?
3. Are spiritual gifts the same as natural talents? Is there any relation between them?
4. Why do you think Paul begins his teaching on spiritual gifts with a warning about pride? What are some subtle ways pride can show up in a church setting?
5. Why do you think God gave *different* gifts instead of giving all believers the same abilities?
6. Ray Stedman’s morning reminder includes identity, indwelling, and purpose. Which of those do you need to
remember more often? Why?
7. How does Paul’s picture of the church as a “body” help you value others more? What is one way you’ve seen another believer’s gift bless the whole church?
8. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship. How does that truth inspire you to serve?
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Resources
Barclay, William B. Daily Study Bible Series: Romans. Westminster Press, Revised Edition, 1977.
Damiani, Pat. Using My Spiritual Gifts.
https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/using-my-spiritual-gifts-pat-damiani-sermon-on-spiritual-gifts-262766
Deffenbaugh, Bob. Thinking Straight about Spiritual Gifts
https://bible.org/seriespage/30-thinking-straight-about-spiritual-gifts-romans-123-8
Lucado, Max. The Blacksmith’s Shop. https://godandidotblog.wordpress.com/2020/09/28/the-blacksmiths-shop-upwords-september-28/
Osborne, Grant R. IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Romans. InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Reaves, Bradford. Living Sacrifices: Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives.
https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/living-sacrifices-transforming-minds-transforming-lives-dr-bradford-reaves-sermon-on-transformation-286029
Stedman, Ray. Who Am I, Lord? https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/romans/who-am-i-lord
Yarbrough, Robert W. ESV Commentary Series: Romans - Galatians. Crossway, 2020.
