Saved For Service Series

Text: Ephesians 2:8-10

Title: Saved for Service

Introduction

Today we are beginning a new sermon series on “Discovering your SHAPE.” How God has uniquely shaped each one of us for service.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

These are 3 great verses because they refute two of Satan’s biggest lies.

Lie # 1. In order to be saved you must do a certain number of good works

The truth is we are not saved by our works. (v8-9)

•No place is that said more clearly than in Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works so that no one can boast.

•It is the work done by Christ on the cross that saves us.

•Salvation is a gift of God. (Gifts by definition are always free)

If I try to do any work in order to get my salvation it no longer becomes a gift.

Lie #2. Now that you are saved you don’t have to do any good works

The truth is we are saved for service/works (v10)

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

•“Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:20)

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

God preferred method of doing things is always through a person not a program. For example;

When its time to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt God raises up Moses

When its time to bring the people into the Promised Land God raises up Joshua

When its time to take down Goliath God raises up David

When its time to rebuild the city of Jerusalem God raises up Nehemiah

When its time to save the world God raises up Jesus

When its time to get the Gospel out into the Roman world God raises up Paul

Examples from modern times

Billy Graham/ Mother Theresa/ Dr. James Dobson

•Just as importantly we are not only saved for service; we are also shaped for service

Going back to Eph. 2:10…”For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We are shaped for service because

1. We are God’s workmanship

2. We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works

The word “created” means “we are designed with certain abilities, capabilities or the necessary capacity to do the good works" which God has already prepared in advance for us to do.

God has shaped each one of us in a unique way on purpose so that we can do the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So in the next several weeks we are going to look at our unique SHAPE. You may be familar with Rick Warren’s great insight on how he has developed a way of helping us remember our Shape.

Spiritual gifts – God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in

ministry

Heart – another word for heart is passion

Abilities

Personality

Experiences

What we will do for the next several weeks is look at the life of Philip (Acts 6-8)and by seeing just how God shaped him in these 5 ways for ministry the same God also shaped you and me.