Shaped For Service Series

Paul says we are ONLY SERVANTS... God is working in our world today, through you and me.

• we are simply His servants.

• Some plants, some waters, God brings the growth.

• We may be doing different things, but we have ONE purpose - to work well

• We are God’s fellow workers

All of us will be rewarded - according to each own labour

• How much reward do you think you have now in heaven?

This passage tells us 2 things:

1. Each Contribution Is Critical - You are saved to serve

2. Each Contribution Is Unique - You are uniquely shaped for this purpose

1. YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS CRITICAL

Will the plant grow if it isn’t planted? No. Will it grow if no-one waters it? No.

 What if the waterer waters a different piece of soil and ignores the bit where the seeds are? The seed won’t grow then either.

 Both are vital tasks. Paul would say neither one is more important.

 They are in fact fellow servants of the one God. Equal in importance and value.

It’s complementary. You are needed.

 That’s why Jesus emphasized so much on UNITY. His priestly prayer was about unity.

 Without this, the Body is unhealthy and cannot grow. The church cannot grow.

 Not only must Paul and Apollos works, they must complement one another.

You were put on earth to make a CONTRIBUTION

• Do you believe this, that you’re someone that the world needs?

• The Bible says we are someone the Church needs - all members of the Body and greatly needed.

• Do you really believe that you can make a CONTRIBUTION; that without you we’re deprived?

• You have to believe this yourself, before you can really serve!

Acts 13:36 "For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.

You weren’t created just to consume resources - to eat and take up space.

• In God’s Kingdom, you have a place - a purpose, a role, a function to fulfil.

• We owe Jesus our lives; therefore to serve Him is a natural outflow of that new life.

• Paul did not even talk about a CHOICE - it was assumed that each of us has a task to do.

Rick Warren: "We are saved to serve."

• So the big question is: "Whose needs am I meeting today? Whose needs have I met yesterday?"

• Bro/sis, for many of us, the real need is not for us to attend a Bible Study... we already know far more than we are putting into practice.

• What we need probably is to SERVE SOMEONE. Talk to newcomers who steps into KT. Chat with someone who is sitting alone during lunch. Help an elderly member walk up the stairs.

• Testimony - Zhi Ying - helping church choir, but take time to mingle with others, share with people, encourage others. That’s really not "her job". Making this her home.

You see, we’re all important members of God’s workforce.

 Strictly speaking, there shouldn’t be full-time or part-time Christians in the Church.

 Some of us are the ones who plant the seed of the gospel, through our words or our acts of compassion. Others water the seed - through encouragement, sharing… that’s why your presence at fellowship is important (it’s not about getting, it’s about giving.)

 But without all of those tasks being accomplished by you and me the plant won’t thrive.

 It’s not just Paul’s problem. It’s not just Apollos’ problem. It’s part-Paul, part-Apollos.

Your contribution is important, and God is looking out for that.

Frankly, serving is not our natural inclination.

• Most of the times we are more interested in "serve me" rather than "service".

• "I’m looking for a church that meets my needs and blesses me," not "I’m looking for a place to serve and be a blessings." For many, not all... they church hop because of this! I don’t church hop to find a place where they need my help.

• Missionaries have a different mindset - they gravitate to the place where the need is greatest - Third world countries. They spent years learning the language. Few will come to Singapore.

You are going to give your life for something - whether you like it or not, you’re giving your life away... for something.

• What will it be - a career, a sport, a hobby...?

None of these will have lasting significance, until you factor God’s Kingdom into the picture.

• God wants to use you to make a difference in His world, in someone’s life. He wants to work through you.

• What matters is not the DURATION of your life, but the DONATION of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.