Teachers, Reachers, Preachers And Bleachers

PURPOSE- Answering God’s call

Key verses:

Ephesians 4:11-13

11: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.

12: for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

13: till we all come to the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God has appointed(“given”) these in the church; first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Romans 12:4-8

4: For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

5: so we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually member of one another.

6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith,

7: or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching,

8: he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality, he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Supporting verses:

Luke 2:46

So it was after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

49: And He said to them, “why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Ephesians 4:16

From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does it’s share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome

Key verses: Ephesians 4:11-13

1 Corinthians 12:28

Romans 12: 4-8

Now a certain someone, has mentioned that I don’t give everyone enough time to get to the scripture, so today I’m going to slow it down a bit, and I’ll repeat them to give everyone time to get there.

BODY

Last message, I read a passage in the Old Testament where the people stood in the reading of Gods word, then I forgot to ask everyone to stand! Does anyone besides me remember that?

So, in order that I don’t forget, I ‘ll ask you to stand now as we read Ephesians 4:11-13. (repeat)

Ephesians is one of my favorite books in the bible. It is just verse after verse of teaching us to build each other up, edify and love one another. It amazes me that this is the same man who was persecuting Christians while yet on the road to Damascus!

Read Ephesians 4:11-13

Pray

• Speak to us through your word Father

• Thank you for giving us spiritual gifts

• Allow your presence to transform us and unite us for your glory

• We ask that you breath life in us today

Story 1: Lisa asking how I come up with the messages and titles.

Give title of message and when it came to me.

Teachers, Reachers Preachers and Bleachers

Hopefully it’s obvious, that today’s message is about spiritual gifts from God!

Although we will consider the individual spiritual gifts, I want us to examine a couple of other elements of these passages.

Today I’d like us to look at the words gave and given, and unity.

Give illustration of “bible tracts”. They were actually a business plan, in pamphlet form.

(Go back and read Ephesians 4:11)

• Have you ever been given something, but for whatever reason, didn’t accept it?

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12:28 (repeat verse info)

In order to be “given” something, we have to “accept” it or “receive” it.

Christ “gave” His life for us, but we have to “accept” Him as Lord and Savior.

It’s the same with spiritual gifts, He Himself “gave” us spiritual gifts. It is up to us to receive them and use them to His glory!

• Let’s look at the first part of verse 28 “And God has appointed these in the church… (where) and who is the church? AMEN

Let’s look @ Ephesians 4: verse 13 again.

? Read it then ask someone to read it.

This passage is so deep and overwhelming, and it creates a vision that I can’t put into words!

In each of these translations it reads “unity of the faith”.

The Greek word for unity is “hen-O-tAz” which means “oneness”. Now hang on to that for a minute, as we look at

Romans 12:4-8. (repeat verse info)

Many gifts, one body. Oneness

1 Corinthians 12:4 also tells us “a diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit”!

Story 2: Years ago, I decided to bake a cobbler for a 4th of July picnic. I love blackberry cobbler, and I bake a fairly mean cobbler if I do say so myself! I’ve made this cobbler many many times over the last 40 years.