As part of my teaching the last few weeks on the Gifting of the Church and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit I thought I would ask if you were a cessationist or not. If you are, why? If you are not, why? If you don't know what this means, read the comments on this post and then decide if you are or aren't.
I have had several weeks of teachings on the gifting of the church and authority in my daily messages. Next week we will continue searching the authority God gives us and the gifting God gives us. Any thoughts or comments?
The Gifting of the Church Part 5
This is the fifth and final part of this series. This week we will follow up last week’s article on verse 15. Those verses gave us some thoughts on growing up in the Lord. This week we will review verse 16 and conclude this brief study about the gifting of the church.
Ephesians 4:11-16 – 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The gifting of the church is essential to mature us and to draw folks together. It is also part of what unifies the Body. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Recently I began to work out at the gym and started playing basketball once again – I hadn’t played much at all since a friend of mine died 5-6 feet from me playing. I must admit that there are lots of sore muscles and aches and pains. Hot showers and I are good friends. My muscles and ligaments and joints are being taxed and I hope, growing and getting stronger. It has not been easy, and we won’t even speak about the knees. But as I lose weight and start to get in better shape (I know round is a shape – I said so in a message – but not a desired shape) the aches and pains are getting less and sleep has returned – lol.
The gifting of the church is to build the church up. In the 16th verse we are told the gifting is to build up the Body in love. We are built up so that every part may do its task. That is why I am working out in the gym, so that every part will continue to be able to do what it is supposed to do. Our spiritual workouts, our daily journey will be enhanced by the gifting of the church.
I want to return to the first verse of this study. 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
These leaders in the church are supposed to be building us up in our faith journey so that we might be held together in love and faithfulness. If we get out of order and begin to glorify the gifted rather than the gift giver, we have it out of balance. As a pastor, I want respect as Dione will write about this week, but I do not want to be placed on a high place and glorified. Pastors, Apostles, Teachers, Evangelists, Prophets and others are supposed to be used as servants of the people, of the Body of Christ.
There are other gifts and other blessings for the church body. It is a gift of God to be hospitable, to be a person of mercy, to have a deep abiding faith. It is a gift from God, a Spiritual gift, to be able to discern spirits, to be used of God to heal, to perform miracles, to speak a Word from the Lord.
All of these and more are to be used to build the church in unity and strength. Too many times they are used to divide and separate. Pray about the gifting of the church and see what God tells you.
Of those who responded to a recent poll about the budget shortfall 45% said we should pray more and trust God while 31% said we should increase our giving.
Of those that responded 36% said they wanted to get announcements through E-Mail, 27% said through the E-News, while 19% said verbally.
Of those who responded 42% didn't know what the Apocrypha was and 40% said we shouldn't use it while 18% said we should.
We have voted - of those who voted - 27% said a series on maturing disciples, 14% each for Christian Walk and Spiritual Gifts and the next top vote getter was 10% for both Essential Doctrines and Blessings of God.
We're having a homecoming July 6 and we want it to be the best possible and an annual event associated with our church-wide picnic.
We will need the help of all to make this a great event.
We will need the names and addresses (e-mail and snail mail) of all former members and pastors. Do you know any? Please e-mail them to me (ray@mtoak.org) so we can include everyone. Especially former youth pastors and interns that many may not have kept track of but you have.
We're forming a group to help with this. Are you interested?
The Gifting of the Church Part 4
This is the fourth part of this series – I think there will be five parts. This week we will follow up last week’s article on verse 14. Those verses gave us one result of the gifting of the church. Today we will look at a second, verse 15.
Ephesians 4:11-16 – 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
When God gifts us we are to use that gifting to uplift and serve the Body of Christ. Verse 14 told us last week that the results of using the gifting properly are; we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. The gifting of the church then is to give the people of God a foundation and secure hold on truth.
Instead of being tossed around we, the church, should be standing strong in the face of all attacks. The gifting of the church is supposed to enable us to stand strong. A young adult has Stay Strong on his e-mails and text messages. The gifting of the church enables us to stay strong.
Instead of being blown about we should stand strong, speaking the truth in love. If we do this we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. I want to grow up in Jesus. If the gifting of the church will help me grow up in Christ, I want all that God has for me and for the church. I don’t want to remain an infant in Christ but would rather mature in my faith and in my walk.
Instead of being tossed from side to side by the waves of life, Christ can teach us to walk on the waves. Instead of being thrown by this temptation and that one, Christ can mature us and give us victory over temptations.
I Love Lucy came in first amongst pollsters! We had 50% vote for I Love Lucy and 25% voted for my personal favorite, Andy Griffith. Other vote getters were Leave It to Beaver, 11%, Beverly Hillbillies, 9% and Dennis the Menace, 1%.
A recent poll disclosed that our favorite fast food place is Chick-fil-a with 33% of the votes. The younger crowd pulled out a late surge by Taco Bell, 16% while the old standard, McDonald's came in third at 12%. A write in vote for another brand (other) received 9%.
In a recent poll 83% of the respondents said they felt over weight. I pray for myself and for each of us! Twelve percent said they felt just right weight wise while 3% said they were under weight.
In a recent poll we selected 91.9 FM as our favorite Christian FM radio station with 62% of the votes. Our second and third selections were 105.1 (15%) and 95.1 (13%). Three people selected other stations to the choices I have - 91.9, 95.1, 104.1, 105.1 and 107.9. What other stations are out there?
In a recent poll 95% of the respondents said they were willing to serve the Lord through a ministry at Mt. Oak. Praise the Lord. There are an abundance of opportunities.
Of the respondents, 87% said they would appreciate a church wide study in the fall.
In our recent poll 56% of the respondents had it right - our Easter worship attendance was 565.
This is the third part of this series – I’m not sure yet how many parts there will be. This week we will follow up last week’s article on verses 12-13. Those verses gave us a purpose for the gifting of the church and today I want to write about the result of the gifting of the church as we take a look at verse 14. Ephesians 4:11-16 – 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. The gifting of the church is so we might glorify the Lord we saw last week. When God gifts us we are to use that gifting to uplift and serve the Body of Christ. And verse 14 tells us some the results, then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. The gifting of the church then is to give the people of God a foundation and secure hold on truth. Remember the church Jason spoke about in his message Sunday, Laodicea? They were lukewarm, many of them, not firmly grounded in their faith (hot). They were swayed to and fro with this belief and the next. Paul also had a heart for them and strived to ground them in the truth. Colossians 2:1-8 – 1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. The church is gifted in order to give her a foundation and a secure hold on truth. We’re told to continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith. This is the result of the proper use of the gifting of the church. Paul writes about the result of the gifting of the church in Ephesians - then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. He writes about the gifting in Colossians this way - See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Without the gifting of the church we would be helpless it seems against the practices of the world and of ungodly persons who would use vain human philosophy rather than the truth of God.The Gifting of the Church Part 3
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