On Spiritual Gifts

Worship Service for June 20, 2021

WELCOME

Good morning, welcome and thanks for joining CrossPointe Community Church’s on-line worship presentation. As does the Apostle Paul in his letters to churches, I thank God for all of you and pray that as a result of participating today, you will draw closer to the Lord’s presence and grow more and more into His likeness.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Happy Father’s Day.

Thanks to all who came to the church yesterday morning to help take care of a number of things that needed to be done for some time.

Next Friday is our monthly Community Meal. Menu includes BrandenBurgers, potato salad, fruit, and for dessert; are you ready . . . root beer float cake. This meal will be served take-out only. If you’d like to help out by carrying food containers from the kitchen to the parking lot, you need to be at the church from 4:55 to about 6:10pm. Please let me know if you’ll be here.

You are all invited to come to the church on Saturday, July 10^th between noon and 4pm to help Ron and Rena Thomas celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary!

CALL TO WORSHIP

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:1-10

OPENING WORSHIP SONGS

Sing

Morgan, Reuben

It used to be darkness…without You.
I lived my life in blindness….but now I’m found.
And I’ll sing….sing….I love You so.
And I’ll sing…because the world can’t take away…
Your love.

You found me in weakness…broken.
You came to me in kindness…and now I live.
And I’ll sing….sing….I love You so.
And I’ll sing…because the world can’t take away…
Your love.
And I’ll sing….sing….I love You so.
And I’ll sing…because the world can’t take away…
Your love.

I’ll give my life…. for You Lord,
For all You’ve done
I’ll give my life…. for You Lord,
For all You’ve done
I’ll give my life…. for You Lord,
For all You’ve done
I’ll give my life…. for You Lord

And I’ll sing….sing….I love You so.
And I’ll sing…because the world can’t take away…
Your love.
And I’ll sing….sing….I love You so.
And I’ll sing…because the world can’t take away…
Your love.

©2003 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada at EMICMG Publishing.com)
CCLI License No. 1843349

Amazing Grace

Newton, John/Excell, Edwin/Rees, John P.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come.
‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,
Than when we first begun.

©Public Domain
CCLI License No. 1843349

I’m Amazed

David, Jeffery

I stand in awe at the way that You love me.
Yet with my faults…You say that You love me.
How can it be that someone so pure could love me?
How can it be that something this good is free?

I’m amazed, I am humbled,
At the way, You look at me.
I’m amazed, I am speechless,
At the way, You look at me.

I’m amazed, I am humbled,
At the way, You look at me.
I’m amazed, I am speechless,
At the way You look at me.

© 2002 ‘n touch music.
CCLI License No. 1843349

OPENING PRAYER

Oh Lord, our God, we are gathered here today from many places to offer You our sacrifice of worship. We come from different walks of life; some well-educated, others not; some have walked with you for many years, others are just starting their journey; some are strong, others weak; some are full of joy, others burdened by cares. And we take great comfort that despite our many differences, You love each of us in equal measure. You pour out Your amazing grace on us in equal measure. As we sing our hymns and songs, as we offer our treasure and our prayers, as we reflect upon Your call upon our lives through Your word, may Your Holy Spirit quicken our hearts to worship You more perfectly that Your name might be glorified in this place and in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.

THE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING

For those of you who participate in the Lord’s offering by giving through the mail, our address is P. O. Box 126, Chippewa Lake, OH, 44215.

As we consider what it mean to give, hear this word of counsel from our friend, the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth: “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure for God loves a person who gives joyfully” (9:7).

PRAYER SONG

Sing for Joy

Moen, Don

If we call to Him, He will answer us
If we run to Him, He will run to us
If we lift our hands, He will lift us up
Come now praise His name,
All you saints of God.

Sing for joy to God our strength
Sing for joy to God our strength,
Our strength.

Draw near to Him, he is here with us
Give Him your love, He’s in love with us
He will heal our hearts,
He will cleanse our hands
If we rend our hearts, He will heal our land.

Sing for joy to God our strength
Sing for joy to God our strength,
Our strength.

Sing for joy to God our strength
Sing for joy to God our strength,
Our strength.

CCLI License No. 1843349

MORNING PRAYER

Brad Winter

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this wonderful day and bringing us here safely as a family to worship you

Today we have the honor of celebrating Father’s Day. God, bless all the fathers in the world. Please guide them to be an excellent and loving role model to their wives, children, and families. Please bless our fathers with grace and patience so they can handle challenging situations in a loving and caring way.

God please inspire our time together today and every Sunday worshiping you to be the cornerstone of our week.

Cornerstone….something of great importance that everything else depends on.

Starting our week with you as our cornerstone gets us back on the right track and gives us the armor we need to fight off temptation. Beginning each day with you as our cornerstone, reading your word, spending time in devotion, and praying gives us the strength we need to get through the day.

Please bless our congregation and guide us to stay focused and to continually live and support the mission of this great church “Sharing Gods grace with our community”

We lift up in prayer those who were not able to be with us today and everyone on our prayer list. We pray for strength, healing, and mercy for each of them. We pray their faith will remain strong!

Please be with the men, women, and families of those who are serving our country through the military, public safety, and the government. Please keep them close to you, protect them and keep them safe, and guide them to make wise decisions.

Please be with our pastor today as he delivers your word. Please calm our minds and help us to understand and apply what we learn so we can become better servants.

As we depart today we pray that you will shield us from evil and empower each of us to appreciate each other, forgive those who have wronged us, focus on the great things in life, and take in the warmth and beauty of the wonderful earth you created!!!!!!!

In Jesus’ name. Amen

SCRIPTURE

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last; dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

[The word translated ‘silver’ here by the NLT is most often translated ‘talent,’
but means a measure of money. But it is almost universally agreed upon by Bible scholars that these ‘bags of silver’ represent anything we have been blessed with: money, possessions, talents, gifts, abilities.]

The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:14-30

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

SERMON

On Spiritual Gifts

Randy K’Meyer

We’ve been talking about becoming more like Jesus in the area of servanthood.

We’ve looked at the mindset of a servant championed by Paul in Romans:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

Last week we considered the attitude of a servant; humility, taking our cue from Jesus:

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Today, we are considering the tools of a servant; in short ‘spiritual gifts.’

First, let me assure you that all of you already are servants in a general sort of way.

Sometimes it helps to remember the big picture as Paul put it in our Call to Worship from Ephesians. When you became a Christian, you were called out of the world dominated by sin and raised to new life in Christ in the family of God, the Universal Church. Then you hooked up with a local church and began to hear about sanctification; that is, becoming like Jesus. You learned that selfishness was not what Jesus had in mind for His followers. You learned the value of love; looking out for the best interests of others. And now helping other people, which is serving, comes second nature to you.

You serve in this way every day, in big and small ways: perhaps helping someone with something as simple as crossing the street, or as time-consuming and strenuous as helping someone move; when you stopped to assist someone with car trouble, or offered to drive a sick person to a doctor’s appointment; when you took the time to carefully listen to another and/or offered some advice; when you took time to prepare a meal of even a cup of coffee for your spouse.

Oh, The Things We Do is a Christian hymn that we don’t sing, maybe we should, that makes the point:

Have you lifted a stone from your brother’s way
As he struggled along life’s road?
Have you lovingly touched some frail, toil-worn hand,
Shared with someone his heavy load?

Oh the things that we do, you and I, you and I,
Oh the love we can give, if we try.
Just a word or a song as we’re passing along,
They will count in the great by and by.

Have you spoken a word full of hope and cheer?
Have you walked with a slower pace?
Till the weary of heart who were stumbling on,
Took new courage to run the race?

Oh the things that we do, you and I, you and I,
Oh the love we can give, if we try.
Just a word or a song as we’re passing along,
They will count in the great by and by.

I would dare say that when you get to the sweet by and by all of you are going to hear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

But beyond generalized serving, there is also specialized serving.

Specialized serving occurs when motivated by our passions, we use the spiritual gifts God has given to us to help grow God’s Kingdom, through the church.

That’s what Paul is talking about in his letter to the Ephesians. Christ has given what he calls ‘spiritual gifts’ to His people. “He has given each one of us a special gift” (Ephesians 4:7).

Here in Ephesians 4, he lists the so-called speaking gifts: “Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers” (4:11).

But in his letters to both the Romans and Corinthians he lists many others:
from Romans 12, “preaching, teaching, encouraging, leading, showing kindness” (6-8). And from I Corinthians 12, “wisdom, knowledge, healing, discernment, tongues, and helps” (8-11, 28).

Note that these spiritual gifts are not learned talents and abilities, they are given by the Spirit. Learned talents and abilities are great and God will be glad for any of us to use our talents to enhance His Kingdom. But spiritual gifts are like icing on the cake; the difference being that there is a supernatural aspect to spiritual gifts.

How are spiritual gifts to be used? Spiritual gifts are to be used to serve. Peter clearly instructs us in his first letter to the church: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (I Peter 4:10).

In fact, I would go a step further and say that spiritual gifts are the key to serving. If God has given me the spiritual gift of teaching, doesn’t it make sense that I would be more useful for God teaching a class than preaching a sermon if I didn’t have that gift?

I think it is also important to note that Paul places the concept of spiritual gifts squarely within the context of the church.

How are those evangelists, pastors and teachers going to be used? “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church” (Eph. 4:12).

And what about when other people in the church use their gifts? “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Eph. 4:16)

Because of what Paul writes I am convinced that every church body has what it needs to become all that God has in mind for it to become. Because you see, if this concept of spiritual gifts is valued and practiced it moves the church into a higher dimension as it concerns serving the Lord, no longer based upon volunteerism, but giftedness.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate volunteers, the church wouldn’t survive very long without an army of volunteers. But when people are serving in the area of their spiritual gift(s) the church begins to click on all at eight cylinders with nary a miss. “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

What Paul is saying is that in a practical way any church body can measure its own health and efficiency by noting two things:

1. How many people have discovered their spiritual gift?
2. How many people are serving the Lord in the area of their giftedness?

As to the first measure, some people in this congregation not only know what their spiritual gift is and they are also using it to serve Christ. On the other hand, it is likely there are some who do not know. Some of us may very well be hearing of the concept of spiritual gifts for the very first time.

In either case, I have a couple of options to hone-in on this.

First, there are many on-line Spiritual Gift inventories.

You go to the website, read a series of anywhere from 80 to 120 statements, depending on which one you use, and evaluate each one on a scale of interest. For example, the inventory might say, I feel fulfilled when I have the opportunity to pray for someone’s healing. Then you have the opportunity to indicate ‘not at all,’ ‘sometimes,’ ‘often,’ or ‘always.’

When you finish, you receive information on what your top spiritual gifts might be. I say might be, because these instruments are subject to self-bias. In other words, if you fancy a certain spiritual gift, say ‘wisdom,’ you may respond in such a way that will lead to the conclusion that you have the gift of wisdom.

That’s why I have always counseled people to ask people who know them well whether or not they see that gift in you. Believe you me, your spouse will be able to confirm whether or not you have the gift of wisdom . . . lol!

If you don’t have access to the internet or would prefer, I can make you a copy of a spiritual gifts assessment I have been using for years.

In addition to knowing your spiritual gift, it is also very beneficial to know a couple other things:

1. What you are passionate about; what kind of things get your motor
   running? What areas of service motivate you?
2. What opportunities are available for you to use your gifts to serve in the church?

With this in mind, I am glad to let you know that my wife, Gail hopes to sit down and talk with you over a cup of coffee, maybe a donut and do her best to help you find the right place to plug in. In other words, it is her desire to help Jesus “make the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16).

With that in mind, a conductor was rehearsing his great orchestra. The piano was giving a beautiful melody, the drums were thundering, the trumpets were exquisite, the violins were singing beautifully. Suddenly the conductor perceived that something was missing. He threw up his arms and said, “I don’t hear piccolo?”

The piccolo player said, “I’m not that important, you don’t really need me.”

But the one with the trained ear said, “Every one of us is necessary to make this symphony all that it is meant to be.”

That’s what Jesus was talking to His disciples about in Matthew 25.

In that particular parable of the kingdom Jesus says very clearly that God has invested in all of us certain gifts, talents and abilities. But to be sure, the point of the parable is not what we have been blessed with, but how we have used what we have been blessed with. For Jesus makes it clear that God is looking for a return on His investment. He is encouraging us to get in the game, to use what we have been blessed with for His glory!

To say, ‘I am my own, what I do with my life is my business, and, therefore I really don’t wish to use what I have been given on behalf of His Kingdom’ invites disaster. For Jesus says, “even what little they have will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29). Jesus seems to be saying, “Use it or lose it.” Lose what? Not only the gift, but also the JOY of playing in the symphony of the ages!

Imagine Jesus as a conductor of a great heavenly orchestra. He is standing at His rostrum with His baton in hand, waving it back and forth in time with the music of the spheres, eliciting a cornucopia of grace-filled notes from all manner of musicians as He orchestrates the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

He is the conductor and we are the musicians, who by His grace are invited and by His Spirit enabled to participate in creating the symphony of all symphonies!

CLOSING PRAYER

[Please pray as you feel God is directing you.]

CLOSING SONG

I Give You Me

Mula, Candace

I stand amazed at Your awesomeness
That You would love and guide me
That You have taken all my sorrows
And promised me a beautiful tomorrow.
What can I say to tell You ‘Thank You’?
What can I do to show my heart?
For what You’ve done and who You are,
Oh, Lord, I give You me.

I give You me…all that I have
Not holding back…but every part.
All that I am…and hope to be,
Lord I am blessed when I give You me.

Take me all the way…until the day
We embrace…for eternity.
Take me all the way…until the day
We embrace…for eternity.

I give You me…all that I have
Not holding back…but every part.
All that I am…and hope to be,
Lord I am blessed when I give You me.

I give You me…all that I have
Not holding back…but every part.
All that I am…and hope to be,
Lord I am blessed when I give You me.

Lord I am blessed
When I give You me.

©2002 Candace Mula/Healing Place Music
CCLI License No. 1843349

BENEDICTION

Now may the God of peace — who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with His blood; may He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21