Sermon – The Body of Christ’s Gifts – Romans 12

Feb 8 | The Body as Christ’s Presence | Romans 12:3–8

Humble Service in the Body of Christ 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

SERMON:

Many times I have asked myself in this life – “why am I here, Lord?” – how did I get here – what is my purpose in this particular situation – let alone life – and there must be a point for my situation or even times we have thorns in our sides for pain or praise or ??? And surely we all wonder this on occasion. My favorite go-to scripture is James 1 – perseverance – and yes – PRAISE…

We have to remember that God loves us – God saves us – God has a job for us – God is not just making children out of rocks, which He could, but He made us for a purpose – to be loved – to love Him – to serve Him by serving others – and LOVE as we are LOVED… God loves us and God is LOVE so how can He do or be anything else.

The Psalmist of psalm 56 was in despair when He was looking for God to save Him from terrible enemies – “For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?” WELL – if God can save people (including us from tragedy over and over again) – and make real miracles all around us – then surely how much MORE He is able to give us gifts in the first place – to make us into His people – and to equip us with skills to serve – remember that great phrase: God does not call the equipped – He equips the called. YEAH! He will give us what He wants from us – just as He has given us life now and forever – by looking to Him for these gifts.

So today I am talking about what we can give of ourselves – but not because we are being stolen from – or over-achieving – but simply give in HUMBLE SERVICE – like we have these skills/life-direction because God gave us these things – like a potluck of life but much much more divine and much much more ample… God doesn’t make mistakes – so He gave us each gifts – many gifts!!!

Last week in the sermon (given by —-) – she spoke about Paul telling the Corinthians that: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit – different kinds of service, but the same Lord ^–different kinds of working given from the Manifestation of the Spirit – given for the common good – wisdom, knowledge faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, or the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

And now – we are talking about how Paul did say to the Romans (12:3-8 NIV) – that the Lord has a role for EACH OF US – BECAUSE we are in ONE BODY – of the LORD’S purposes –- about taking stock of your life in faith and realize that we do have the ability to be in Humble Service in the Body of Christ.

REMEMBER THE IN FAITH PART – THAT WE CAN’T JUST SHLUFF OFF THE GIFTS – OR THAT WE ARE NOT WORTHY – BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO MAKES US WORTHY TO HAVE THESE GIFTS AND USE THEM – AND WE ARE HERE ON EARTH AS PART OF THAT ONE BODY – YES ALL OF US… Remember God uses the term that we are the BRIDE of the Church – being made ready for our Groom.

PAUL WOULD SAY: think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ^—- in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

And I have slides this morning – props too – but first slides – because I gave a talk previously that pertains so much and wanted to share these imagery prompts again…

Yeah – and I love this image on this first slide – because I loved being in this mix – this is vacation bible school (I think Maker Fun Factory) so many years ago now – maybe almost 10 years ago (life is a blur isn’t it) BUT LIFE IS WITH DISTINCT MOMENTS – AND EACH ONE OF US IN THE BODY OF CHRIST – called together each part to live out a Christian Life. This drone picture is the view from the top – God sees us both together and each individual. And as God knows us inside and out – He has a place for us.

Paul would say in his letter to the first Corinthians: that there is both UNITY and DIVERSITY in the Body verse 12: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

—

YES – in my next slide – remember UNITY AND DIVERSITY –

I love this photo imagery of all these people together – again a view from the top – WE ALL FIT TOGETHER LIKE PUZZLE PIECES – AND JESUS WILL HUNT ALL THE EARTH AND UNDER THE TABLE FOR THE FALLEN PUZZLE PIECES.

(Point to the slide) The one body of the church is made for love and for work – and includes lay people and clergy who support each other; individuals and groups who can impact society; families for Christian nurture and training; people of all kinds!

Paul says “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ and have put on Christ there is neither Jew or Greek, neither slave nor free, no make and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

—

And next slide – remembering why: we are here to fulfill the great commission – and there is no quiz but I wanted to bring in these great Greek words for who we are together as the church:

(point to the slide) Koinonia is community caring and grace filled – where people can find wholeness – Kerygma is how the church proclaims the good news of Jesus – and Diakonia – is how the church shares God’s Grace in acts of love and service – it is a balanced triangle pictured here – community, proclamation, and service.

AND IN MY NEXT SLIDE – WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW THIS ALL GOES TOGETHER – WE HAVE TO SAY “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL” – that is how we can do the things we are supposed to do – and are gifted to do – and will love to do

(point to the slide) – as the Body of Christ – we can focus on a need that we see – we should be identifying our gifts –

and we are not in this alone – when you know you have something to share – there is no need to go alone – it is best to see the support of others – and yes – work as a team…

I add the holy spirit dove depiction there because we are NOT doing this on our own steam – we really can and do and want to rely on the Holy Spirit to put us where He wants us to be – where we can be God’s Hands and Feet in the situation – let the Lord place us. One of my favorite songs: “Come Holy Spirit – Fall Afresh on me…”Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me – Fill Me With Your Power”

—

AND WHAT ABOUT THIS BODY OF CHRIST – I USE THIS JOKE OF THE OPERATION GAME WHERE YOU TAKE OUT THE PARTS – BUT LET US THINK IN REVERSE – PUT YOUR GIFTS INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST!

Let us remember our specific scripture this morning – we all have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

AND AS FOR A PROP TODAY – I WANT US TO THINK OF THESE GIFTS – how do we figure out our gifts – there are many spiritual gift “inventories” – read Tozer quote:

PROPHESIZING – do you have this gift? I would think it is only a few – but we do see it in the old testament and new testament – and so it must still exist today – Deborah the Judge – whom I appreciate in the old stories was able to tell folks that “God has got this” – and that is my favorite testimony prophesy – God has got this – all of it…

So what about you? Prophesy or SERVING or TEACHING or ENCOURAGING or GIVING or LEADING? How about SHOWING MERCY – WITH CHEER – that is an unique one – really – we have the ability to maybe let someone cut in front of us in line and then let that roll off our shoulders – and be grateful that we have the extra time to have someone go ahead of us – just a simple example – but it happens – and mercy is a big word in God’s vocabulary – mercy is NOT giving us the punishment we deserve – wow – and thank you Jesus for your ability to impart forgiveness and gain us God’s Mercy over our sin and death…

So let us take these gifts in love and do an activity to close with discussion – I have hearts of these gifts – and heart stickies – for you to write on and keep – let us first fill up the cross with our gifts – I handed out the large ones – could folks please affix them to the cross? Acknowledging that God gives us gifts to share and He went all the way to the cross to take our sins away so that we have no reason not to share His goodness of gifts.

[open for discussion and people sharing with each other in the church]

And with the small sticky note hearts – let us take one – and write down both a gift that we believe we have and perhaps one that you feel God is trying to develop in you – bring it out of you – for many reasons – including sharing and being in service to the whole body of all of us – both to the CHURCH known and the people who don’t know JESUS… so write both of them to keep on the heart – and please if you feel led, share… feel free to speak of why – no pressure but a chance to share… (I will start – with encouragement – that is a gift I realized long ago that God gave me – yes teaching too – but encouragement because I think that people do know what to do just need a little encouragement… and then for God trying to bring something more out of me – well leadership – I know He pushes me into leadership – I have to take it more often than I do… OK, how about you???)

Wrap up prayer – Lord – thank you for the opportunity to take stock and take of your Spirit – and share and know and be – thank You Lord for Your Love and Your gifts – and how we are to manifest them totally as a body of Christ!

Thank You Lord for all these beautiful souls here – and for those who couldn’t make it today – and also for the people in the world whom you are calling but ask us to help with this proclamation – these acts of service – and this community – AMEN

Benediction – Please everyone be safe and be warm and share the warmth of the Lord out there with the body parts that we are trying to keep warm in His Love – thank you Lord for this opportunity – may we all realize your blessings – AMEN and have a great day!

Keep Warm – with LOVE

I am not snowed in yet because it has not yet started to snow – but it is cold and I do plan to warm up today with a trip to a beautiful greenhouse conservatory around here – just the right warm up that I will appreciate… Continuing my reading of my distant relative’s memoirs after WW2, when he was a forced laborer – it is tough to read their plight – it was COLD – and they were not taken care of more than slightly elevated slave labor – and yet my relative as a skilled worker was as careful as he could be – one to keep his head down but chin up in survival mode – he did escape after the Dresden bombings – went south on foot and by train/trams occasionally – made it home. He got help from friends, family and strangers.

But the story from the factory? and the people? wow!!! And being in survival mode is different for everyone – but in remembering how we make it though – we are to remember that others are travelling with us… King Solomon in his Ecclesiastes poetry tells us that we are better together – and even best with God there too – that is the third in the threefold cord between friends.

The Value of a Friend – verses 9-12 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Let us stay warm today and bring warmth to others – bring the strength of the Lord into your situation too. Selfish toil will bring us nothing – as King Solomon states – but “vanity” and “grasping for the wind“… Even striving for popularity is also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

And so it is better to share what we have with a friend – and LOVE each other.

Let us use COLD temperatures to remember to bring the warmth ourselves to invigorate us to keep moving and keep loving.

Amen

—

And remembering his “friends”, my relative in the labor camp learned of their fates after the war. May we continue to remember others…

Here are some snippets:

“Back to the factory… The factory produced vices from the smallest to the largest and mainly dividing devices for various uses. I worked on a lathe, a circular grinder and I was also on the transport – a two-wheeled cart for transporting material from workshop to workshop.

“How it was there… Monday to Friday we worked 10 – 11 hours a day, on Saturday until 2 pm. Twenty of us lived and slept in one room in the camp. Our food was cooked from one pot, without meat, very poor. The pay for the work was very low. Bread was sent to us from home.

“…apart from me, there was “Mr. N.” , the oldest in the camp, he was almost fifty years old, then “K”, a house painter, a tanner “T”, who didn’t stay there long, injured his hand and couldn’t work and probably bought himself out of there – lard, meat for the Germans and was released. “M” – over forty years old, could sing songs beautifully, was blind in one eye, in his youth he used to go to the priest for pears. He was unlucky, after an air raid he found a suitcase full of fine women’s underwear on the street – he took it and, as a typical Ausländer [foreigner], was accused of looting, imprisoned and only in May did he reach home completely exhausted and died. “D” was also imprisoned – for Christmas he wanted to meet his wife at the border, he violated some regulation and was imprisoned in Litvínov, where there were already chemical plants at that time. There they tormented him with cold, etc., he returned after two months alive, but completely exhausted.”

——–

Here is the wisdom and start reality realization from King Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 4 – New King James Version
The Uselessness of Selfish Toil
Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun:

And look! The tears of the oppressed,
But they have no comforter—
On the side of their oppressors there is power,
But they have no comforter.
Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead,
More than the living who are still alive.
Yet, better than both is he who has never existed,
Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

The Vanity of Selfish Toil
Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

The fool folds his hands
And consumes his own flesh.
Better a handful with quietness
Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

There is one alone, without companion:
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his eye satisfied with riches.
But he never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?”
This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

The Value of a Friend
Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Popularity Passes Away
Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
For he comes out of prison to be king,
Although he was born poor in his kingdom.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun;
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king;
Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.
Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Communion with the Lamb

“A family that pray together stays together” – that is a great saying – my family spread to both east and west coasts early on – and honestly any of us with ancestors who came on the boats in the great immigration era should remember those people endured leaving family that they never saw again – letters were sent and sometimes packages in my family – but no plane ride home to visit – all my great grandparents would have left home in the same ages of my kids now at 20 something – that is just the way it was…

I remember my Dad today with finding a newspaper clipping about his 1st communion and other articles, like with scouting. I remember many blessings growing up like family trips and family stories – remembering this morning while giving my cat water of when my Dad who vowed that he hated cats said to my mom: “we need to get cat food – there is a stray in the garage” – and wouldn’t you know it? we became cat people – as the stray was pregnant and had her kittens under my bed – on a green velvety blanket that was my grandmothers. We gave all of them away except one who became my cat.

Spreading the love and taking care of others – that was my Dad – taking care of your fellow man – and realizing to be appreciative for everything you have – and treating them fairly – and all this good advice that still fills my brain and my heart. I had over 50 years with my Dad before he passed few years ago. I remember his stories (and to make sure I have good brakes for the car)… I recently found during family history searching, newspaper articles about our family. I found the great scouting article where my family spoke of their many sons in scouting and how good it was. I found a letter to the editor about my Dad as a persistent newspaper carrier, telling folks they needed to buy a subscription – VERY CONVINCING – I also found what we discovered years later that he was a hero for saving a boy who broke away from his troop and fell at a scout camp in the rugged terrain. We also found good articles of the dedication of my grandmother as a den mother.. cool…

A family which prays together – and plays together – and all that – well I found an article from the parochial school of my father’s first communion – a family which worships God together… It is comforting to me that it was my grandparents who instilled faith and instruction into my dad and his siblings – by enrolling them in parochial school. Even if my father railed against the hypocrisy in the catholic church and the unfortunate but totally human going-wrongs of the day, I am encouraged that the Lord’s teachings still got instilled in that generation – including first communion. My faith is that faith was instilled early and demonstrated weekly and daily and moment to moment by my Grandmother.

I remember my Dad taking great concern for visiting my Grandmother in the nursing home every day – yes every day – sometimes in the morning before work – sometimes at lunch – sometimes after work. I trust that my grandmother, is in Heaven by the Love of Jesus. My Grandmother, whom I never heard complain ever, even with a noisy roommate and with many aches and pains of leg amputation from diabetes and cancer from mesothelioma,. And I remember my Dad talking about his father – about the generosity of helping others – about the chickens they bought and then had eggs more than they could handle and beng directed to go give them to all the neighbors – that my grandfather would have directed them to take their wagon and go door to door not to sell but to give away… Yeah – family who takes care of others…

I thank the Lord for these memories and my family. I am grateful for these newspaper articles for new memories.

My connection to a lamb scripture today – is that the Lord told the families in the first “Passover” – to share between neighbors – to make sure there is enough but not too much – to take care of their households and of each other. I would know that my family was trained to take care of each other by the generosity of the Lord – the Lamb gives of Himself – and no one is to waste it – like the Lord’s Word which comes to earth and never returns void – always shared to do His Work.

May we always be remembering good memories – and may we always be thankful to the Lord for all our life experiences good and bad – and the perseverance the Lord has enabled in us to survive and yes to thrive… Amen

Thanks Lord for my Dad and family… Thank You, Lord, for You!

Amen and amen…

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. Exodus 12:1-3

Precious Treasures of God, Ezekiel 28

An array of trash and treasures this past weekend… too many thoughts jumbled but they do relate back to counting our blessings – and storing up treasures in Heaven not on earth…. And relating this all back to Ezekiel’s warnings to the King of Tyre…

We are to enjoy our stuff while here on earth as we live. Just don’t get hung up on amassing treasures in earth over those in heaven. A treasure to one is trash to another, and vice versa. There are treasures in little things, like memories, like the smile from 80’s south of the border bumper stickers, still usable, so I stuck one on my “beater car” over a scratch.

Then there are valuable not precious, and precious not valuable…

The precious items we have, are worldly precious and yet the heavens appreciate preciousness too. Heaven’s preciousness is in valuing worshipping God, creator of all. And the gemstones mentioned in the Bible, especially in the New Jerusalem that the Lord will bring for forever *see Book of Revelation*, acknowledges that we are to understand treasures, God has treasures to share. It’s the hoarding to make one seem god-like which becomes the flaunting easily corrupted by evil (like the King of Tyre in Ezekiel). Wealth is wasted if not directed appropriately. There are blessings in good living – and the excess, we can share the rest….

I recently saw a museum for a great collection of gemstones, and yet the burden of these millions of dollars of gems and jewelry requires extra security, resources and what do you do with them, except look! It’s a marvel that they even exist, the world so intricate and vast. Pockets of particular wows. This collection is of broaches and necklaces. No one wears this collection of gems now. There are times that we see in Hollywood that jewelry is lent out for gala events, but this collection likely will stay local. Museums help maintain what normally could be hoarded is displayed. Interesting dilemma that wealth brings, it also corrupts individuals, it’s perhaps our brokenness to NOT hold treasures in collective sharing, but amass them to hold power. Power that is fleeting.

So in Ezekiel’s time, the King of Tyre was known for acting as a god himself, and God, our real and only God, said: ‘because of your wealth your heart has grown proud’. God saw the precious stones were adorned on him as a baby but his arrogance and greed was wickedness. The wickedness did him in, and God will see that the King of Tyre will lose his worldly empire.

The description of the gems and the cherubic existence but influenced by wickedness could certainly be read as if also talking about Satan’s fall from grace, fall from the garden. Satan will also lose his world empire that he meddles in now, won’t it be eternal separation that will finish Satan, and evil will meddle no more. We know this war is won, but we still battle in matches each day, until the Word of God is taken into each heart.

That is the treasure that will grow and appreciate – the treasure of the Word – the blessings of no burdens – the hope of Heaven – the salvation from sins. Evil always will lose, for God and worship is Who we choose…

Amen

—-

Ezekiel 28:1-19

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.”

But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas. Will you then say, “I am a god,” in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a mortal, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you. You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.

So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: