Shared Ministry Day 3

Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:11-16)

Paul's letters to Timothy are different from the others he wrote. Letters like the one he wrote to the Ephesians, for example, were addressed to the whole church. But Paul's letters to Timothy were written just to him. So if it's advice for timothy, then why are we reading it? I always wondered if I had to do the things Timothy was told to do since I'm not a pastor like he was. But Paul knew more people should read this letter, so he wrote it accordingly. And God must have wanted us to read it today since it appears in the Bible. That being said, when Paul tells timothy not to neglect his gift, everyone in the church is reminded not to neglect their God-given gifts and ministries.

Reread the passage and ask God to show you how this applies to you today.

Are you neglecting you gift(s)? How?

Shared Ministry Day 2

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

I have no idea what my spleen does. I've never seen it and to be honest I hope I never do. But thank God that I have one. I like my spleen. My body - and life itself - wouldn't be the same without it. If the Church is a body, then that means there's a place for hundreds of different types of gifts. And if this body is going to function correctly, then we need all the people who have those different gifts to be in place and working properly. You may not believe your particular function in the church is all that important; but without your participation, everyone will suffer.

God doesn't reserve ministry just for the paid church staff; all of us have a part to play. Like the spleen, you may have a role that not many other people see. But the fact that our vital organs aren't visible doesn't make them unimportant.

Do you tend to downplay your importance in the church? Why?

How can you use your gift in a way that fits with others using their gifts?

Shared Ministry Day 1

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6: 1-7)

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. But not even Jordan could have won a single game without his teammates. It's a lesson the Church should take to heart. God called the apostles to a specific task, but many other tasks needed to be done. God isn't about superstars hogging the entire ministry. In fact when we let only a few people do the work, much less gets done.

So if we're truly supposed to accomplish God's will, then we each have to find our place to serve - and then work at it with all of our hearts.

Do you see yourself having a vital role in your church? If so what is it?

How can you fulfil your specific task for the kingdom today?

Week 11: Shared Ministry

Choosing the Seven

MEMORY VERSE
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

INTRODUCTION
Moses was tired. He'd been listening to one disagreement after another. I imagine him mediating a dispute between two people who claim to have created manna soup, and both want the patent on the recipe. The Israelites had been coming to Moses with these kinds of questions all day and the line still wrapped around the tent - twice. This is ridiculous, he thought. I can't keep this up. But he was the leader of Israel - wasn't settling disputes his job? If so, then how does the leader of a million people wandering in the desert go on a vacation?

Next in line was Moses' father-in-law who had some advice of his own. "Moses, share the load. It's not all up to you." So Moses did, and he got that vacation.

Just like Moses, the apostles figured out early on that they couldn't do ministry by themselves. So God helped them choose others to share the ministry of his kingdom. Everyone in the early Church had a part to play in ministry.

This week we're going to think about the shared ministry of the Church. Whether you know it or not, God has a place for you to serve, and the whole concept of church won't work unless you get involved. It's time we all got off the pews and into the game.

Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of the Apostles

Day 5
2 Corinthians 11:22-33

Can this be right? I don't know about you; but after the first two shipwrecks, I'd hesitate before getting on any more boats. But Paul was unstoppable. It didn't matter what he went through; he refused to back down. What makes a man do that? What makes someone willingly walk into a dangerous situation? In verses 28 and 29, Paul showed us why. He was so passionate about the Church that it was more important to him than his own comfort. God changed Paul's life and saved him from hell, and Paul wanted everyone to know that joy. God may never ask you to do things like this, but what would you be willing to endure just to tell someone about the gospel? The Church is invincible, but it can be weakened in the short term if we refuse to attempt the tasks God has set out for us.

What are some of the sacrifices you have to make in order to share the gospel?

Ask God to give you a passion that can't be quenched by bad circumstances.

Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of the Apostles

Day 4
Matthew 16:13-18

In today's passage we discover that hell (Hades is another word for hell) cannot stand up to the power of the gospel. But notice it's not just the gospel, but also the Church that will never be defeated. Once we join Christ, we join his body--the Church. And as a part of Christ himself, we don't have to fear the power of death or hell. They can't overpower us. The Church--your church--is much more powerful than you realize. We sell ourselves short when we assume we can't do anything in the world. But when we realize just how strong we are, hell will tremble as we accomplish God's will.

How does this passage change the way you look at your own church?

Are there any places in your life where you just assumed you were defeated?

Ask God to show you how strong you are as a part of his Church.

Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of the Apostles

Day 3
Romans 1:16-17

Why is the Church so powerful? It's not because of the people. Some individuals can command a crowd or get things done politically. But the power of the Church doesn't come from strong personalities; it comes from the gospel itself. You may feel weak or inadequate when trying to share the gospel, but you don't have to. The gospel is powerful all by itself. When you're witnessing to others, concentrate more on the gospel and less on you shortcomings. They're not as limiting as you might think. When our lives and our churches are committed to Christ, we don't need to be ashamed of anything.

Have you ever been ashamed of the gospel? Why?

How does this passage give you confidence to share your faith?