Discovering Gifts to Serve
Series: SERVE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 16th November 2019
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Good evening all. It would be great if you could get the service outline in front of you, the sermon outline.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:13 There's paper copies floating around. If you don't have a paper copy, then you can go on the St Paul's app and you can get it there.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 It would be really handy in terms of where we're going tonight.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:28 John Mackay was the former president of Princeton University in the US and a missionary in South America.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:37 From his conversion in Scotland at the age of 15, he was captivated by the book of Ephesians, which is what we're going through now.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 We've got a little bit of chapter 2 as well as chapter 4 tonight, which is great.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 I'm always happy to preach chapter 2. It's a fantastic chapter.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:50 But he was captivated right from the very moment of conversion, at the age of 15, captivated by this book.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:59 And he declared it in Lateran Life, right towards the end of his life, he declared it to be his favorite book in the Bible.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 And he wrote this about the book of Ephesians.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:28 I did not understand what it all meant.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:52 What he's saying there is, he understood the book of Ephesians.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 That's basically what he's saying.
00:01:54 --> 00:02:06 What he's saying is, I'm captivated by God's cosmic agenda in the Lord Jesus, the center of his cosmic agenda, which is declared in the book of Ephesians.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 That's what he's saying there.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:20 And what he went on to say is that it's not so much a question of what we are to do with the book of Ephesians, but what has Ephesians got to do with you?
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 What is it going to do to your life?
00:02:23 --> 00:02:32 With the scope of God's eternal plan, the Lord Jesus, as it did for John Mackay, will it captivate you?
00:02:32 --> 00:02:43 Will it captivate you of God's cosmic plan through the Lord Jesus and through his church with Jesus as the center?
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 Will it captivate you?
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 Will it become your life story?
00:02:46 --> 00:02:52 Will you set your life on contributing to that great unity of all things?
00:02:52 --> 00:02:59 That's our agenda in our vision series this year.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:14 As we've seen so far in this vision series, as we've gone through Ephesians, the Christian church, even with all of its faults, is a product of God's reconciling work.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:22 And it will, in fact, be an agent in the ultimate cosmic reconciliation of all things.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:38 In his book, God's New Society, John Stott writes that the church is central to history, is central to the gospel, and central to Christian living.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:51 The bottom line is, as Stott declares it, and as John Mackay has been captivated, and in fact the Bible says it, the church is not an option for Christians.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 Nor is supporting it an option for Christians.
00:03:55 --> 00:04:04 It is what Ephesians has confirmed right from the word go, and what I'm calling us to together in this series.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:17 To give your life, to serve God's global agenda, may your worldview be shaped by what God is doing in this world, first and foremost.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:27 Essentially, to serve God and each other and our neighbourhood through his church with our time, treasures and talents, is what I'm calling you to.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:38 Ephesians 1-3 is the grand vista of God's plan to be bringing everything together under the Lord Jesus.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:45 Chapter 4 onwards is how we engage with God's work in this world, what difference it makes.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:54 If this is what God's doing from all time and eternity, then the last three chapters is how we connect into that, and how that impacts the life that we live.
00:04:54 --> 00:05:05 And today, my plan is to spend, this is the third week in Ephesians 4, 1-16, and I want to continue to address this issue of spiritual gifts,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:12 and especially today, on how we discover spiritual gifts.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:17 So, I've got the outline in front of you, three main points and a lot of little sub points.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 So, it would be helpful if you had it in front of you.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:27 So, first of all, God's gifts, God gifts all people with talents.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:36 As Christians, we are stewards of the resources God has given us for serving the human community.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:45 And the Bible tells us that one of the most important resources that God has given us is our gifts, aptitudes, talents, and abilities.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 Now, a little bit of a history lesson.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:59 The church in the Middle Ages divided the world into two major categories, the religious and the secular.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:12 And those who went into full-time Christian religious work, into Christian ministry, such as priests and monks and nuns and that sort of stuff,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:21 they were regarded in the Middle Ages as being on a different spiritual footing from the rest of the people who did not go into that kind of work.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:33 One of the achievements of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s was to overturn the secular-sacred divide in humanity.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:43 One of its achievements was to rediscover the biblical teaching of the priesthood of all believers.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:53 Martin Luther insisted that all forms of work are God-honoring callings.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:58 Martin Luther broke down the secular-sacred divide.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:06 And so he suggested to be a farmer, a builder, an artist, was just as much of a vocation,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:11 that is just as much as a calling from God, which is where the word vocation comes from.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:17 It's a calling, divine calling, just as much a vocation as to be a preacher.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:23 He came to see that from this particular view, from the Bible.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 He looked at the Bible and said, this is where it says,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 He says, God made the created world by his spirit in Genesis 1, 1-3,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 continues to care for and sustain it by his spirit.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:40 In Psalm 104, verse 30, watering it, enriching it, Psalm 65,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:45 feeding and meeting the needs of every living thing in Psalm 145 and 147.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 And then he goes right at the end of the Bible, in Revelation 21 and 22,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:56 we see the very purpose of God's eternal plan of redemption
00:07:56 --> 00:08:05 is to massively and to finally restore the material creation back into a place of perfection.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:10 That is, Luther made the point, as did the other reformers,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:15 that God loves this created world so much
00:08:15 --> 00:08:19 that he sent his son to redeem it.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:25 That is, this world is a good in and of itself.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:35 This world in which we live is not just a temporary theatre for individual salvation.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 Very important point.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 It's not just a temporary theatre of individual salvation.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:46 If the Holy Spirit is not only a preacher that convicts people of sin and grace,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:51 but also a gardener, an artist, an investor in creation,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 who renews the material world,
00:08:55 --> 00:09:00 it cannot be more spiritual and God-honouring to be a preacher
00:09:00 --> 00:09:04 than to be a farmer or an artist or a banker.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:11 That was one of the really crucial points from the Protestant Reformation.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 That we are all, all those who are in Jesus,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:20 are all priests serving God in his world,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 bringing about his work in the world.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 So to give one example of that,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 such as what I'm doing now as a preacher,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 what I'm doing now is temporary work.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 It's temporary work.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:45 While musicianship is permanent work.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 In the new heavens and the new earth,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 when Jesus finally winds the whole show up,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 I won't be needed.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 Jesus isn't going to say,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 Steve, he's the pulpit for a bit,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 you know, tell them, Steve, how it is.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 It's not going to happen.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 My job's not needed.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 However, from what I can gather,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 from Revelations and other parts of the Bible,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 we are going to be singing the praises of our God
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 for a very long time.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 And so, from what I can gather,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 therefore, that Nick will be gainfully employed,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 but I won't be.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 In fact, I can't even go back to my old profession
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 of feral animal control,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 because I'm figuring that's not going to happen in heaven either.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:37 So, who knows what I'm going to be doing.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 I've got no idea.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 Handing out the cheese platters, maybe.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 Who knows?
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 I'll carry Nick's guitar case.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:50 So, all work, according to God's design,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 is service.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 And through work,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 we enrich one another
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 and become more and more interwoven.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:09 So, the first point is that God gifts every single person,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 Christian or not,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:15 with talents to serve his purpose.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 His work in the world.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 When Christians do secular work,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 they function as salt and light in the world,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 according to Matthew 5.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 Farming and business, childcare and law,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 medicine and music,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 all these forms of work,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 cultivate, care for and sustain
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 the created world that God made and loves.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 We are all ministers,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 all full-time priests to the human community,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 serving others on God's behalf.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 So, you got the point?
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 All forms of work in God's world
00:11:58 --> 00:12:02 are based on God's gifting of all people.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 Isaiah 28,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 verses 24 to 29,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 we read,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 when a farmer plows for planting
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 and has leveled the surface.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:17 Does he not plant wheat in its place,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 barley in its plot,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 and svelte in its field?
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Has God,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 his God,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 instructs him
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 and teaches him the right way?
00:12:28 --> 00:12:32 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 wonderful in counsel
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 and magnificent in wisdom.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 Isaiah is teaching here
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 that anyone who becomes a skillful farmer
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 is being taught by God
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 to be a skillful farmer.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 Isaiah 45, verse 1,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 we read of Cyrus,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 pagan king,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 whom God anoints with his spirit
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 and chooses for world leadership.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 This shows that God's spirit
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 can equip people for work
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 even though they are not believers
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 and are not directly witnessing
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 to God in their work.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 God gives wisdom,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 he gives courage,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 he gives insight to people
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 to do their work.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 That shouldn't surprise us
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 because James 1, 17 says
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 that every good and perfect gift
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 is from above,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 from the Father of the heavenly lights.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 Every act of goodness,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 wisdom,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 justice and beauty,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 no matter who does it,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 is being enabled by God.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 It is a gift
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 and therefore,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 it's a form of grace
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 even though it's not saving grace.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 So that's the first point.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:47 God gives all people,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 not just Christians,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 talents,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 abilities
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 for serving
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 the human community
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 that we might flourish together.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 However, secondly,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 God gives his people
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 spiritual gifts.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Ephesians 4,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 as we've gone through,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 we just had it read again tonight,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 last couple of weeks,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 Romans 12,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 1 Corinthians 12, 14,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 have lists of gifts
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 to minister to others
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 in Jesus' name.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 As people creating God's image,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 Christians have natural talents
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 that God's gifted them with
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 and as people regenerated
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 by the Holy Spirit,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 they also have spiritual gifts
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 that equip them for ministry
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 in and through the church.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 in essence,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 a spiritual gift
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 is a God-given capacity
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 to express
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 or minister
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 Jesus Christ
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 so that those
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 who receive the service
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 will see Jesus
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 and grow in him
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 to his glory.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 when our gifts,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 spiritual gifts,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 are used
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 in the power
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 of the Holy Spirit
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 from whom they come,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 then Christ himself
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 is ministering
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 directly
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 through us
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 to his people.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 Remember,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 that's what this passage
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 is about,
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 Ephesians 4.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 He ascended
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 and gave
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 his gifts,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 his ministering ability
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 to his people.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 We become
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 his mouth,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 his hands,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 his feet
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 to fulfill
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 each day
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 his ministry
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 to others.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 So this means
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 that Christians
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 not only must determine
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 how their talents
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 equip them
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 for a certain range
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 of work,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 but also
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 how their
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 spiritual gifts
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 equip them
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 for a certain range
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 of ministry
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 in Christ's name.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 God may
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 adopt
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 a talent
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 that he's given you
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 as a human being.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 He may
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 adopt a talent
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and use it
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 spiritually
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 to build others
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 up in the church
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 but he also
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 may not.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 He also
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 may not.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Just because
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 you're a banker
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 doesn't mean
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 that your
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 spiritual gift
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 in the church
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 is to be
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 the treasurer.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 There may be
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 no correlation
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 between the two.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Ultimately,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 however,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 both talents
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 and gifts
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 are from the
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 spirit of God.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 So,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 last point,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 let's focus
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 on this one.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 How do we
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 discover
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 gifts
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 to serve?
00:16:39 --> 00:16:43 A Christian
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 has to consider,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 as I said,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 both questions.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 What has God
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 called and
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 equipped me for
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 in my vocation,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 my career,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 my work
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 in the world
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 and how is God
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 calling me to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 serve in and
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 through the church?
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 Now,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 the difficulty
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 of this
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 is that
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 very little
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 appears in the
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 Bible
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 about the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 process
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 by which
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 you discover
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 your
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 spiritual
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 gifts.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 There are,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 therefore,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 problems
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 with
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 almost
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 any
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 prescribed
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 definitive
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 10-step
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 process
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 towards
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 discovering
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 gifts.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 The traditional
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 approach
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 that has
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 happened,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 you can go
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 to Coorong
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and buy
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 books on
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 this sort
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 of stuff,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 leads people
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 to test
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 themselves
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 in ways
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 which are
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 very similar
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to what
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 you would
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 call
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 apt
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 test
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 that you
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 would get
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 in a
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 secular
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 workforce.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 The problem
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 with this
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 approach
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 is that
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 it assumes
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 that you
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 know
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 yourself
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 quite well
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 and the
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 fact is
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 majority
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 of people
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 don't
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 know
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 themselves
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 very well.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 In some
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 rare cases
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 a person's
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 church
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 ministry
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 becomes
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 their
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 full-time
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 vocation.
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 That is
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 your
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 spiritual
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 gifting
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 also
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 becomes
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 your
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 job
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 as in
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 my
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 case.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 And then
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 at this
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 point
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 the answer
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 to both
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 those
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 questions
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 collide
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 so it's
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 kind of
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 easy.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 In most
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 cases
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 however
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 Christians
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 must answer
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 each
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 question
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 separately.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 Sometimes
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 what you
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 do in
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 your
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 vocation
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 is very
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 similar
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 to what
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 you will
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 do
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 in the
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 church.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 You may
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 be a
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 teacher
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 a
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 strategic
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 planner
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 or an
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 artist
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 outside
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 church
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 and
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 you
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 will
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 use
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 those
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 same
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 talents
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 because
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 God
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 has
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 taken
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 them
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 and
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 utilized
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 them
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 as
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 spiritual
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 gifts
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 inside
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 church.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 In other
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 cases
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 you might
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 find God
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 calling you
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 to do
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 almost
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 completely
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 different
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 sort of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 work
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 in the
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 church
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 than
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 what you
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 do
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 outside
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 in your
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 vocation.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 The
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 banker
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 is not
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 necessarily
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 the
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 treasurer
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 but their
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 gifting
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 might be
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 to be
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 a
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 wonderful
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 kids
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 church
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 teacher.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 That's
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 possible.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 There's
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 no
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 correlation
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 between
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 your
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 vocation
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 and
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 your
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 spiritual
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 gifting.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 So
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 having
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 said
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 there's
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 all
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 kinds
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 of
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 problems
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 with
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 any
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 system
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 let me
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 just
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 throw
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 one
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 in
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 front
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 of
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 you.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 This
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 is a
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 three
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 part
00:19:17 --> 00:19:20 method
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 for
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 discerning
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 a
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 call
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 whether
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 to
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 secular
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 work
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 or
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 church
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 work
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 or
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 anything
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 else
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 really.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 And
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 I
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 get
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 this
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 from
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 the
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 great
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Anglican
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 minister
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 of
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 amazing
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 grace
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 fame
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 John
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 Newton.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 Newton
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 suggested
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 that to
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 discern
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 a
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 ministry
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 call
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 we
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 consult
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 three
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 factors
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 affinity
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 ability
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 and
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 opportunity.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 So
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 affinity
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 is
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 looking
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 outward
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 beyond
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 you.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 And
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 it's
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 asking
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 question
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 what
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 people
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 need
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 do I
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 resonate
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 to?
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 Do I
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 kind
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 of
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 like
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 vibrate
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 towards?
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 Contrary
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 to what
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 many
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 books
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 on
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 spiritual
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 gifting
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 will
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 say
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 to
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 you
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 do
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 not
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 start
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 with
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 yourself.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 Do
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 not
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 begin
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 with
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 you.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Begin
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 beyond
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 you.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 Don't
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 start
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 with
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 the
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 abstract
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 inventory
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 of
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 your
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 gifts
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 and
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 skills
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 to
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 discern
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 your
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 aptitudes.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 Aptitude
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 tests
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 are based
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 on
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 past
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 experience
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 and
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 self
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 knowledge
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 and
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 self
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 knowledge
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 is
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 incredibly
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 limited.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 We've
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 already
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 seen
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 that
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 in the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 last
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 couple
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 of
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 weeks.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Even
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 though
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 it is
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 one
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 of
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 the
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 ways
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 God
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 shows
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 you
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 your
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 ministry,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 I
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 don't
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 suggest
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 that
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 you
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 start
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 here
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 though.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 Look
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 to
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 the
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 concrete
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 needs
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 where
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 God
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 has
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 placed
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 you.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 What
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 do
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 you
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 vibrate
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 towards?
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 What
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 problems
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 and
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 kinds
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 of
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 people
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 or
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 ministry
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 needs
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 move
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 you?
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 Where
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 are you
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 moved
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 internally?
00:20:46 --> 00:20:50 In
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Acts
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 17
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 verse
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 16
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 we
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 are
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 told
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 that
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 apostle
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 Paul
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 experienced
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 inner
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 grief
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 and
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 turmoil.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 He
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 was
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 moved
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 in
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 his
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 affections.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 He
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 experienced
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 inner
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 grief
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 and
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 turmoil
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 as
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 he
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 comes
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 into
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Athens
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 and
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 sees
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 all
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 idols
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Athens.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 And
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 he
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 finds
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 one
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 idol
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 to
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 unknown
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 God.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 And
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 from
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 that
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 very
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 next
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 verse
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 we
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 see
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 this
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 led
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 him
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 having
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 been
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 moved
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 in
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 his
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 affections
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 he
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 launches
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 into
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 a
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 ministry
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 apologetics
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 help
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 them
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 see
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 what
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 they
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 cannot
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 see.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 It's
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 important
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 that we
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 get
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 into
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 ministry
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 with
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 a
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 passion
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 for
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 a
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 certain
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 cause
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 or
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 unmet
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 need.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 Paul
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 was
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 moved
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 by
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 their
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 need
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 and
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 sought
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 to
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 meet
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 it
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 with
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 the
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 gospel.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 See
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 one of
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 reasons
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 not
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 to
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 start
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 with
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 a
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 knowledge
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 of
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 your
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 abilities
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 is
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 because
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 gifts
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 often
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 pop up
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and out
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 and surprise
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 us
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 as we
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 start to
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 participate
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 in
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 serving.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 They're
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 kind of
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 like
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 dormant
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 until
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 you
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 start
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 serving
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 in
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 all
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 kinds
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 of
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 different
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 capacities.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 When
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 I
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 first
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 became
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 a
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 Christian
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 I
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 put
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 my
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 hand
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 up
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 to
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 do
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 whatever
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 was
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 required
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 in
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 the
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 church.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 23
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 just
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 loved
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 the
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 church
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 just
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 wanted
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 to
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 be
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 involved.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 I
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 was
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 captivated
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 by
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 the
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 gospel
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 involved
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 in
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 community
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 that
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 I
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 was
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 a
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 part
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 of.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 I
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 inevitably
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 started
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 with
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 what
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 I
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 knew
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 where
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 my
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 aptitudes
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 my
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 talents
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 were.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 I
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 could
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 cut
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 grass
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 so
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 I
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 cut
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 grass.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 I
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 repaired
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 buildings.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 I
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 dealt
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 with
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 vermin.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 I
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 was
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 what
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 I
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 was
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 used
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 to.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 I
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 just
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 did
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 that
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 sort
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 of
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 stuff.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 Soon
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 enough
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 minister
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 of the
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 church
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 started
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 to push
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 me
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 beyond
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 my
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 natural
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 talents
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 and
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 aptitudes
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 to test
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 my
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 spiritual
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 gifting
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 and
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 started
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 to
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 encourage
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 me
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 do
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 hospital
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 visiting,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 trained
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 me
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 in
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 evangelism,
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 service
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 leading,
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 leading
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 community
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 groups.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 I was
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 on parish
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 council
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 organizing
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 camps.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Bit
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 by bit
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 just
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 kept
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 pushing
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 me
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 to do
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 a
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 whole
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 range
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 of
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 things.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 gifts
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 started
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 to
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 pop
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 up
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 over
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 time.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 And
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 I
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 would
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 never
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 have
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 known
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 it
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 until
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 he
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 pushed
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 me
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 into
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 it.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 Say,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 give
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 that
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 a go,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 have
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 that
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 a
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 crack
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 at
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 that.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 The
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 first
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 time
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 I
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 ever
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 preached
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 a
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 sermon,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 no
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 one
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 would
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 have
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 said,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 oh,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 he's
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 got
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 a
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 gifting.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 Not
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 a
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 single
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 person,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 except
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 the
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 one
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 preacher
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 sitting
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 in
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 the
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 room.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 I
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 think
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 he
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 called
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 me
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 a
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 rough
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 rock
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 that
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 need
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 if
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 had
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 just
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 knocked
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 off
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 it.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 He
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 said,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 but I
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 think
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 we
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 can
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 do
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 that.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 It
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 didn't
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 start
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 with my
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 talents
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 and my
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 aptitudes,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 or it
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 sort of
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 did,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 but
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 very
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 short
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 time,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 and
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 it
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 moved
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 quickly
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 beyond
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 that.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 And
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 ultimately,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 it
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 started
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 with a
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 need.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 When
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 he
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 started
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 to push
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 me
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 into
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 ministry,
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 he
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 said,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 we
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 need
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 youth
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 group
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 here,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 you
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 should
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 start
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 one.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 That's
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 the job
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 description.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 That was
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 it.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 What
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 became
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 obvious to
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the leaders
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 of my
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 first
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 church
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 was I
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 had
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 gifting
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 for church
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 leadership
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 that
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 would
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 develop
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 and be
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 fruitful,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 providing
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 my
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 character
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 developed.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 Because
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 what they
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 noticed
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 is that
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 when I
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 cut the
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 grass,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 I was
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 able to
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 galvanize
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 people to
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 come with
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 me and
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 to cut
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 the grass.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 when I
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 went and
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 did
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 hospital
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 visiting,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 I took
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 other
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 people
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 with
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 me.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 They
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 noticed
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 that
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 people
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 would
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 follow.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 When I
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 organized
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 camps,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 I could
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 pull a
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 team
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 together.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 What
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 they
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 didn't
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 know,
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 what they
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 could never
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 have seen,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 was God
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 would give
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 me a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 passion for
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 cross-cultural
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 ministry and
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 multi-ethnic
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 church
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 leadership.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 And I
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 didn't even
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 see that
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 12 years
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 ago.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 And still
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 I started
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 working in
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 that space.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 Gifts
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 pop out
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 when you
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 just do
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 it.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 You just
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 serve.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 So that's
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 the first
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 one.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 Affinity.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 Look out.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Secondly,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 ability,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 which is
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 look in.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 That is,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 what are my
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 abilities,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 what are my
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 skills,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 what are my
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 talents,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 what are my
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 deficiencies?
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 It's important
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 to look at
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 your abilities.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 Many people
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 become burdened
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 to see a
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 ministry
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 begin,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 but they're
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 not realistic
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 about their
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 own abilities
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 and limitations.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 For example,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 there might be
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 some people
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 who are just
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 so keen to
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 be leaders,
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 even though
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 they don't
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 have the
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 gifting of
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 organizing,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 and they
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 haven't even
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 noticed that
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 no one's
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 actually following
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 them at this
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 moment.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 They don't
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 have the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 ability to
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 galvanize
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 people.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 It's one of
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 the questions I
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 ask of people
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 who are
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 considering
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 vocational
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 ministries,
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 to go
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 into my
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 kind of
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 role.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 What
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 ministries
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 have you
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 started?
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 What
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 ministries
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 have you
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 changed?
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 What
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 ministries
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 have you
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 shut
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 down?
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Really
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 important.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 It
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 takes
00:26:16 --> 00:26:19 courage to
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 start
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 something,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 it takes
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 leadership to
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 stop it.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:27 you must
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 be very
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 aware of
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 the part
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 you are
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 able to
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 play in
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 the ministry.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 What
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 should you
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 be doing
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 and what
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 you need
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 someone else
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 to be
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 doing?
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 Also have
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 the maturity
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 recognize how
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 young and old
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 you are in
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 the faith.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 You may
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 realize that
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 your godliness
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 does not
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 cover your
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 gift deficiencies
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 very well and
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 you therefore
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 need a strong
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 team around
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 you.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 Just a
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 warning here,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 on this
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 one.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 As we
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 exercise our
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 spiritual gifts
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 we need to
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 avoid the
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 great problem
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 of gift
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 cop-out.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 Every
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 single one
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 of the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 gifts,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 the spiritual
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 gifts,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 is also a
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 task or
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 an assignment
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 given to
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 all Christians.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 Not all
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 are evangelists
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 but every
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 one of us
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 are called
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 to witness.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Not all
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 of us have
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 the specific
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 gift of
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 giving but
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 all of us
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 are called
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 to a
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 life of
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 radical
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 generosity.
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 Not all
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 of us
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 have the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 gifts of
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 service and
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 care of
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 another
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 individual but
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 all of us
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 are called
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 into a
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 ministry of
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 serving others
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 and caring
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 for people.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 Gift cop-out
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 is saying
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 since I'm not
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 gifted in that
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 I won't have
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 to do that.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 And normally
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 we practice
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 gift cop-out
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 when we look
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 at our
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 vocational
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 work and
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 can't see a
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 connection.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 I'm a
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 banker and
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 unless you
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 make me the
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 treasurer
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 there's no
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 way I'm doing
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 anything else.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 That's the
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 only job I
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 can do here.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 That's gift
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 cop-out.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 So lastly
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 of opportunity.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 This is
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 looking up.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 And the
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 question here
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 is where
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 does the
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 church and
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 its leaders
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 tell me
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 where I'm
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 needed?
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 This is where
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 the character
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 of humility
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 comes in.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 The third
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 leg in
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 identifying
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 our
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 spiritual
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 gifts
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 is
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 opportunity.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 Now with
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 this one
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 we need
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 to be aware
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 of the
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 opposite
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 danger
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 of
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 gift
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 cop-out
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 and that
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 is
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 gift
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 projection.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 Based on
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 everything we've
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 seen in the
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 past few
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 weeks we
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 must fight
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 against
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 individualism
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 in the way
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 we discern
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 our
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 ministry
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 giftings.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 Gift
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 projection
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 works in a
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 whole different
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 number of
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 ways.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 It can be
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 as simple
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 as saying
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 this is my
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 gift
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 and it's
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 your job
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 to make
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 this gift
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 work in
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 this place.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 This is my
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 spiritual
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 gifting.
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 Self-identified
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 gifting.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 This is my
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 role.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 This is my
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 gifting.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 You use
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 it.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 That's it.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 I won't do
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 anything else.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 Or it can
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 be making
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 yourself feel
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 guilty if
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 you aren't as
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 gifted or as
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 good as
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 someone else
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 is in that
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 space.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 Or on the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 other hand
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 it may be
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 making others
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 feel guilty
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 that they
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 aren't as
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 passionate or
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 as good at
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 you at
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 doing what
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 you are
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 doing.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 That's gift
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 projection.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 In projecting
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 our gifts
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 and our
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 passions
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 it is all
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 too easy
00:29:21 --> 00:29:25 to try
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 to make
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 the whole
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 church
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 into our
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 own image.
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 You know
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 I've got the
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 gift of
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 evangelism
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 for instance
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 and so I
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 want to make
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 this strictly
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 an evangelistic
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 church.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 Everyone should
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 be evangelized.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 everyone needs
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 to evangelize
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 like me.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 Or I've
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 got the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 passion for
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 justice
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 ministry so
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 this has to
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 be a
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 justice
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 church and
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 everyone else
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 has to have
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 the same
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 passion and
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 gifting for
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 justice ministry
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 that I do.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 Or for it to
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 be a cultural
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 center.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 I'm so focused
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 on one-to-one
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 discipleship and
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 everyone should
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 be doing one-to-one
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 discipleship.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 That's gift
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 projection.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 That's passion
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 projection.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 And it's making
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 everyone in the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 same image.
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 huge.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 The third
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 leg of gift
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 discovery looks
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 to the
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 community, my
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 brothers and
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 sisters, for
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 guidance.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 The doctrine of
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 sin alone should
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 be enough to
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 prove that you
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 should not be
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 trying to make
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 this decision by
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 yourself.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 Ephesians 4
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 teaches that when
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 we become
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 Christians we
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 become members
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 of one another.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 We cannot
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 understand ourselves
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 without paying
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 attention to what
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 our brothers and
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 sisters can see
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 in us.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 there may be
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 opportunities for
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 us to serve
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 that we have
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 never considered
00:30:42 --> 00:30:44 but for which we
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 are perfect.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 Now one key
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 factor here
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 and that is that
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 we are under the
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 authority of our
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 leaders.
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 Hebrews 13
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 7 says
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 remember your
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 leaders who
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 spoke the word
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 of God to you
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 consider the
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 outcome of their
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 way of life and
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 imitate their
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 faith.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 And verse 17
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 goes on to say
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 have confidence
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 in your leaders
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 and submit to
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 their authority
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 because they
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 keep watch over
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 you as those
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 who must give
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 an account.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 Do this so
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 that their work
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 will be a joy
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 not a burden
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 for that would
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 be of no
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 benefit to you.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 The reality
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 is we should
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 bow to what
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 our leaders
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 may tell us
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 are the
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 church's needs.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 These are the
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 areas of needs.
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 God put us
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 into a community
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 and we discern
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 his will and
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 his calling
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 together.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 So I
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 propose
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 as John
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 Newton did
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 200 years
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 before me
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 that the
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 place to
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 start
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 when you
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 look at
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 these three
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 categories
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 these three
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 legs
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 the place
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 to start
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 is opportunity.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 That's where
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 you begin.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 Our
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 self-centered
00:31:53 --> 00:31:55 individualistic
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 natures
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 want us to
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 go with
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 affinity
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 first
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 or ability
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 ability
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 first
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 then affinity
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 then opportunity.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 I would suggest
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 that we start
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 with opportunity.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 In other words
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 find
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 the ministry
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 needs of the
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 church
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 things that
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 need to be
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 done
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 and just
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 do them.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Just serve.
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 Don't even
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 begin with
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 does this
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 fulfill me?
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 Does it
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 make me
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 happy?
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 the only
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 way you
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 will ever
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 really come
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 to know
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 the kind
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 of ministry
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 that you
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 are best
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 at
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 if you
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 do a
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 whole heap
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 of different
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 things
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 then you
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 will know
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 what God
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 blesses.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 Don't look
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 first of all
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 at your
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 proven
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 abilities.
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 Don't look
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 first of all
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 at your
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 day job
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 and your
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 natural
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 talents
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 to determine
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 what you
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 do in
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 the church
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 because as
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 mentioned
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 earlier
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 God may
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 have no
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 plan to
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 use them
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 as your
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 spiritual
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 gifts.
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 Likewise
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 don't look
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 first of all
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 at your
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 deepest
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 affinities
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 the things
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 that excite
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 you
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 the things
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 that interest
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 you.
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 If you
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 gravitate
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 too quickly
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 to those
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 areas
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 you may
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 miss out
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 on gifts
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 that you
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 aren't even
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 aware of.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 Just
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 serve.
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 That's the
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 simple call.
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 Plug the
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 gaps in
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 the church
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 and help
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 out.
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 Go through
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 the door
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 of opportunity
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 in the
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 church
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 doing what
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 needs to
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 be done
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 and then
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 as time
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 goes by
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 check your
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 affinities
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 check your
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 abilities
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 and begin
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 to specialise.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 As your
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 brothers and
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 sisters around
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 you encourage
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 you to do
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 that.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 There may be
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 and in fact
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 there are
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 many opportunities
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 right now.
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 Right now.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:48 I'll mention
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 them to you
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 but this
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 morning one
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 thing that I
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 threw in
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 this morning
00:33:52 --> 00:33:54 was actually
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 we've been
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 looking for a
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 treasurer for
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 some time.
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 No one's
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 stepping up for
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 that.
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 By the end
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 of the service
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 someone had put
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 their hand up
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 and said I
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 think I can
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 do the
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 treasury roll.
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 Praise God.
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 So God's
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 already at work
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 and maybe he's
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 working at you
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 right now.
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 Working at you
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 right now.
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 He did it this
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 morning and
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 maybe right now
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 for you.
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 We just need
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 people willing
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 to serve in
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 all sorts
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 areas and
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 membership.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 We want to
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 be a
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 community.
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 A community
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 that is
00:34:24 --> 00:34:26 engaging,
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 welcome,
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 inclusive.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 We want
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 people to
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 belong here.
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 We've just
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 seen the
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 video.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 We need
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 people who
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 are welcoming,
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 people in
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 the car park.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 As soon as
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 someone sets
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 foot on this
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 site to be
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 engaged with,
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 for their name
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 to be known,
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 for them to
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 feel like they
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 belong.
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 We need
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 people who are
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 prepared to
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 serve food
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 for us in
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 our corporate
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 gatherings.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 We want to
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 be an open
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 engaging
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 community.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 Right now,
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 we need
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 people in
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 membership.
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 Secondly,
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 we need
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 more people
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 willing to
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 serve in
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 our ESL
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 classes.
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 That's a
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 great way to
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 serve people
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 who are not
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 able to
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 easily
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 communicate in
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 the common
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 language of
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 our neighborhood.
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 That is,
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 ESL is about
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 serving vulnerable
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 people in our
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 neighborhood.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 That's what it's
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 about.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 At the
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 moment,
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 we've got
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 two or
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 three people,
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 that's it,
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 who are
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 currently running
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 it.
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 Massive need
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 in that area.
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 Thirdly,
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 there's grace
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 ministries.
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 This is our
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 ministry to
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 sex workers in
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 our area.
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 They need
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 another prayer
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 team.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 This is really
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 simple.
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 You just sit
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 in the car
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 with one
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 other person
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 and you pray
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 with them
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 while a couple
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 of our members
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 go in and
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 visit the
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 brothels.
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 You don't
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 even have to
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 go in.
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 You just need
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 to sit in the
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 car and pray
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 for goodness
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 sake.
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 There's another
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 great way to be
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 engaged.
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 We need
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 people in
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 that area.
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 The bottom
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 line here is
00:35:45 --> 00:35:48 just do it.
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 That's how you
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 discover it.
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 You just do
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 it.
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 Be captivated.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 This is the whole
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 point of Ephesians
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 here, where we get
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 to here.
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 Be captivated by
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 the gospel.
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 Be captivated by
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 God's eternal
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 plan in the
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 Lord Jesus.
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 service.
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 And be
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 captivated by
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07 jumping in and
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 signing up to
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 serve.
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 That's what you
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 do.
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 So for your
00:36:13 --> 00:36:16 sake, for the
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 sake of the
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 church, for the
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 glory of the
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 Lord Jesus
00:36:20 --> 00:36:22 Christ, for the
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 blessing of the
00:36:22 --> 00:36:25 world, do not
00:36:25 --> 00:36:28 rest until every
00:36:28 --> 00:36:31 member serving is
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 a reality in
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 this church.