Alleluia! He is Risen! He is risen indeed!
Here we are, celebrating the third Sunday of the Easter season. And during this, the season of resurrection, we are celebrating our gift of salvation by looking at Christ's gift of the church to us. Last week we spoke of the Body of Christ, and how this term for 'church' tells us that church is the manifestation of the risen Christ in the world.
I still want you to remember that-the Church is the manifestation of the risen Christ in the world. The church's calling is to be the Body of Christ, fulfilling Christ's calling, and following the leading of the Spirit through the acceptance and embrace of our spiritual gifts. Last week we took a spiritual gifts inventory and I asked you to go home and pray about how to use your gifts at Heritage Church, that we might grow into our identity as the Body of Christ. If you weren't here last week, there are surveys available if you would like to take one home and do it on your own.
I know that some of you were very surprised by the results of your survey, while others did not find out anything new. That's all right. We were just finding out where we are right now. Previously in your life, you might have had some other gifts, and as you continue to grow as a Christian, I'm sure that the Spirit will bless you with gifts that will be new to you. Remember, God arranges the Body, that it might function in accordance with God's will.
While last week's reading focused mostly on spiritual gifts and how to understand them in the context of church, this week's reading gives us another perspective. In Ephesians Paul educates us, and I believe wants to inspire us, with the purpose of embracing our spiritual gifts.
Paul continues the theme begun last week, when in his letter to the Corinthians he stated that the purpose of spiritual gifts was for the common good. In Ephesians, Paul says that we are given gifts by the Spirit in order to equip us for ministry, for the building up of the Body of Christ.
When that happens, Paul continues, we will come to a place of unity. A place where we will have maturity and knowledge of God, a place where we will measure up to the stature of Christ. It is that unity of faith that will equip us for ministry, for fulfilling our calling, for following where the Spirit is leading us. It is unity of faith that will protect us from tricks and false doctrines and scheming.
We attain unity, Paul says, by speaking the truth in love and growing up into Christ, taking our place in the body and functioning as a whole unit that is knit together by every ligament that it might work properly. According to Paul, that is how the body grows and how it builds itself up in love.
How do we do this-this building up-this unity of faith? How can we ever measure up to the stature of Christ, as Paul encourages us to do?
We do it by embracing the gifts that we are given, and by working together for God's purposes. Think of your body again and how its many parts work together. When one is out of whack, your entire body is affected. You don't feel right. What is wrong with the one part affects all of the others and you do not function properly.
But, when everything is working right, there is unity. There is a certain beauty in unity. Think of our psalm for today, Psalm 133. There is nothing so beautiful as kindred dwelling together in unity. Unity is as beautiful as anointing oil running down the face. Unity is as beautiful as the dew that moistens the mountains of Zion, giving life to God's holy city. Unity is ordained by God, life eternal with our Creator. That is the ideal the church is to strive toward, dwelling together in unity, all of the parts of the body present and working, the ligaments knit together that they may help and strengthen each other.
Remember in the beginning of the passage, Paul said that we were given spiritual gifts that we might be equipped for ministry. That is why we are here, all of us, to do ministry. I am the pastor and teacher of Heritage Church, but we are all ministers. We have all been given gifts. There are as many types of ministry as there are gifts given by the Spirit. Last week, Paul told us that all the gifts, all of the parts of the Body are necessary. Therefore, all of the ministries that our gifts make possible are necessary as well.
I hope that you pondered the results of your spiritual gifts inventory this week and gave the results some time in prayer. And, I hope that the Spirit awakened in you some new ways that you might share your gifts with the church for the building up of the Body of Christ.
I'd like to ask the ushers to pass out the blue papers that list some of the many opportunities for ministry here at Heritage Church. Look it over right now, and see if you have any questions of comments. I have asked various leaders in each area to place themselves around the sanctuary so that you can go and talk to them right now. Look at the blue sheet and see if there is anyone that you would like to talk to. We will take about ten minutes, and then we will continue our worship service.
Opportunities to explore ministry groups....
Now that you have had a chance to explore and ask questions, I'd like to give you another assignment. Take the ministry sheets home. Ponder and pray about what ministry the Spirit is gifting you for at Heritage Church, and then get involved! As I look on this congregation, the abundance of gifts that God has place in our care is evident. I can see God working everywhere I look. Many of these gifts are acknowledged and embraced. Just imagine how much more we could grow if we fully embraced our God-given gifts.
So, get excited. Encourage. Share. Live out the calling of your gifts and help others to do the same. The unity of faith that we possess will result in growth and beauty for this Body of Christ. And through the ministries that we embrace, God will be glorified. Amen.
Peace,
Rev. Cynthia Bacon
Minister
You may email at:
cbacon@heritagemadison.org
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This page was last updated on May 09, 2003.