Stronger Together (Part 4)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, January 24, 2021
As we continue our look at STRONGER TOGETHER 2021, we look last week at an overview of several reasons the Word of God gives use to show we are STRONGER TOGETHER as a Church Family.
Let’s review:
• On Sunday, January 3 ~ we gave an overview on Hindsight 20/20 – we are STRONGER TOGETHER! But Why?
• On Sunday, January 11 ~ we looked at Jesus being the Good Shepherd, Pastors being the under-shepherd to Christ (given charge to watch over His sheep) and we are His sheep.
• On Sunday, January 17 ~ we seen that Jesus is the Head of the Church and we, as the church, are His body … the Body of Christ! We, as the body of Christ, must work in unity.
• Today, Sunday, January 24 ~ we find out more about being part of the Body of Christ.
Romans 12:3–5 ESV
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
1. The gifts and the calling of God are meant to function in the assembly of His Church. To function as a Christ, you must be connected to His Church.
2. If one part of the Body of Christ, the Church, thinks he is above the function he has been given, thinks highly of himself, God will remove that person.
a. The exhortation to a position or title or place of leadership is directed to “every man that is among you.”
b. Every believer needs to work at humility. There is a tendency within many persons to think too highly of themselves. Too many become conceited, prideful and arrogant.
c. They become puffed up with their own …
i. importance
ii. looks
iii. popularity
iv. ability
v. performance
vi. wealth
vii. possessions
viii. opinions
ix. education
x. goodness
xi. title
xii. the list could go on and on…
d. God stands against puffed up attitudes.
3. What we are and have has come from God. It is God who has “dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
a. The word FAITH in the context of these verses mean a working faith. It includes both …
i. the gifts and abilities God gives to a person
ii. the faith and drive or confidence to use the gifts
b. very simply, a working faith is the ability and drive within a person to get it and serve God, to make his or her contribution to the kingdom of God and to the life we are living.
James 1:17 ESV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
4. God gifts every person, not to just one person nor to just a few persons.
a. No person or persons have a monopoly on any gift or ability. Every single believer has been gifted by God; not a single believer has been omitted by God.
b. There is no room for pride and arrogance in the Kingdom of God, no place for thinking that one is more important than others. Such thoughts are insane.
5. Genuine believers are one body in Christ.
a. The Body of Christ is the most beautiful picture, when it is working together as genuine believers.
b. Verses that back this notion up are: 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:12; 12:27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16; 4:4, 15-16; 5:22; Colossians 1:18, 24.
c. The human body has many parts that must work together for the body to function properly. So it is with the Body of Christ.
d. The union of the fellowship of genuine believers it not based upon such things as friendship, preference, neighborhood, profession, human need, opinion or organization; but is born of the Spirit of God, of true spiritual birth and union.
e. It is a union that is in constant and intimate fellowship with God and that draws its life, purpose, meaning and significance from God.
f. The point is very clear, not every believer has the same office, title, calling or function; but God has set the believer in the world for a specific purpose and God has gifted every believer with a measure of faith that is needed to fulfill his or her function.
THOUGHT ~ only as we know ourselves – accurately, honestly and truthfully – can we make the contribution we should to our families, jobs, society, church and the world. Only as we serve to our full capacity can we fulfill our take on earth. If we think too highly of ourselves, we attempt too much and end up failing. If we think too little of ourselves, we never do as much as we could nor make the contributions that we could have made.
Philippians 2:3–4 ESV
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
James 4:10 ESV
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
1 Peter 5:5 ESV
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Pastor Andy Lambert