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[0:00] Well, thanks for joining us today. I'm Pastor Steve Frenzmeyer. I'm one of the pastors here at the First Christian Church. I just want to thank you again for being a part of our service today. And I pray that you can get something out of our time together. So if you would, let me pray and we'll get started, okay? Father God, I thank you for this day.

[0:17] And Lord, I just pray that the words that come out of my mouth are yours. That Lord, that your heart today is known. And that Lord, that you would accomplish the purpose that you have for these words today. God, let me step out of the way so that your will and your work can be done. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So just wanted to, usually when I preach, I try to start off my sermons with a story. And we call them Steve stories, which all these stories are true, but it just is kind of a fun little thing that I want to talk about. So here it goes. When I was a kid, and I mean, when I'm from the time I was, you know, in kindergarten up until about the time I was 20 years old, I broke my right hand one time. I broke my right wrist another time. I've broken every finger on my left hand, my thumb twice, and my index finger twice. Dislocated my right, excuse me, my left index finger.

[1:25] I've had three root canals. I've had two cracked ribs, and I had two knee surgeries all by the time I was 20 years old. So growing up, the joke was that I was always in a splint or a cast of some sort. Always. And so I was on a first name basis with the ER doctors, with all the x-ray people, with the ER technicians. I was on a first name basis. And not only that, but not only did they have a file on me, they had an entire cabinet full of my medical history and all my medical stuff. So I was, like I said, I was always in a cast or a splint of some sort. So at any given time, you know, I would have a cast taken off and boom, it was, you know, my hand would be all tiny. It'd be all kind of shriveled up to a certain extent.

[2:24] So because of my past medical history, I have a fairly good understanding of how the body works and when it doesn't work like it should. And then you add in my degree in exercise sciences and my 30 degree, 30 years plus in the healthcare industry, I've gained a pretty good understanding of how the human body should work. In other words, I know just enough to be dangerous.

[2:51] And I know what it's like to have a cast or brace taken off and there it is, you know, your hand, your finger or whatever, it's kind of shriveled up and, and it's lost all of its strength and, and all of its mass. And that's called muscle atrophy. And muscle atrophy is the reduction in size and mass of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to a decreased strength and mobility. This can occur due to various factors, including inactivity, malnutrition, aging, and certain medical conditions.

[3:21] Inactivity like being bedridden or having a sedentary lifestyle can cause rapid muscle atrophy, according to the Google dictionary. And according to the Cleveland Clinic, muscle atrophy is due to disuse. Okay. The process can start within two to three weeks of not using your muscles.

[3:45] So if, in other words, if you don't exercise, don't use your muscles, your muscles will lose its mass, they'll lose its strength. So what else can we lose if we don't use them, if we don't exercise them?

[4:04] Well, Jesus tells us in a parable in Matthew 25, the 25th chapter, starting with verse 25, chapter 25, verses 14 through 15. Again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants together and entrusted his property to them. To one, he gave the talents, five talents of money. Now here it refers to a talent being a measure of money. It could also refer to any kind of talent or gift that has been given. Okay. So to another, he gave two and to another, he gave one each, according to his ability. And then he went off and to his, on his journey. So let's just kind of stop right there. Jesus is explaining to his disciples what the end times will look like and is explaining to them what it would be like in a series of parables. A man's getting ready to go on a trip and doesn't tell them when he's coming back and he entrusts them with his valuables. And let's look at the word entrust for a second. Okay. It basically means holding on, being entrusted with something or for a period of time. So holding onto or being entrusted with something for a period of time. Now the man didn't give his talents away. If you give something away, then I can do whatever it is. I want to do with him, but he entrusts them with something. And then when he wants them back, he'll get them back, preferably in better condition than when you, when you gave it to me.

[5:41] Now I've got to tell this story about my dear friend, uh, Ed Dale, who's passed away, dear friend of mine. And one year we were, we're both youth leaders at a church and we took our kids on, on spring break down to Gulf Forest, Alabama. And so we took a couple of rental vans and, and went there for the week, had a great time, came back. And of course, you know, when we came back from the trip, you know, we had all, you know, all these kids in the van. So there was all these wrappers and, and food and sand in the van. And, and I was like, well, Steve, we need to get these vans cleaned up before we take them back to the rental agency. So I was like, all right, okay. So we took them to the car wash and we washed the outsides of them. And I was like, all right, Ed, are we done? Oh no, no, no. We gotta, we gotta do the inside. So we cleaned out all the trash and trash bags. And then we went through and armor all'd and vacuumed the entire van. I mean, we cleaned that van. We spent several hours getting that thing ready to go back. And so we armor all the tires, cleaned the windows, uh, gassed them up.

[6:54] And we took them back to the rental agency. And, uh, so the, the rental agent went out to the van, vans to check on the mileage so he could write it down. So he comes back and he says, wow, those vans are in great shape. And he wanted to hire us to be detailed guys, you know, to go out and clean cars. He wanted us to hire that because we had given this van back in such great shape. And Ed, my dear friend says, I was always taught to give something back in better condition than how I received it. And you know what? Those words of his just have always resounded in my sense, in my head.

[7:34] So that is the essence of being entrusted. I trust you enough with my stuff that I know when I give it back, it will be in better shape than when you gave it to me. So what did these three do when the boss left? Well, picking back up in Matthew 25 verse 16, the man who had received the five talents went out at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with two talents gained two more, but the man who had received the one went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. So the boss leaves. The servants are left with what they've been entrusted with.

[8:22] The first two put their talents to work and each doubled what they had been entrusted with. The third, well, he just dug a hole in the ground and left it there. So why did the first two double their talents? Why the third did nothing and just hid it? Well, maybe the first two knew their boss well and tried to think to themselves, what would the boss do with these talents that he's given me? If I were the boss, what would I do with these talents? He would use them. He wouldn't waste them. The boss doesn't waste anything. I know the boss likes to stretch me sometimes when he gives me a task to do and he wants me to reach my full potential. But the third one, he wasted his opportunity. He buried it. He hid it not to be touched, not to be used. Why? Well, because maybe he was too scared to do anything with it.

[9:23] And obviously he didn't know the boss well enough to do anything with what he entrusted him with. And then possibly he was just way too lazy to do anything. You know, we all fall under one of these servants. You know, which one do you relate with? The first was entrusted with a lot and he was extremely blessed. And he used all of that to further bless his master. You know, some of us have been gifted, some financially, some with other great gifts and talents. And you realize that they are a gift totally from God. And then you use them for his kingdom. You have the mindset, everything I have is from the Lord. So as all of this is his and I will bless him and bless others with it. The second man was still entrusted with quite a bit, but not quite as much. But he had a similar attitude. Lord, I don't have much, but I'm grateful for what you have blessed me with. And all I have is yours. You know, you may not be financially well off or have all the biggest bank accounts or, or being gifted with great big talents and gifts and so forth. But you know what? You are using them for God's glory and for his kingdom.

[10:55] And then there's, there are those who are extremely blessed with a gift or talent and do absolutely nothing with them. Nothing to glorify God, nothing at all.

[11:09] And all of us have been blessed with gifts and talents from the Lord. All of us, every single one of us. But few actually do anything with those gifts and talents. So meanwhile, back at the ranch, the boss comes back, starting in verse 19.

[11:25] After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who received five talents brought the five and said, Master, you entrusted me with five talents.

[11:38] See, I have gained five more. And his master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many.

[11:50] Come and share your master's happiness. The man with the two also came. Master, he said, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.

[12:04] His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many. Come and share your master's happiness.

[12:17] Well, there's two things that we can gain just from those verses alone. Okay? The first thing is, is we get blessed for using the gifts and talents God has given us.

[12:33] When we use our talents to glorify God, there's just a blessing that we get inside. And really, I can't explain it. I really can't.

[12:43] But it's just that feeling that you know that you've used God's talents and you've used them in a way that he intended. The second thing is, is God is blessed when we use our talents and gifts for his glory.

[13:02] We can bless God. Nothing makes God happier than when we use our gifts and talents that he has blessed us with. And we use them for his glory.

[13:14] And then, here comes the third servant. Then the man who had received the one talent came. Master, he said, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

[13:32] So I was afraid, and I went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you. Now that sounds like a good answer.

[13:43] I hid your talent in the ground because I was afraid. I was afraid. I didn't know what to do with it. Well, I'm sure that answer is going to go over well with the boss.

[13:55] Don't you think so? So his master replies, You wicked and lazy servant. So you knew that I have a harvest where I have sown and I gather where I have not scattered seed.

[14:10] Well, then, you should have put my money with the bankers so that when I returned, I would have received it back with full interest. Take the talent from this man and give it to the one who has the ten.

[14:26] Wow. Does that sound really harsh? Use your talent or use it? But it's my gift.

[14:38] It's my talent. I can do with it with what I want, or I cannot do anything with it if I choose. Well, again, first and foremost, let's get this in our mind.

[14:50] It's not your gift. It's not your talent. The gift and talent that has been entrusted to you is from God, and it's not yours.

[15:02] And it's been given to you and trusted to you to bring him glory. But let's face it. All of us have been entrusted with some gift or talent from God.

[15:14] Every single one of us. But quite frankly, some of us are just plain lazy and not using it at all. Each of us has been gifted by God.

[15:28] And some are just wasting that gift or talent. And I can hear it right now. Some of you are saying, I don't have any gifts. I don't have any talents.

[15:40] All I can say is au contraire, mon frere. But you didn't know I knew French, did you? Well, but I really don't. Okay? But listen. Here's where it comes down.

[15:53] If you are a believer in Christ, then you are part of the body of Christ. And if you are part of that body, you have a purpose. 1 Corinthians 12.12 tells us, The body is a unit.

[16:08] Though it is made up of many parts, and though all parts are many, they form one body. 1 Corinthians 12.14.20 says, Now the body is not made up of one part, but of many.

[16:25] But if the foot should say, because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, I would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

[16:36] And if the ear should say, because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would that not, for that reason, cease to be part of the body? And if the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?

[16:51] 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.

[17:03] If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

[17:15] You see, some say, since I'm not a teacher, the church doesn't need me. Since I'm not able to preach, the church doesn't need me. I don't like working with children, the church doesn't need me.

[17:27] And those excuses just keep going on and on and on. Now, I'm not trying to sound harsh. But some of us just keep making excuses for not serving the church and serving God's kingdom.

[17:48] And I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I'm sure that there are some believers that have been believers for a long time that have never served in a church.

[17:59] And I don't mean just FCC here, but I'm talking the big church, God's kingdom. You've never done anything for God's kingdom. And when you don't do that, it hurts the church.

[18:12] It hurts the church when you don't serve. As we read earlier, God's heart hurts when we don't serve, when we don't use his talents.

[18:23] 1 Peter 4, verses 10-20. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in various forms.

[18:41] If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. And if anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

[18:58] To him be the power and glory forever. Amen. We see again that each of us has been given specific gifts and talents.

[19:12] We're all unique. And we have been given them not for our purposes, but for the glory of God and by serving others.

[19:25] Romans, the 12th chapter, verses 4-8 say, Just as each of us has one body with many members, and members do not have all the same functions, so in Christ we have formed one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

[19:43] We have different gifts according to the grace God has given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, then let him use it in proportion to his faith.

[19:55] If it is serving, let him serve. If it is teaching, let him teach. If it is encouraged, let him encourage. If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.

[20:09] And if it is leadership, let him govern diligently. And if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Again, each of us has been gifted in a very different and a very unique way.

[20:27] And it is those differences, all those unique gifts that come together, and they work together to accomplish something great for God's purpose. All right, let's get down to the real nitty-gritty of it all.

[20:42] Here at FCC, if you call FCC your home, during a normal week, it takes almost 125 volunteers to make church, Sunday school, youth group, and Elevate to happen.

[20:59] Do you hear that? A hundred and twenty-five volunteers. Because see, they're Sunday morning children's ministry. They need check-in people. They need teachers. They need teaching assistants, security to help upstairs keep kids, unruly kids down.

[21:16] We need junior high and senior high Sunday school teachers. We have all the areas in our worship arts ministry, musicians, singers, tech people, running the computers.

[21:30] We need to have people at the doors to greet visitors and members as they come through the doors. We have people in the parking lot ministry that are helping direct cars so they can park quickly.

[21:41] We have those that come in and prepare communion every week. There are those that work in the holy grounds. And there are those that bake. You know, on an average Sunday, that we go through over 24 dozen home-bake items?

[21:56] So that's a lot. So we need people to help bake. We need people to help serve coffee and to make coffee and to do all that. We need people to help do the lawn care around the church building.

[22:08] We need adult Sunday school teachers. We need family group leaders. We need people to work at Connection Point to help give out information to people. FCC is blessed with a safety team to ensure that all of our members, all the people that come in to worship and to learn, have a safe environment to work in.

[22:28] We have our Elevate Dinners team. And as you all know, they do a great job. We have a Funeral Dinners team to help people console after funerals. We need youth leaders.

[22:39] We need people to serve on our care team, on our encouragement team. We have a group that meets to knit and to pray together. We need people there. We need people on our pastoral care teams.

[22:52] We need people to help set up things. We need help with our women's ministry, our men's ministry, our dinners team. And you know what? This list literally goes on and on.

[23:06] So you may be asking yourself right at this very moment, at least I hope so, you may be saying, gee, Steve, how do we sign up to serve on these teams or to get information? Well, that's a great question.

[23:18] So here at FCC, it's literally at your fingertips. You know, we have what was called a connection card. And there's a sign that says my next steps. Okay, so on that side, there are different areas where you can serve.

[23:30] You can check off and serve or get information about areas where you want to serve. And then if you do that, I will personally call you within the next couple of weeks to make sure that you get plugged in and serving in those areas.

[23:44] Do you remember the late journalist Rush Limbaugh? Now, I know he was controversial and I don't want to go into politics or anything like that.

[23:55] But Rush claimed to be talent on loan from God. Now, if you hear that, you know, you might say, man, that's arrogant.

[24:06] You know, how arrogant can that be? But you know what? In the right sense, Rush was correct. We all have gifts and talents that are on loan to us from God.

[24:22] So the big question is, why should I serve? The first is because you have been uniquely gifted and talented. The second is even more of a heart issue.

[24:34] We serve as an outflow of what God has done for us. Our service to God and his church is an overflow of what we realize and appreciate all that God has done for us and in us.

[24:51] You see, we serve out of love. First Corinthians, the 13th chapter, verses 1 through 3 says, If I have not love, I gain nothing.

[25:25] You see, serving does become a heart issue. It's a love issue. Are you serving out of love for God, for his church, for the love of his children?

[25:36] Or are you serving just to showcase your gifts and talents and put yourself in the limelight? So let's all put this in perspective real quick.

[25:47] Last year, here at FCC, last year in 2024, we averaged 527 people on an average Sunday morning. This year, we are averaging 622.

[26:02] So almost 100 people more each Sunday. So in 2024, we were averaging 98 children in our children's church area. This year, we're averaging over 114.

[26:16] You know, God has truly blessed FCC and is allowing us to grow. But with that growth comes needs. And the great thing is, is that God has provided those needs right now to FCC.

[26:31] He's allowed and permitted all these gifts and all these resources to be right here to make it happen. And you know what? That resource, that need, is you.

[26:44] You have the gifts and talents to serve God and his church, his bride. Jesus makes this perfect plea for serving in Matthew 29.

[26:59] The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field. Did you hear that?

[27:12] The time to serve is now. Your time to serve is now. And it doesn't matter what your age is.

[27:25] It doesn't matter what your gifts or talents are. It doesn't matter if you're retired, that you think you may have already served, and I put my time in.

[27:36] No. The time for you to serve is now. Let's pray. Father God, I just thank you for this day.

[27:49] I thank you for your words. And Lord, I pray that these words today have challenged us to serve you and to serve your church. Because, Lord, if we stop and think, you have given us great abilities, great talents, great gifts.

[28:09] And Lord, you want us to use those for your kingdom and for your glory. God, thank you for trusting us enough with those gifts and talents.

[28:20] Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to be a part of your church. God, we thank you again in the mighty name of Jesus.

[28:31] Amen. Amen. Well, I hope these words today challenged you. And not only challenged you, but encouraged you to serve.

[28:43] And why? Because you are prepared to do them. So I pray that you would serve here at FCC. FCC is your home, your church home.

[28:54] If you go to another church, please, please serve there as well. Because God is calling you to serve. And he's asking you to serve. And he needs for you to serve.

[29:04] If you don't have a church home, I just want to offer you an invitation to please come here at FCC Greensburg and worship with us.

[29:16] We have three services, 8 o'clock, 9.30, and 11 o'clock. And we would love to have you be a part of our worship time here. If you have any questions, or if you just need someone to pray with you or to talk with you, please reach out.

[29:30] The church phone is 812-663-8488. Or you can find us on the web at FCCGreensburg.com. Thanks for joining us. Take care.