Do you sometimes need reminders?
Boy, I do.
You know, those appointments to the doctor or to the dentist or wherever will creep up on you.
And you just know you're going to remember them.
But then you get that phone call.
Mr. Brown, you do know you have an appointment today.
You know, those kind of phone calls.
And I'm grateful that now they're really good.
They'll text you several times or they'll make a phone call.
Sometimes just putting it on the calendar doesn't necessarily work.
But we all really, let's just, a group of us today, let's just admit we need reminders.
Well, God has placed reminders in His Word that if we'll just read them, we'll say,
Oh, that's what He thinks is really important.
And I do that all the time, don't you?
It's like you'll be reading a passage you know you've read several times before.
And you'll think, that's what God needs to do in my life.
He needs to continue working through scriptures like that to change me and change my mind.
And those reminders can be very powerful.
And today is no different.
I just need to remind you.
And maybe a different voice reminding you of something that you have heard before
might be the one thing that you need today.
That reminder from God's Word.
Today, I need to remind you that every believer is a minister.
And so I want to talk about the ministry of the believer today.
But I need to ask you the question right at the beginning.
Do you really believe, I mean deep down in your heart, do you really believe that every believer is a minister?
Now, most of us grew up knowing that the minister was the person who stood behind the pulpit on Sunday morning.
And eventually, they finally got around to calling the choir leader the minister of music.
So you got included in that minister.
And then, of all people, the person who works with the youth, the teenagers,
do they call you a youth minister here or minister to youth?
It doesn't really matter.
So, you know, for most people who are sitting in a pew on Sunday morning,
the minister are the professional people who probably get paid to do what they're doing.
That's how we grew up.
Those were the ministers.
Those were the ministers who's the minister at your church.
I'd say, well, Dr. Batson.
I mean, that's just how we grew up.
But it doesn't match what the scripture says.
In fact, I don't know who put it on that old brick sign over there in front of the Sunday school building.
Just right over there in the grass.
It says, Pastor Fred Stone, right?
But then it also says right below that, as a reminder, if you'll notice, every member, a minister.
I hope you'll see that more often and be reminded.
Every time you come to church, I hope it reminds you that you, as well as those who stand up and do leadership type things,
you are a minister of God's church.
Now, I know that for many of us, it's not that easy to see ourselves that way.
But let me show you from a couple of scriptures where God says we are all ministers.
Starting with Ephesians chapter 4, verse 12.
Ephesians 4, 12.
Now, focus on that verse, but let me begin reading in verse 11.
It describes how God has given people to the church to lead and to guide and to equip.
And so, beginning in verse 11, it says,
And he himself, meaning God, gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.
And then it tells us why God gave those to the church.
Verse 12,
For the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying or the building up of the body of Christ.
Let me just stop here just for a moment.
As I was young, growing up, and probably long before that,
most people would have read that particular verse in scripture,
seeing that it was the job of the minister of the church
to equip the church and to do the work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ.
I mean, that's just how we looked at it early on.
As if God had put a comma after the building up or the equipping of the saints.
But God didn't put a comma there.
No, the job of the leaders of a church are to equip each of you,
as a believer in Jesus Christ,
to do the work of ministry,
so that the body of Christ can be healthy and strong and effective and vibrant.
That's how God designed it.
And I give thanks for all of those who are leaders in this church.
And they work tirelessly, well, I started to say tirelessly,
but that's not necessarily true, is it?
If you're a leader, I know that you do sometimes get weary,
but you are already leading this church to do and to be what it is.
And I'm so, so grateful.
But God also speaks in places like 2 Corinthians
about this ministry that He has given to every believer.
This is 2 Corinthians 5, verse 18.
It talks about how God has reconciled us to Himself.
But there's more to it.
2 Corinthians 5, 18 says it this way.
Now, all things are of God or from God,
who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
And there's so much we could say about that.
Thank God He did that.
But it continues.
And has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
Reconciling.
That's what God has done, isn't it?
He has reached out in His love to us.
Those of us who were just sinners,
who did not trust in Him yet.
He reached out because of His love for us.
And He revealed Himself to us.
And He called us to Himself.
And He called us to believe in Him
and trust Him for salvation.
That's what He called us to.
But then, when we responded by faith,
He also said that needs to continue.
There are others who need to be reconciled.
And I want to give you, the believer,
the ministry of reconciliation.
Now, it is true that we don't reconcile people to God.
It would be great if we could.
I know some relatives that I have
that if I could reconcile them to God,
I would do it right now.
Knowing that they would have a good standing of faith in God.
But I can't do that.
Only God is able to reconcile things
so that we have a right standing before Him.
But, we can bring people toward God
that He may reconcile them
if they'll respond in faith.
In a very real sense,
what God has called us to be
are bridge builders.
Bridge builders.
In fact, the Bible actually tells us
that we are a kingdom of priests.
I won't go into that passage,
but I just want you to know,
not only does God call you to ministry,
or to be a minister,
He's called you to be a priest.
You know what the word priest actually means?
That's where you get the word in Latin.
It's pontifex.
You know what it really means?
A bridge builder.
That's what a priest does.
He drills bridges.
Not literal bridges,
but spiritual bridges
so that those who do not yet know God
in a personal way through faith
may find a way,
may somehow be led toward God
by someone who knows Him.
That's how we are bridge builders.
In fact, more deeply,
we are the bridge.
For many people to come to know God
by trusting Him,
by faith.
Bridge builders.
The ministry of reconciliation.
But do you see
how this ministry is almost formed
by two bookends?
Ministry of all believers
is about building up the church
and reconciling people to God
so that they may have eternal life.
But there's a word of warning
and it comes really from
a young man named Matt Carter.
He's a pastor out in Texas
from Austin Stone Church.
And he said this,
I found this.
I thought it might be helpful
for you to see it.
The church, any church,
won't grow in a biblically healthy way.
It will not happen
unless
each part of the body,
meaning the congregation,
is fulfilling their personal calling
to the Great Commission.
The personal call
of ministry to
the Great Commission.
Now just a reminder,
when he says the body,
he's talking about the body of Christ.
Now, the body of Christ
is the group of believers
all around the world.
But more locally,
it's this congregation.
And the congregation
that I guess is still meeting,
I don't know what time they're out,
the Methodist Church over here
and the Presbyterian Church down here
and the Church of God down there
and all these other local congregations
are also
the body
of Christ.
It's that
gathering of believers
that
trust in God
and have trusted Him
for salvation.
Each
part of the body
fulfilling
their personal calling
to the Great Commission.
Now,
basically,
the Bible is saying
that we're body parts.
If we're,
if this is the body,
you're a part of it.
A very,
very important part
of this
particular body
of Christ.
Paul uses
a whole chapter
of Scripture
to talk about this.
In Romans,
excuse me,
in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12,
whole chapter.
Now,
I'm not going to read
the whole chapter,
but I challenge you
sometime this afternoon,
maybe after your nap,
read
1 Corinthians 12.
He's talking about
spiritual gifts,
those gifts
that are given
to every believer
through the Holy Spirit.
And let me just
begin reading
in verse 4
of 1 Corinthians 12.
Paul says
there are
diversities of gifts,
but it's the same spirit.
There are differences
of ministries,
but the same Lord.
There are diversities
of activities,
but it's the same God
who works all in all.
But the manifestation
of the Spirit
is given to each one
for the profit
of all.
The whole congregation,
this particular body.
And then he begins
to name some of them.
Now,
when I read these,
I want you to listen
carefully to see
if anything sounds
familiar to your own
gifts,
passions,
strengths,
or skills.
Listen to this.
For to one
is given the word
of wisdom
through the Spirit.
To another,
the word of knowledge
by that same Spirit.
To another,
the gift is faith
by the same Spirit.
To another,
gifts of healings,
by the same Spirit.
Another,
the working of miracles.
To another,
prophecy.
To another,
discerning of spirits.
And to another,
different kinds of tongues.
And to another,
the interpretation
of tongues.
Now,
I know that many of you
have done a study
of spiritual gifts,
and you're very familiar
with all of these.
And there are good resources
on the internet
and through books
and CDs.
CDs.
Does anybody still
use CDs?
Maybe a podcast
or something somewhere?
But I encourage you,
look more deeply.
But this is a short list,
isn't it?
I don't think God
ever intended on
this representing
all the gifts.
In fact,
even in Romans
chapter 12,
you'll find that
he lists even more.
Romans 12.
He talks about
having gifts.
This is verse 6
and following.
Having then gifts
differing according
to the grace
that is given to us.
Listen to this.
Let us use them.
Sounds like a biblical command.
So he said,
if it's prophecy,
let us prophesy
in proportion to our faith.
Or is it ministry?
Let us use it
in our ministering.
He who teaches,
use your gift
in teaching.
He who exhorts
or encourages.
He who gives.
There are some
who are especially blessed
to give
with liberality.
He who leads,
lead with diligence.
He who shows mercy,
do it with cheerfulness.
Now again,
that's a short list
because there are
many gifts
that are not necessarily
just named
specifically in Scripture.
You see people
every Sunday
who are using
a gift
when they sing
or play an instrument
up here.
That's a gift
that they use
for the glory of God.
It's not listed here.
But we all know
that it's part
of the giftedness
that God
has given to us.
The gifts
can be
wide variety.
I was told this morning,
I did not know this
until this morning,
that Ray Reese
had a gift
of woodworking.
Somebody told me
he made that.
I mean,
literally made it.
Is that a gift
that he could use
for the glory of God?
Absolutely.
What do you do well?
What do you enjoy doing?
What is your passion?
What is your,
what skill do you have
that you could use
to build up
the body of Christ
and to bring people
toward God
so that they may
be reconciled?
Whatever it is
that you have
that comes
from God's spirit
as a gift,
use it.
It doesn't even
have to be named
right here
in these short verses.
Make sure you know
what it is.
Make sure you're willing
to use it.
Well, let's get back
to this idea
of the Great Commission.
Let me show you
another slide
by Matt Carter.
I sometimes
just call it
the mission
and it looks like
that's what he is
doing as well.
This is what he says
and I agree with him
wholeheartedly.
The responsibility
for the mission
that I'm talking about
doesn't,
and I would add
the word just,
doesn't just fall
on the shoulders
of the pastors,
but every person
in the church
that names
the name of Christ.
The responsibility
for the mission
is not just
for those
who stand up front
and do things.
The responsibility
for God's mission
is yours
from the youngest
to the oldest.
It's still yours.
Whether you're young
and have a lot of energy
or whether you're tired
and you want to quit
and sit down,
you still have
the responsibility
for the mission.
Now, I don't know
if anybody's asking
the question or not,
but let me ask this.
But isn't the Great Commission
given to the church?
Haven't we talked
about that?
If you've been in church,
you know it's been
talked about all the time.
The Great Commission
or the mission
of the church.
We put it in the context
of the church.
Well, the answer
to the question is,
yes,
it has been given
to the church.
But no,
it's not just simply
to the church
as a whole.
In other words,
if it was just
to the church,
you could say,
well, I'll just give
my money to the church
and let them
do the mission.
That'd be easy,
wouldn't it?
In fact,
the truth is,
many people do that.
Let somebody else
do it.
But no,
God's given
to every believer
ministry
of building up
the body,
reconciling
the world
to Christ.
I think our problem
has been this.
And it's a problem
that I think
has been true
for a long time.
Is that our definition
of church
can sometimes
hinder or distort
our view
of God's call
to ministry,
meaning our personal
call to ministry.
You know,
it's when we say,
where are you going
this morning?
I'm going to church.
What are they doing
up there at the church?
Right?
We use that language
and there's really
nothing terribly wrong
with it,
except that church
began to mean
building
or organization.
When God
never intended
for church
to be some
brick and mortar
and beautiful
decorations
and stuff,
I mean,
he's not against
this by any means,
but church
is you.
In fact,
you don't go
to church,
the church
comes here.
You are the church.
I mean,
you know,
the,
I don't even know
my fingers
are letting me,
you know,
the,
here's the church
and here's the steeple
and open.
Well,
no,
actually,
this is the church.
All the people.
So we need to get
our head around
the fact that we
are the church
and as the church,
we are responsible
for the mission
that God has given
to every single believer.
it's not just
an organization,
it's more like
an organism,
a body of people
working together.
Some of you are hands
and some are feet,
some are mouths,
you know them,
they're always talking.
Thank God
that some of you
are ears
because you're willing
to listen.
Some of you can smell
a problem.
Some of you see
a little bit further
than others
about what we need
to do ahead,
like next year
or something.
You see,
we all have a part
in this body
and that's the way
God designed it.
We're an organism.
Imagine with me
just for a moment.
And I know
that God is blessed,
First Baptist,
in really,
I think,
unusual ways.
But you are not
all that you could be.
I think it's probably true
that I've heard it
most of my life
that in any given church
about 20% of the people
do about 80%
of the work.
Now,
I don't know
if that percentage
is correct.
I really have no idea,
but I do know this.
And this is from,
I don't know,
30-something years
in ministry.
In any church
you go to,
it's a few people
who do most
of what needs
to be done.
It's not the majority.
I don't know
why that's true.
It shouldn't be.
And I don't even know
if it's true
for First Baptist.
But here's what I do know,
that even in your church,
most people
are not fulfilling
their call of God
to do the mission
of the church.
If it were true,
you'd have to have
more room.
If it were true,
you'd have to have
more services.
If it were true,
you'd be having
so many people,
you'd have to start
another church
on the other side
of town
as a,
what do they call,
like a satellite church
somewhere else.
Do you hear
what I'm saying?
If every one of you
were to take
your responsibility
seriously
and a full commitment
to it,
God would grow
this church
in ways that
you never imagined.
That's how I know.
So what if
every believer
read the Great Commission
as that personal call
to make disciples?
What a transformation
would happen.
What a revival
would happen.
At my last church,
they asked me one time,
they said,
what do you think
it's going to take
for Griffith Baptist Church
to experience revival?
And I told them
very simply
and plainly
and they didn't
necessarily appreciate it
but I said,
when every member
does what God
told them to do
in the scriptures.
And they said,
maybe,
maybe there's something else.
Don't we need
some revival services
or something?
And I said,
no.
If every member
would do just what
God tells them to do
in the Bible,
then you couldn't
contain
the revival
that would happen.
Let me finish
by saying this.
And by the way,
I think that somebody
told me that we can
stop at around 1230.
They may not
have been correct.
Don't start leaving.
I'm not going that long.
I promise.
Let me just share
some observations.
And these are just
observations from
having been in ministry
from this side
of the pulpit
and having been
around God's people
for a long time.
This is observations
that I think
may help you
understand
what God is saying
in the scriptures
we've looked at.
Number one observation
is this.
You,
in order to make
disciples,
you have to
be a disciple.
Now,
I may be wrong
in this.
I can't say this
that I'm right
100%.
But not every
believer
is a disciple.
There are believers
who will come,
I saw some faces.
There are people
who truly trust Christ
for their salvation.
100%.
And they'll come
to church
and they'll sit
and they may even
smile at the preacher
sometimes and shake
his hand on the way out
but they never
make any other
kind of contribution
to the health
of the church.
To the mission
of God.
They believe in God.
They believe in Christ.
They're saved.
But that's all.
They're basically
pew sitters.
And that's not
a bad thing.
It's good to come.
But what if that's
all you do?
No,
a disciple is really
a learner.
It's someone
who faithfully
follows
a leader
or a mentor.
A disciple
is someone
who's learning
and growing
and changing.
That's a real
biblical disciple.
And you can
disagree on the
definition
if you need to.
In fact,
thank God
for the guys
up in the booth.
I saw a picture
this morning
between services
that I wanted
to show to you.
And I want you to
see this picture
that I found.
I hope you can
see it all.
Yeah.
It says this.
I'm going to have
to read it
because I haven't
met.
A disciple
is someone
who has moved
from being
the recipient
of the church's
mission
to being
responsible
for the church's
mission.
Would you
consider yourself
a disciple
or just a
Christian
who attends
church?
If you really
want to take
seriously this
mission to
make disciples,
then make sure
you are
a disciple.
In fact,
you need to be
a disciple
that is learning
to grow
in Christ's
likeness.
What does
God want
from every
disciple?
To be more
and more
like Jesus.
To resemble
him
more
and more.
We can't
do it alone.
That's why
God gave us
the Spirit
and that's
why God
gave us
other Christians
to encourage
us.
But are you
growing more
in Christ's
likeness?
Do you
resemble him
more?
Just read
the scriptures
and it'll
tell you
what he's
like.
Just spend
time with
God in
prayer.
Spend time
reading his
word.
Spend time
putting your
gift into
practice.
You become
more like
him.
Little by
little.
It's a
supernatural
happening.
But God
has given
us a
great task
in making
disciples
because he
expects us
not just
to lead
someone to
Christ.
There's more
to it than
just leading
people to
God.
You need
to continue
your opportunity
because when
we make
disciples we
are supposed
to make
disciples who
also make
disciples.
A quick
word from
2 Timothy.
Paul is
talking to
Timothy when
he says
this.
He says
Timothy the
things that
you have
heard from
me among
many witnesses
commit these
to faithful
men and
women.
Well that
makes sense
doesn't it?
What you've
heard from
me?
Pass it
on to
others.
But Paul
didn't stop
with that
word.
He says
commit them
to faithful
persons who
will be able
to teach
others also.
it's God's
great way of
multiplying the
ministry so
that we're not
just leading
people to
Christ and
not just
building up
the body
of Christ,
not just
bringing people
into a
reconciling
relationship
with God.
Those
disciples also
go and
make disciples
as well.
It's this
great process
that God
has set up.
So our
making
disciples
ministry
is never
ending.
It's
multiplying
in the way
that God
does it.
Another
observation is
this.
Making
disciples
can be done
within the
church schedule
by all
means.
It is
often done
within the
church schedule
in the
church building.
Thank God
for that.
Thank God
for the
Sunday school
classes that
are making
disciples and
the youth
ministry that's
making disciples.
Thank God
for Awana.
I was
amazed at
what God is
doing through
those children.
I was here
Wednesday night
at the big
celebration and
I just sat
back there and
was just
thankful and
amazed and
grateful for
what God is
doing.
All those
things are
happening within
the schedule in
this church.
But there are
opportunities beyond
this church.
In fact some
of those
opportunities may
be more
effective than
what happens
within the
church.
More effective
because it's
more personal.
What if you
take a
classmate that
you have been
talking to
lately and
begin that
process of
bringing them
toward God
with a
hopefully for
the end result
is to make
a disciple
that they
may become
a disciple
maker.
What about
a person at
work?
What about
a person out
on the golf
course or at
the lake or
wherever you
are?
Why not
use those
opportunities
outside of
church?
The truth is
there's a
number of
people in
this community
that will
never walk
into a
church on
their own.
They're just
not going to
do it.
But you can
go to
them.
I think
that's why
the Great
Commission
says,
go,
therefore,
not invite,
therefore.
It tells us
to go.
Use those
opportunities
beyond the
church services
to make
disciples.
The last
thing is
this.
Well,
actually,
I've got
two.
Very
quickly.
Are you
using your
natural
relationships
to make
disciples?
I know
that God
calls us
outside of
our comfort
zone sometimes.
I understand
that.
He needs
to.
Right?
The Bible
does say,
by the way,
spur one
another on
to good
works.
So,
sometimes it's
uncomfortable.
But why
not actually
use your
comfort zone,
your natural
relationships
within your
family,
within your
friendship
circles?
in fact,
Fred,
Pastor Fred
handed out
the first
of the year
that concentric
circles of
concern.
Remember that?
Do you have
it in your
Bible?
It's in the
front of
mine.
That's using
natural
relationships.
I know of
people that I
can think of
right now that
I want to use a
very natural
relationship to
begin moving
them closer to
God.
And you have
people like that
too.
You'd love to
see them come
to know Christ
and maybe even
come to church.
Use those
natural relationships.
It's a great
place to start.
That's within
your comfort zone.
So why not?
One more thing
that I want to
share with you.
It's really good
news.
You ready?
If you were to
take all this
seriously and
say, I want to
do that.
I want to be
what the Bible
describes.
Here's the good
news.
You ready?
You don't have
to be perfect
to start.
I know what
it's like.
I know most
of you.
I still say
that.
I don't really
want to do
that until I
get a little
bit better at
something.
I don't want
to embarrass
myself because
I'm not really
that prepared.
I want to
study some
more.
Can't we
have some
more courses
at church
before I try
and do this?
Can't we have
another program?
Can't we have
another something?
We're always
waiting to where
something more
than we are
to start
being a
disciple
maker.
Truth is,
he needs you
now.
What if we
don't have
tomorrow?
The time is
now.
What does the
old cartoon
used to say?
Time's a
wasting.
It's time to
be busy about
the father's
business.
Now.
The world
cannot wait.
They need you
to share the
good news
of Jesus
Christ.
And to move
people toward
God that he
may reconcile
them and
make them his
child.
That they may
become a
disciple who
makes disciples.
Are you
willing to
embrace this
truth?
To refresh
your commitment
to this
call of God
given to us
and his
word.
I know
many of
you work
so hard
at doing
what God
has called
you to do.
And I
thank God
for you.
But most
of us have
room for
improvement.
Room for
growth.
We can make
that fresh
commitment.
Would you
consider doing
that today?
I'm going to
pray just for
a moment and
ask you to
pray along
with me.
and maybe
my words
just simply
don't fit
what your
heart is
telling you.
So just
ignore my
words if you
need to and
pray your
prayer to
God.
Refresh that
commitment to
being a
minister in
God's kingdom.
If you
send
me
to
the
node
of
the
hell
of
the
of
God's kingdom.
And I
ask
you
and