Intro:

• People question how we know Christianity is true. Hasn’t it changed over time? Isn’t our current Bible just a 2,000-year-old version of the telephone game?
• How do you know who to believe when different churches believe different things?
• In this “Origins” series we are looking at the origins of our Christian faith to see what the original Christians believed God meant in his Word.
• This week we are looking at the Original Ministers
• Many people are confused as to whom qualifies as a minister

Merriam-Webster Definition: one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship

• In 1 Peter 4:10 we see that all Christians have gifts and are to use them in Christian service
  • Everyone of us who is a Christian is also a minister.
• Jesus’ entire life was one of serving and he taught his followers how to serve as well (Luke 9:1-2)

1. SOME DON’T SERVE BECAUSE SERVING ACTUALLY TAKES A HEART CHANGE

• As we grow in spiritual maturity, we take on Jesus’ attitude of being others-focused. We need to have the attitude of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-3)
• There is a difference between volunteering and serving. You can volunteer without having the heart of God. Serving is all about having God’s heart in what we do.
• Part of that heart change is understanding we all need each other and are meant to care about each other in the body of Christ. (Romans 12:4-5)
  • We are all the better as a part of the body. Serving isn’t an obligation, it’s for our good!

2. SOME DON’T SERVE BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THEY ARE VALUABLE

• Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that the job of church leaders is to equip God’s people to serve
• From 1 Corinthians 12 we get the picture of the body of Christ being like a physical body.
  • There are many different parts and each one is valuable
  • We all need each other because none of us is complete in our ability to minister
• Some people have gift envy. How must that feel to God that his gifts to you aren’t enough?
  •  God sometimes gives new gifts to people as they prove faithful with the ones He’s currently given them.
• Sometimes people resent how they got their gifts because they came from adversity.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us that God uses our trials to comfort others
  • That experience you hate in your life may be something God can use you to help someone going through the same thing.
• Sometimes ministry is hard! But when we use our God-given gifts, abilities and passions, directed by the Holy Spirit, it changes the world! The church is God’s plan to reach a dying world and we get the privilege of being a part of that plan.

3. SOME DON’T SERVE BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START

• We want to help you identify gifts God has given you
  • Although gifting is important, the needs of the church are equally as important and sometimes we serve where there is a need, even though we don’t feel particularly equipped to fill it.