Serve One Another
1 Peter 4:7-11
Transcript
Well, good morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. We'll be in 1 Peter chapter 4. It's going to be on page 658. If your Bible looks like this, we're walking straight through the book of 1 Peter.
Football is the greatest sport that the world has ever created. And if you disagree with that, I just want to say welcome and that this is an okay place to be wrong. And I forgive you. Football is great. It is the best sport. And one of the great things about it is that I actually was recently talking to Raz Bradley.
He was up here earlier, gave kind of intro stuff, talking about who we are as a church family. He's from Australia. So if you thought he talked funny, maybe he had water in his mouth or something. He came over here and one of the things he said was that when he first got here, everybody loves what he would call American football. He still calls soccer football and I forgive him. But he said that he didn't like it.
Everybody liked American football and he just didn't appreciate it, didn't like it. And he said the more that he's watched it, the more that he's actually really started to appreciate it. And one of the things he said he loves about it is that in football, everybody has a different Job. And they really only need to be good at that job. They need that skill set and that's it. So in a lot of other sports, in basketball, yeah, they've got different positions.
But mostly, you've got to dribble, you've got to shoot. Everybody's got to be kind of good at the same thing. Same thing with baseball. The pitcher's the only one. They don't care about batting. But everybody else needs to be able to throw, catch, bat.
Soccer's the same thing. They have different positions, but you've really got to be able to do all the same kind of stuff. Everybody's got to kick. Everybody's got to run. But in football, you can have a football team.
There are guys on the team that don't even have to be fast. They don't even really have to be crazy athletic. Like, I'm going to talk about South Carolina because we won so we can talk about us for a week. Fry, he's the only thing we've got going right now. He's Fry, he's the kicker. He weighs like 87 pounds.
All he has to do is kick. And kickers just show up late to practice. They kick for like an hour. They goof off. They do nothing. Nobody cares as long as they can kick.
And I just saw a Tennessee fan and I'm sorry. But nobody cares as long as they can kick. Like, that's all they want. And then if they can't kick or they miss kicks, it's next week in practice. We care about you again. We need to talk to you again because all you need to be able to do is kick.
But they're like Tom Brady. He's one of the best quarterbacks the NFL's ever had. Sorry, Buffalo fans. But he's one of the best quarterbacks the NFL's ever had. He is like the slowest person in the NFL. He runs like a 7, a 40.
He runs like a 7 flat. He's not faster than anyone, but he doesn't have to be able to run. And that's the beautiful thing about football is that there are guys on the team that need to be really big. And they can be slow. There are guys that need to be really small and fast and can catch. Some people need to be able to throw.
Other people just need to be able to. Can you run your body into someone else's body? Yes. When you do that, do they fall down? Most of the time. You're on the team.
You did it. Someone else will line you up. You don't even need to really think. Just run into the person that's holding this. That's really. And so what's cool about that is that everybody has a job.
And they don't have to be good at everything. And nobody's worried if I'm better at this than you as long as you're doing your job. And there are a lot of things that work like that. Chick-fil-A works like that. If you go into Chick-fil-A. And there are only people who can take your order.
There's like 7 of them up at the front. And they're all talking over each other. And they're all trying to press the button. And nobody's cooking. That's the worst Chick-fil-A ever. It's like, hey, let me tell you all out.
I'm going to just help you out. Some of you need to get in the back. But if you show up at Chick-fil-A and it's only cooks. That would be even worse. Because you could see and smell the chicken. But there would be no one to facilitate.
Like all they could just sit back there. You'd be like, dude, thanks for cooking. They'd be like, my pleasure. No, no, no, no. Somebody needs to ring me up though. Like I need to be able to hand my money.
Somebody, we've got to have a difference of Job. A difference of role. And what we're going to see is Peter in this part of the Bible. As he's writing. And what he said last week was turn away from sin and turn to. And now we're looking at what he's saying to turn to.
What it looks like to follow Jesus. He's actually going to say that God has designed his church to operate in this way. That we're not all gifted in the same way. We're not supposed to be. We're not all designed to do the same thing. We're not supposed to be.
That it's actually a really beautiful picture of Jesus at work in his church. When we're good at different things. And we get to work together for the good of others. By doing what we were designed to do. And that in that way we don't get to be upset with each other. Because I'm good at this and you're not.
Or you're good at that and I'm not. We actually are all given something to do. And it works out really beautifully. And that way the church gets to be kind of like football. And that's really beautiful. I'm going to pray and we're going to hop in.
God we thank you for this opportunity that we have. To study your word. And to just to grow. And to enjoy being together as your people. And as church family together. And we pray Lord that you would work.
To help us see where you have gifted us. So that we might be able to serve one another. In Jesus name. Amen. So he's going to start off.
He's been saying this is how you turn away from. Sin. And so last week he. Listed out this. These are the things that you should be done with by now. These are the things that the time has sufficed.
You're you're done. And then he's going to say. This is what it looks like to submit yourself to the will of God. And so he starts off with. We're going to be in verse seven. The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers. Okay. So the way he started that sentence should make us all perk up. The end of all things is his hand. Okay. I'm listening.
What are we talking about Peter? Here. The biblical writers write as if Jesus will return at any moment. That Jesus has died. He paid the penalty for our sin. And at some point the next step is for Jesus to return.
For Jesus to come back. For judgment to take place. For him to welcome his church back home. And Jesus in the gospel says this over and over again to the disciples. I'm going to come back when you don't expect me. I'm going to come like a thief in the night.
I'm going to come back. Be at work. Be ready. So every once in a while in our culture. So they just had this running in their mind all the time that Jesus could return whenever he wanted to.
But every once in a while in our culture we get stirred up on some sort of a it's going to happen now. Like we have the Herald camping thing. People get out. They put out signs. There's a sign as you're going into Lexington right now. A billboard that's just some verse from Joel.
And it's like yeah that's in the Bible. Well that's a good verse. There are probably better more helpful ones that make more sense as you're reading them on a billboard. But okay. Yep. That's good.
But there's this idea that like Jesus is going to come back. There's going to be this thing. There are these signs. We've got to be ready. And mostly though the way we take it is like so have a lot of toilet paper. Make sure you've got some canned goods.
Get in your bunker. And that's not the biblical writers aren't saying that at all. They're saying hey Jesus is going to come back at some point. Be at work. Be helping other people meet Jesus. Because when he cracks open the sky.
When he returns. That's all that's going to matter. Don't hide. Help other people come to know him. Like be building relationships with your neighbors. Be.
And so that's what he says is be sober minded. Self controlled and sober minded. For the sake of your prayers. And so he even shows there. That how important prayer is. That we actually should change our behavior for our prayers.
So that our prayers would be more effective. So that we might pray better. We're actually going to spend. When we finish with first Peter. We're going to spend a couple weeks just talking about prayer. But one of the things I think that we see here.
Is when he says be self controlled. And he just came out of this passage. Talking about turning away from sin. Here's something that's real about prayer and sin. Sinning hinders our ability to pray. Not that God doesn't want to listen to us or talk to us.
But that when we do talk to God. That's what he wants to talk about. So when we are actively in sin. Pursuing sin. Not repenting. When we participate in genuine real prayer.
Where we actually talk with Jesus. That's one of the first things he's going to address. It's one of the first things he's going to go after in us. Is our lack of repentance. Our lack of trusting in him. Our lack of believing the gospel.
And this is. I know this to be true. So recently. I did some sinning. And I didn't want to talk to my wife about it. And I didn't want to confess it to anybody.
And I didn't want Jesus to lead me to repentance. So I was still praying. Because I'm a pastor and I'm supposed to. I was still praying. But I didn't really.
I was even praying one day. And I was like. Lord help me to have a good prayer life. And then I thought. But not so good.
That you make me repent. Because I know that if I actually get to praying. Really talking with Jesus. And the Holy Spirit shows up. One of the first things he's going to do is say. Hey.
You know that dark spot in your soul right now. You know that area you don't want to talk about. Let's talk about that. And I didn't want to talk about that. But I knew that that was one of the first things.
We'd have to handle as. As I began praying. And I think that's one of the reasons he says. Be self-controlled. So that we can pray about other things.
So that we can actually talk about other things. So that we can pray for mission. And for our neighbors. Same thing with sober minded. It just means think rightly. And so if we're thinking rightly about the world.
You'll be praying for your neighbors. You'll be praying. God I think I may be the only Christian on this block. I may be the only Christian. As far as the members I've met. In this part of the complex.
The apartment complex. And Lord I just pray that you'd help me to have an opportunity. I think you may be putting me here for a reason. I may be the only Christian on this floor. At work. We'll begin to see the world rightly.
Because we know that the end of all things is at hand. That Jesus can come back at any point. And so we'll be able to actually pray about mission. Actually pray about others. Because we'll turn away from sin. We won't have to talk to him as much about that.
And we'll be thinking rightly. Then he says above all. So he's laying down the trump card. Ace of spades here. Above all. Keep loving one another earnestly.
Since love covers a multitude of sins. Above all. Keep loving one another earnestly. Since love covers a multitude of sins. Now we take this out of context.
We'll take this love covers a multitude of sins. And we'll use it like. So the Bible says that's sin. But it doesn't matter. Because we're in love. Or if I'm a really loving person.
Then all of this is just covered by my love. That's not. That's not what it's saying. And you. You have to take it out of context. Because just before this.
Last week. We read. Where he says. This is sin. And this is sin. And this is sin.
Turn away from it. Run from it. Don't have that be a part of your life. So it can't mean. Oh if you're just a loving person. Go for it.
That's not. That's not what it means. What it means is. And this is what I think it means. Practically. Is that if we love each other.
We'll work past sin. That love will cover the fact. That we're going to hurt each other's feelings. That we're going to be selfish. That we're going to sin against each other. We'll give each other more grace.
If we genuinely love each other. It means that we'll talk to each other. So in our church family. One of the things. One of the ways that we apply love. Is that when somebody has offended us.
We go talk to them. That's one of the ways that love plays out. In my relationship with Anna. I just assume that she cares about me. I assume we're on the same team. I assume that what she's doing.
Isn't vindictive. Or intentionally to harm me. So I can go talk to her. And say hey. This hurt my feelings. Or this isn't okay.
Between us right now. And she gets to do the same thing. And we get to do the same thing. As a church family. We get to love one another. Which means that.
We'll overcome sin. We'll go say hey. I think I offended you here. I didn't mean to. Or hey. You offended me here.
We need to talk about that. And love will make it to where we actually. Can overcome sin. And if we do love one another. We'll have those conversations. That aren't fun.
But are good. The other thing that we need to know about the Bible. Is that it uses love. Love usually is a verb. It's just an action. It's how we choose to respond to things.
So we choose to love one another. We act on love. It's not just a feeling. So what it doesn't mean is. When you're hanging out with your community group. You just need to feel all warm and gushy inside.
Like it doesn't mean love one another. Like sit and look around the room. Be like. I swear I wasn't going to do this. I just love you guys so much. Now maybe that happens in your group.
I don't think I'll ever do that. When I'm hanging out with my group. But. That's not going to happen. But we choose to love one another.
By how we serve. By how we go out of our way for each other. By how we approach one another. And so. That's that's love is expressed through action. So above all love one another.
Earnestly. Since love covers a multitude of sin. And so Peter's just at this point. He's just addressing what it looks like. As we turn away from sin. And we start following the will of God.
What it looks like for us. As a church. As church family. Verse nine. Show hospitality to one another. Without grumbling.
Show hospitality to one another. Without grumbling. Grumbling. This means. One another means inside of the church. It means that inside of the church.
We need to have our. Our homes open to each other. And our lives. Open to each other. Without grumbling. We need to not be worried about.
People making messes. Or eating all our food. We can talk to them about it. If they do that. Every time you come over here. You eat all my food.
Next time. Bring some chips with you. Right when they're walking out the door. Hey. Hey. Time out.
Now. We're not cleaning up your plate. You can get back in there. I believe in you. You can put that in the sink. Like you can do that.
That's okay. But it means that our homes would be open to one another. That we would share life with each other. Share our lives with others. And this pushes against our westernness. Our American-ness.
Anna and I were at the house the other day. And doorbell rang. And I was like. We both just looked at each other. Like should we hide? Like what?
Do you think they've seen us? Like. I wonder if they know. Where our cars are. And what that means. See like.
So it was just like. We looked. And I got up. And I walked around the corner. And I was. And I looked back at her.
And said. Ah. It's just the UPS guy. Like. Sweet. We don't have to actually talk to a human.
He was just putting a box down. That's great. The worst is when he's like. Stands there. And I got to sign for it. Because now I'm going to have to talk to him.
And be like. Thanks for the box. Sir. But he left. And that was great. I just got to bring the box inside.
There's something about us that just feels like our home is our refuge. It's our escape from the world. It is where we go to watch television of other people having friends. And their friends are in their house. But nobody's in our house touching our stuff.
Breathing up our air. And making us have to clean. Like nobody's here doing that. And so. But what he says is.
No. Have your homes open to each other. Now some people are more inclined to do this. But all of us are commanded to. So some people are like.
Sweet. Yeah. I already do that. Other people. It doesn't mean have people to where they can just show up at your house all the time. But it does mean on a regular basis.
Have other Christians. Other people from your group. In your home. Have your doors open. Share some meals together. And here's one of the things that I think we miss out on.
We're called to make disciples as Christians. Which means that we're supposed to help other people meet Jesus. And then help everybody who knows Jesus. And then help everybody who knows Jesus. Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus.
In the normal everyday stuff of life. And if we don't include our home in that. We miss out on a major opportunity for discipleship. Some of us and most of us actually. The best place we have. For helping other people follow Jesus.
Is our home. That is the best tool we have for discipleship. And we completely rule that out as an option. So we'll meet with somebody every other Tuesday at a Starbucks. Talk about stuff. But we never actually.
And that's not bad. But we never actually get to see normal everyday life of following Jesus. We have people in our church family. Who are Christians. The best examples they have. The best thing they know about what they have seen in life.
Is that it was a bad example. That's the best they've got. So they have never actually seen. A family where a father and a mother. Were trying to raise children that love Jesus. And they're trying to raise children that love Jesus.
But they've never seen it. They're married couples who've never seen. What it looks like to be married and love Jesus. I was talking to somebody in my community group the other day. And he said that when he was abused as a child. After his dad would beat him.
He would make himself feel better by saying. This is just what it's like to be a child. This is how parents treat their children. He would just. That was what he used to console himself. Was all other kids are going through this.
This is what it's like. He knows that's not true now. But the best example he has. The best one he's seen up close. Is that. He knows it was wrong.
But he doesn't have a good mental framework. For what it looks like. For people to actually follow Jesus. And so if we don't as Christians. Open up our homes. How are we going to get to see those good pictures.
How are we going to get to grow. In the midst of that. So. Older couples. Invite younger couples over to share a meal with you. It doesn't have to be fancy.
It doesn't have to be a big ordeal. You don't have to clean up your house too much. Or at all. You live there. Just invite them in. We were going to be eating spaghetti.
We just cooked more noodles. We always cook more noodles. Because we don't know how to measure out. How many noodles we need. I saw a thing that said. The way to measure spaghetti.
Is guess how much you think you need. Wrong. That's the way to measure spaghetti. Just invite some people over. Invite some younger couples. So they get to see what it looks like.
For a couple that's 30 years ahead of them. Loving Jesus. Following Jesus. Parents with older children. Invite some parents with younger children. Over to your house.
There's some people in our church. Who have a daughter. That's six months old. Daughters that are four years old. They need to be at your house. When your 14 year old daughter.
Is texting a guy. And tells you. That he's her boyfriend. They need to watch you lose your mind. And repent. Or not lose your mind.
And handle it well. Like they need to be there. Because that's going to happen one day. And the best they've got is. I might lose my mind. They can at least kind of walk through that with you.
They need to be there. I've got a six month old boy. I need to come to your house. And watch you. Teach your five year old. How to play t-ball.
I need to watch you make him cry. I need to see your wife. Tell you you're being too hard on him. I need to see you wrestle with the idea. Of I'm trying to raise a man. But he's five.
But he needs to learn. How to hit a ball off a stick. I need you to handle talking to your wife. Which is like dear. Why don't you just go inside? Like I need to be there.
I need to debrief with you. I need to be like. Why did you say it that way? Why did. I felt like you were going to choke at somebody. But you didn't.
That was great. Like. Otherwise how will I know how to do it? Like how. How will we grow together. If we're never in real life together.
And this is just normal life. Going to the grocery store. Show hospitality. Invite people to be a part of that with you. Have them come over to your house. As you.
Maybe moms. You do the grocery shopping. Maybe you've got four children. You have to take them to the grocery store. Invite some other people in your group. To come be a part of that.
So they can see what that's like. Have them come over to your house. Have them see what it's like to load four children in a car. Have them see what it's like to go to the grocery store. To while you're talking. You're having to pay attention to four children.
While you're trying to look at your list. You're having to get that out of your mouth. You're having to pay attention to four children. And you're. You're having to. What?
No. No. No. We already got cookies. Put those back. And you're.
You're trying to just explain how. I said put them back. We have cookies. I realize there are seven different types of Oreo. Put them. Put them.
Put them back. Put them back. Where's your sister? Like. You need to have these conversations. She comes back up.
What is green on your face? Where's your other shoe? Like. You need somebody there to help you find the shoe. And to help you grow. And what it looks like.
To be in normal everyday life as a Christian. Trying to parent children that love Jesus. Trying to walk with your spouse and love Jesus. Trying to. Families. This means that we invite single people over to our houses for normal Tuesday night dinner.
It means that we invite people over to just watch a show. It means that. That on holidays. Family holidays. We invite some of the single people from our group. Hey.
If you don't have. If you're up here for school. If you're just living by yourself right now. And you want to come share some Thanksgiving dinner with us. Our table's open. That's what he's talking about.
And that's one of the best opportunities we have. To help people grow up. And what it looks like to love Jesus. Single people. This applies to you. Invite people to your house.
Invite married couples. Invite married couples with children to your house. I'll give you a suggestion. Don't invite them to your house like they're your other single friends. If you text them on Thursday. Want to come to my house and eat dinner tonight.
I'll answer that for you. No. Maybe. Maybe I want to. There's no way that's happening. Most people get married.
And they learn that they have to plan things in advance. For what reason? I don't know. My wife and I have to plan things in advance. I'll say. Hey.
We're not doing anything on Saturday. And she'll be like. I know. I'll be like. So we can go do this.
She'll be like. No. I planned that we wouldn't do anything. That's not a plan. No. But I wrote it down.
It says hang out with Chad. I'll be there. People have to. So if you're single. And you're going to invite people over. Every house.
Let me give you a few ways to do this. Go to them and say. What are you doing three Thursdays from now? You have no clue what you're doing two days from now. They know what they're doing three Thursdays from now. Or they may be like.
I don't know. And be like. All right. What about next Thursday? Just bring it in closer. Gauge it on the person you're talking with.
Do this. Hey. I'd like to have you all over for dinner. You tell me when is a good time to do that. Married couples. Families.
Say yes to those invitations. Figure out a way to be there. Realize. Realize. That if you invite one person over to your house. You went from four or five to six or seven.
Nope. That math doesn't work out. Four or five to five or six. That wasn't hard. You already made too much noodles anyway. If a single person invites you over.
And you bring you and your wife and your three children. They went from one. To a lot. Bring something. Show up with some food. Single people.
Let me know. Let me tell you this. I'll be done with this in just a second. If you invite married couples. Or married couples with children to your house. They may think about how difficult it is.
For them to ever leave the house. Ever. And they may just say. Why don't you just come to our house and eat. And then you can say yes to that. And you get a free meal out of the deal.
And all you had to do was bluff. Like you were going to be willing to feed them. Open your homes. Open your lives. It's one of the best opportunities you have. To grow.
In what it looks like to love Jesus. Married couples without children. Invite a couple of single couples over to your house from your group. And offer to watch all the children that are in your group. And just say hey. A couple of us are going to babysit all of your children.
We're going to have as many people over here as possible. So that we can have like three adults per child. Y'all go on a date. And we'll hang out and watch Kung Fu Panda together. But the goal being that we would have normal everyday life.
Where we would get to see clear pictures of what it's like to follow Jesus. And if you're sitting there thinking. Well I'm not the best husband. I'm not the best mom. My roommates and I don't get along. Right.
And the people you're inviting over. Aren't the best husband or won't be the best husband. Aren't the best mom or won't be the best mom. And they need to see somebody trying to follow Jesus. In the midst of that. They already don't get along with their roommates.
They'll look forward to come over to your house for a little while. And seeing how you handle it. And then you all get to grow together. I need people to be around my house. When you invite people into your home. They help you with stuff.
I had somebody in my house recently. And they were just walking around. They have kids. And they were going. Is that attached to the wall? No.
Attach it to the wall or get rid of it. It's like. Oh. I haven't even thought about that. Like he's. I should have.
But I haven't. Because I haven't had a child knock over everything in my house yet. Eventually. Everything will be screwed to the wall. Or be gone. Young couples.
You need to go to someone's house. And realize that your white carpet was a bad decision. Like. We need to be around each other. So that we can grow.
And so that we can address sin in the normal. In the everyday. Because we're all trying to follow Jesus in everyday. And if we don't open our lives to each other. We won't get to. So that's what he's saying.
Be. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Let me just say this. The Pabones in our church family do this very well. They have people in their house five out of seven days. They invite people into their lives all the time.
When we moved to Sunday mornings and said. We were going to have Sunday afternoons for us to be around church family. For us to build relationships. They just said okay. Every Sunday people are welcome to our house. Now you may be going.
I can't have people in my house five out of seven days. That's right. That's probably true for a lot of us. But you can have people in your house twice a month to start. You can have people over every time you're watching a certain show. Have them be around.
We need to start figuring out ways to open our lives to each other. Okay. So he keeps going. As each has received a gift. Use it to serve one another. As good stewards of God's varied grace.
Whoever speaks is one who speaks oracles of God. Whoever serves is one who serves by the strength that God supplies. In order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Okay.
So as each has received a gift. Use it to serve one another. As good stewards of God's varied grace. What this means is that God in his grace has gifted us. But he didn't gift us all the same.
If you even just looked on the road that you're in. There's not the same gift set present. If you are in your community group. You have a different gift set than anybody else there. God in his varied grace. Which means he graciously gave you something.
But he didn't give you the same thing he gave somebody else. Has gifted all of us. And he says use it to serve one another. As good stewards. So a steward means that you've been given something that's not yours.
It's the same way we talk about money. All money belongs to God. And we need to steward it well. All of our money is on loan. It's the same thing with our abilities and our talent. It all belongs to God.
And we need to handle it well. We need to approach it well. And we need to use what we're good at to serve others. And then he basically says if it's speaking. Speak as if you speak on behalf of God. And it's serving.
Serve with the strength that God gives you. Everything comes from God. Is on behalf of God. And is used for the benefit of others. As God works in us through his grace. So a gift.
The way it uses it there. Is anything that you're good at. Anything that you're capable of doing. And it means anything. Can you bake? Are you good at conversations?
Do you have conversations with people on a regular basis? And they say. I've just never. I've never told anybody that before. Or you just sit down and have a conversation with somebody. And they just start.
I haven't said this to someone in so long. Like does that just happen to you on a normal basis? Are you. Do you make people feel comfortable or welcome? When you invite people. Do they just show up at stuff?
Can you fix cars or a washing machine? Can you build things? Can you play an instrument? Can you sing? Can you run fast? Like whatever you're gifted with.
Can you sew? Can you cook? Do you enjoy having people over at your house? Do you enjoy helping clean up? Do you enjoy anything? Whatever you have been gifted with.
Use it to serve one another. This is why. One of the reasons why. That community groups are primary for us. There is a limited amount of opportunity to serve on a Sunday. There's opportunity to serve on a Sunday.
And if you're interested in serving. There's opportunity to serve on a Sunday. But it's limited. And it's not all the time. So we've got people right now serving in Kid City.
That are gifted. Lord willing. To be around children. But they're going to do this once. And then not for a couple of weeks. So they're going to use their gifting today.
And then not for a couple of weeks. So they can be in here as part of a normal church family. We've got people that are going to show up and set things up. People that are going to help clean up when we leave. We've got people that are going to help host and welcome people. But they're going to do it on a rotating basis.
And there's a limited number of availability for that. It's actually in our community groups. Where we get to use our gifts all the time. In normal everyday life. All the time. So let me show you how this works.
This is your community group. And this is how this begins to play out in your group. There's a person in your community group. That has way, way too many friends. Too many friends. And they know all of their names.
So they might be a magician. You don't know how they do this. They have more friends than you have people in your phone. And you never delete Numbers. You don't know how they keep up with all these people. But they have way too many friends.
You've got someone else in your group. That when they invite someone to something. They just show up. They make the most mundane things seem fun. They'll be like, oh hey. Somebody's coming.
I met them at Walmart. What? You could be a murderer. Why did they agree to come? I don't know. We just talked for a minute.
They said it sounded like it was cool. They're coming. Okay, great. That person may not talk to them once they show up. They don't know how to have real long conversations. They just know how to be like, hey.
I want to do this thing. Sure. And then when they get there. They don't talk to them anymore. But you've got people in your group.
That as soon as they show up. They're going to make them feel comfortable. They make them feel welcome. You've got people in your group. They can have a conversation with the most awkward person in the world. In the world.
You don't know how they do it. They just keep the conversation going. They're talking to someone who kills conversations. And they just resuscitate the conversation. You're in these conversations with people. They kill the conversation.
And you go. All right. Like you don't know how to. And this person is just able to talk to anybody. You sit down. Oh, somebody else has already cooked.
Has already prepared food. Is good at it. You're the person who's like. I'm bringing cheese. Because you don't have to cook cheese. Just bring it.
I'm the Dorito guy. Like that's me in my group. Like I'll bring plates. Like that's all I got. Other people are going to cook things. They're going to cook things that taste good.
I've cooked a few things. I burnt it. My group makes fun of me. I don't cook anymore. I'm the cheese guy. That's me.
They're going to show up. They're going to have food there. So that when somebody's invited. They're going to show up. It's going to feel welcome. There's someone who hosts well.
Their home is open to people. You're going to sit. And as you start talking. Somebody's going to ask a really confusing question. And everybody's going to look to a certain person in your group. Because they're the person who helps with really confusing questions.
You're like that's a good question. And that person's gifted to answer the question. That's what they're good at. That's what God's designed them to do. They read theology books for fun. They're weird.
But God gave them that ability. You're sitting there. And someone starts talking about things that are going on in their life. And how much pain is going on. And they start crying. And someone else in your group.
Across the table. Starts crying too. And you're thinking. Why are you crying? Or did something else happen to you? It's called empathy.
You've never experienced it. But you're seeing it. This person gets up from the table. Walks over. Sits next to this person. Puts their arm around them.
And says. We love you. And we're glad you're here. And you think. I never would have thought to do that. That was great.
We do love that person. We are glad they're here. I would have never said that. You got someone else who starts hearing this story. And says. Hey.
I can help cook meals while that's going on. Someone else in your group. Who's really organized. And loves spreadsheets. Says. I'll make a spreadsheet.
I'll make sure we have meals for the whole two weeks. That this is happening. I'll make sure that we're organized. I'm not cooking anything. I'm spreadsheet person. This is what I got.
And it's great. And you're organized. And then someone else is going to be able to articulate the gospel. Into this situation. In a way that. You know that.
But you wouldn't have been able to put it into words. And someone else in your group is going to say. Let me just tell you how Jesus shows up here. Let me just tell you how Jesus shows up in the midst of our pain. And gives us hope. And grace.
And what's beautiful about this. As this plays out. As people begin to say. I'll come help serve. I'll come help clean. I'll come help fix that issue.
As your group gets to be what we're designed to be. Here's what he says. Start back at 10. As each has received a gift. Use it to serve one another. As good stewards.
Of God's varied grace. Whoever speaks. As one who speaks oracles of God. Whoever serves. As one who serves. By the strength that God supplies.
In order. That in everything. God may be glorified. Through Jesus Christ. To him. Belong glory and dominion forever.
Amen. Amen. If we all use our gifts. And we all serve. Jesus gets the glory. Because Jesus gets to show up.
You see. Jesus came. And he did everything for us. He loved perfectly. He had perfect empathy. He challenged perfectly.
He corrected perfectly. He taught perfectly. And he died perfectly in our place. To cover our sin. And to set us free. And Jesus now works.
In varied ways. Through his church. By his grace. To do exactly what he was doing. When he was here. But he spreads it out.
Amongst all of his people. And so. If just a handful of people serve. They might. We might mistakenly. Give them glory.
We might mistakenly. Give them credit. When it's actually. Jesus at work. And as all of us say. This is what I'm good at.
And this is how I'm going to serve. Jesus shows up. So it's in our community groups. Where we get to see. Everybody serving. Everybody using their gift.
Everybody working. That we begin to say. There's something different here. Jesus is at work here. And Jesus gets the glory. As we all serve.
So. I'm going to walk us through. Just a few practical things. When it comes to gifting. Just to try to be helpful. When it comes to your gifting.
If you're sitting there going. Well I don't really know. What I'm good at. I don't know. What I'm gifted at. The first thing you want to ask is.
What am I good at? If you're an English person. You want to ask. What at. What am I good? But if you're everyone else.
You want to ask. What am I good at? If you want to take the sheets. In front of you. There. There.
And just jot a few things down. Right. Number one. And just start thinking. What. What am I good at?
What do I. What do I do well? What are the things that I do. That other people say. Hey you're really. Like that was good.
You're really good at that. What are the things that you do. That other people. Like it. Destroys their soul. But you're just gifted there.
So you just hop in and do it. And it doesn't even bother you. You don't even think about it. The next thing you want to ask is. What do I enjoy? Sometimes these overlap.
And that's great. Sometimes you're good at this. And you enjoy this. That's fine. Write those down. Some of you enjoy singing.
You're not good at it. You just enjoy it. That's great. Sing in the shower. Some of you are good at it. And you enjoy it.
That's great. Like you want to figure out. What am I good at? What do I enjoy? So some people enjoy fixing cars.
And are good at it. Some of them are just good at it. They don't want to do it as a hobby. But they're good at it. So begin to think about.
What am I good at? What do I enjoy? And then you want to ask this question. How can I use that. To serve other people. Whatever it is.
How can I use that. To serve other people. And some of you may sit and think for a while. And you go. Okay. What am I good at?
I wrote math with a question Mark. And what do I enjoy? I wrote food and ping pong. But food isn't cooking. It's more eating. Okay.
Here's what we need to do. If that's you. If you're just like. I just don't know. Try stuff. And then ask those questions.
Try stuff. And then ask those questions. Number three can be other. Just try stuff. And then ask other people that. Was I good at this?
Church family. When you see somebody doing something that they're good at. Tell them. If there is anybody right now that you thought. Hey they're really good at that. But did not say it to them.
Go tell them. We often assume that people know what they're good at. And we are often wrong. Or we think somebody else has already told them. Or the reason they're doing it is because they know they're good at it. They may just be doing it.
And you need to go say. Hey I've seen Jesus at work here. I've seen God work through you when you do this. Hey when you answer questions. When you show up and serve. When you host.
You host really well. Like we just need to tell people. Encourage them. If someone asks you. Was I good at that? And the answer is no.
Find a gracious way to say no. Because what this says is that God has gifted us. They actually are good at something. It just may not be that. Find a gracious way to. Don't lie to them.
Let's not nice it up as a church family. And just be fake nice. And not be willing to say something. Hey. Man that was a solid effort. Stay away from children.
I love you. I want to set you free. To do other things. Be willing to say that. So that they can be free to do other things.
So that they can do something else. Try not to crush people. Some of you are like. Sweet. You need to work on that. Don't be excited about hurting people's feelings.
But if there's somebody that you've thought. Hey. This person does this well. And you haven't told them. Tell them. Encourage them.
That's how people find stuff out. If somebody comes to you and says. Hey. I want to tell you that you're really good at this. Let me tell you how to respond. Thank you.
That's encouraging. You can ask more questions. Don't try to downplay it. Don't be like. Well. It's just.
It's all about Jesus. I know it's all about Jesus. But he told us to come tell you this. Don't get on my nerves. Like. Yeah.
That's what he said. As people serve. Jesus shows up. That's. Got it. But you're good at this.
That's okay to say. So just. Thank you. That's encouraging. Ask more people. Hey.
This person said I was good at this. Am I? You see. As we all get to serve. As we all get to use our gifts. Which we are gifted.
As we all get to use them. Jesus shows up. And we're designed. To work this way. God in his grace. Has gifted us.
It's like the difference. Between going to a restaurant. And eating at home. So when you go to a restaurant. I get to just sit down. I have expectations.
About what's going to happen. I expect that. I'll have a server. I have mental expectations. Of how often they'll come by. If I make eye contact with them.
And then they act like they didn't see me. Oh. You saw me. Like I've got some. If they bring out mashed potatoes. And they're cold.
I just get to go. Nope. These mashed potatoes are cold. Can y'all. It seems like you microwaved them. But you didn't stir them.
Can you at least stir them. After you microwave them this time. I'm not that rude necessarily. But. I got to work on it. That's why y'all need to be.
Eating at restaurants with me. So when they leave. You can go. Hey you need to repent. But you can send it back.
I can't do that. Like when I was growing up. I couldn't do that at home. I couldn't just plop down at the table. I couldn't look at my mom. And be like.
Hey when's the meal going to be ready. Like. I've been sitting here for a while. When she sat down. I couldn't go. Nope.
My potatoes are cold. You want to hop back in there. Like couldn't do that. That's not how family works. Like you got to help set the table. You got to help clean up afterwards.
You got to go into the kitchen. And do some dishes. You got to take the trash out. There's some people. Who've been hanging out. With our church family.
And you're like. They talk about family all the time. But this doesn't feel like family. When was the last time. You took the trash out. When was the last time you served.
When was the last time. You looked at your gifting. And said. I'm going to use this. To serve other people. Because that.
Is what begins to make us feel like family. That's where we begin to show love. If you don't feel like you love anybody. It's not because you don't have these feelings. It's because you haven't been. Serving and working.
That's how you love. That's why. Marriages. A lot of times. Begin to love their children more. And families will grow old.
And they'll love their children. But that's a weird relationship between. Because they all began serving the children. And forgot how to serve each other. When we serve people. That's how we show love.
And that's how we get to be family. And that's how we get to grow together. And so. I would just encourage you. If you feel like. Ah.
Yeah. I don't feel like family. Are you using your gifts? Are you serving? Are you showing up to your group. With something to offer.
Something to give. Some way to participate. Are you trying to find ways. To help people. And to serve. And to use your gifts.
Band's going to come back up and play. Okay. What I would like to encourage us with. Is take a second. And as if there is anybody. That you have thought.
Man they're good at this. They're helpful when they do this. This is great. They're a part of our group. And they do this. Tell them.
Before you leave today. Tell them. Or make a note if they're not here. To tell them. Let them know. That God works in them.
So they'll do more of it. If you haven't been serving. If you haven't been using your gifts. If you don't know what they are. Sit down. Spend some time thinking about it.
We're going to actually do some of that. In our groups this week. Try something. Try to use your gifts. And realize. All of us are gifted.
And when we all serve together. People get to see Jesus. When we all pull together. We'll feel more like family. We'll realize. That we have love for one another.
And more people will get to see Jesus. More people will get to clearly see him at work in us. And that our hope is fully in Jesus. So we don't have certain gifts. We have to be good at. We don't have certain things.
We've got to accomplish. We don't have to get it together. We get to trust Jesus. And we get to know that. As we in a faulty way. Serve alongside others.
More people get to see him. Let's pray. God we thank you. God I just thank you. For when the Bible is just very practical. When you just take the time.
In your word. To just. Coach us up. And to help us out. And to help us see areas. Where we maybe need to.
To grow. Or to. To serve. God I pray that our church family. Would serve. That you would help us.
Through your Holy Spirit. To know where you have gifted us. That we might all use our gift. To serve one another. That God we might all know. That we are gifted by you.
And it is for the benefit of those. In our group. And for the benefit of those in this room. That we might use it for your glory. I pray Lord that you would help us. Remember.
People that need to be. Told. Where they're good. Where they serve. Where they do well. And be able to encourage them.
I pray Lord that if. If we're encouraged. That we would. Take that well. And realize that it's your grace. And not our ability.
God I pray that. As our church family. We would have our. Our homes open. To one another. And our lives open to one another.
That we might use our homes. As a tool for. Growth. And a tool for discipleship. And not just as an escape. And God I pray that we would see.
Many. Families. And singles. And couples. And. Just begin to invite one another.
And be around one another. And open their homes to one another. That we might all grow. In our love for you. That we might all clearly see. Our need for you.
We thank you Jesus. For being so good to us. In your name we pray. Amen.