GOD'S STRATEGY FOR BUILDING THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

December 12, 2007

mikematijevich

mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:        

         This study important for this church to becomeall that God desires for us.

         *         To understand and achieve individually & collectively.

*         We will NOT grow to become Spiritually or numericallyUNTILwe ALL understands & APPLY         this biblical teaching.

*         This is not our final study on spiritual gifts- 13 & 14 continue on…

I.         GOD HAS A PLAN  1 Cor. 12:27-31          Strategic Instruction if we are to grow…

(12:27) This verse calls on us as to "who" we are…

         *         Not "like the body of Christ" (not an analogy) (not kinda like…)

         ***         Absolute - Blockbusterkind of statement- "We are the body of Christ".

         *         Think about that!          (Y O U are the body-)

         *         Paradise is the body of Christ!

Mt 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

         *         Not here physically - but He is present in the church!

         *         Consider this… the way He puts feet arms, etc in the world is by US!

         ***         If you grasp that NEVER be satisfied with just going to church.

 

Eph. 1:15-23 (the longest sentence in scripture…)

       1:22-23 "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (v 23)  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

        

         *         That is why the local church is so important- not the LONE RANGER.

         *         So what is your interest in His BODY?

                  DO need any other Christians?

1 Cor. 1:27 Summary of all that we have learned in chapter 12…

         *         All important principle.

1 Cor. 1:19-20 We saw people that UNDERVALUED their importance! Yes you are important! 1 Cor. 1:21-24a) Don't OVERESTIMATE your IMPORTANCE- 1 Cor. 1:24-26 We saw our NEED for MUTUAL CARE- We are made to NEED each other.

 

We must begin here- We are the body of Christ- individually & collectively.

         There is a Cinergy to being together- pool our resources, energy…

         God NEVER made us to function by ourselves- we need each other.

         *         Can't get along with the brothers…

II.         GET ALONG WITH THE PLAN 1 Cor. 12:28

         A.         We are all placed into the body of Christ by God's sovereign design. (12:18a)

                  1.         Not you & not me that "hath set"

                  2.         If you area part of this church family- I hope that you believe God brought you here.

Note:         I can say God wants ALL Christians to be a member of a local church.

                  Start here with this truth (cp. 12:18) ("… not to wonder around loose…")

                  3.         We need to COOPERATE with God's plan & will.

Note:         If I didn't believe this I wouldn't put forth the effort (as if it was a "job").

        

         B.         God has made us in his body SUBJECT to a divine Hierarchy of function (12:28b)

                  1.         In the body there must be a CHAIN-OF-COMMAND

                           (No army ever won a war by getting a bunch of soldiers together & said, "Go out there &                            see if you can find an enemy & kill them.")

                  2.         There is ALWAYS a chain of command-

                           (Every one in the hierarchy needs to KNOWtheir place.)

                  3.         Same in the church- 1st, 2nd, 3rd - so some gifts have a greater value to the                                              FUNCTIONING of the body.

Note:         Those individuals aren't MORE value to Him- but to the body.                   Today this EQUAL SOCIETY- everybody the same.

Note:         What are the STAKES?

                  Souls headed for Hell.  (John 3:18 "condemned already…")

                  4.         The "body"- example of VALUE to the body… a finger or a leg… but a heart?

                           Some parts seem to be more valuable to the functioning of the body.

                  *         What Paul is talking about…

                           a.         "Apostles"- sent one (first 70m years of the church)

                                    FOUNDATIONAL- Acts 2:42 "Continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine…"

                                    They has all the gifts… remarkable individuals. "FIRST"

                           b.         "Prophets" - 2nd

     Eph 2:20     "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus                     Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

               (All apostles prophesied but not all prophets were Apostles)

               Luke wrote two books…not an Apostle, but a prophet.

               c.     "Teachers" 3rd- systematize, the scriptures (some teachers/pastors Eph 4)

Note:         Apostles & prophets were on a time limitation, but for teachers there is NO time limitation.

                  While Apostles & Prophets were foundational & temporary, therefore no gift is more                            important to the church today than teaching.

         *         Why I am here to systematically teach you the WOG.

                  Why you are here- I hope.

         *         What follows are less important- but important, but God wants us to know the importance                            of the first three… 1st, 2nd, 3rd, then the other gifts- no ranking, or order.

                  (Some gifts Romans 12 & Ephesians 4)

         *         Teaching is FOUNDATIONAL… last in the list "tongues & interpreting of".

                  Today the emphasis on those instead of DOCTRINE!

Eph 4:7-16

         *         As individuals we need to LEARN HOW to be fitly joined together.

                  Disciplers- not to teach a series of bible studies- but key GOALS, not to show off                                     knowledge, but to show them how they FIT in the body.

Eph 4:16c "Maketh increase…"  This is the Strategy for church GROWTH. How it grows

III.         GET YOUR PART OF THE PLAN (1 Cor. 12:31)

         A.         There is an effective strategy for growth & that is when we COVET the BEST gifts.

         B.         Several truths here:

                  1.         Each believer is spiritually gifted & those gifts are ONLY effective in the local body- the                                     church.

                  2.         Not everyone is going to have the same gifts.

                  3.         Though every believer is valuable & important there are some gifts are more                                              fundamental for growth of the body.

Note:         "Covet"- a burning desire, a zeal.

                  We should have a desire to have the best gifts that will benefit this body.

1 Tim. 3:1  "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work."

1 Cor. 12:31 "Covet" a zeal for those gifts that are going to make the church grow.

                           Not for our own ego, but for the body.

                  4.         Covet the BEST gifts- 1 & 2 are over, but #3 Teaching!!!

         ***         Solid here at Paradise on the teaching ministry.

NOTE:         This is our future - teaching the WOG, not a ministry circus.

                  So we have to build this church on what's happening RIGHT NOW- teaching.

         ***         This has to be the MAIN THING!

Eph. 4:16b "…maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Conclusion:

         *         So how will your gift make the teaching ministry the growth pattern of Paradise?

                  How will you assist in growing this church (the Body of Christ)?

                  What do you need to do to discover your gift?