Gifts Are for Service/Building Up the Body of Christ
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me to use the gifts you have given me to build up the church. Amen
“So, Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:11-13, 16 (NIV)
REFLECT:
According to today’s focus Scripture the gifts from the Holy Spirit are given for the purpose of building up the body of Christ to full maturity. Former Pastor Gene Carlson took this command to heart, and he used his gifts of teaching, preaching, and mentoring to help individuals grow to maturity. I personally benefitted from his teaching and mentoring. Shortly after I moved to Wichita, he invited me to join him and another individual to study together every Monday morning. We had a warm, in-depth study of the Word together in which I grew as a Christian. Pastor Gene was not satisfied to have the group stay at three. When he saw others he knew would benefit from the study, he invited them to join in it. Although Gene has since passed on to his heavenly home, the Monday group still flourishes. The Covid pandemic has not slowed it down and it now has grown to more than twenty members. He has left a legacy that demonstrates the value of being joined and supported by fellow believers with the goal of maturing in faith and understanding of the Word.
APPLY:
Shortly before his death, Pastor Carlson and I were talking about some ideas for materials he could use with a younger man he was mentoring. He was taking the focus Scripture to heart right up to his last breath. This week each of us needs to ask ourselves how we are using our gifts to promote unity and maturity in Christ’s body, the church.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help me apply 2 Timothy 2:2, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” Amen
WORSHIP: