Sunday July 20, 2008

It Takes a Village Church
Pastor Rose Brewer

It Takes a Village

I’ve been reminded lately of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

As I look around at our church, I’m more and more aware that “It takes a village…”.

“It takes a church…” – all the people in a congregation – to be what God has created our church to be.

What has God created Grace Christian Fellowship to be?
God longs for us as a group to help (or equip) people to reach out through worship, friendship, and service.

If “it takes a church,” that means “it takes all of us.” It takes each of us doing our part to help Grace Christian Fellowship
be the church God created us to be.

Scriptures

Romans 12:3-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy
in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then
give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do
it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given FOR THE COMMON GOOD. To one there is given
through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

How Do We Fit Together?

Sometimes we think that ministry is supposed to be done by the pastors, by the “professionals.” But we are all ministers.
The church is all of us.

In a healthy church, the bulk of ministry is done by everyday church members.

Vision Statement

   Helping people: Learning and then equipping/ mentoring/ coaching others to follow Christ (discipleship)

   reach out: Thinking of ways to purposefully bless our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family

   through worship: Coming together on Sundays and all of us praying and seeking the Lord during the week

    friendship: Reaching out to each other (fellowship)

   and service: Serving to help make ministry happen

There are a lot of ways that we do help people reach out through worship, friendship, and service. One way we can all
do is to pray for someone during the week. That kind of normal, everyday ministry should – and does – happen all the time.

So Here's the Question...

If it takes a church – everyone of us – to use of gifts and serve for Grace Christian Fellowship to be what God created it
to be, then what does that mean for you? What is God calling you to?

How is God leading you to be part of the church that is helping people reach out through worship, friendship, and service?

For Deeper Study

IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER , HERE IS MORE TO STUDY . . .

   -Romans 12 (gifts the Holy Spirit gives congregations)
   - 1 Corinthians 12 (gifts the Holy Spirit gives congregations)
   - Acts 11:22 (sending people)
   - Acts 12:5 (pray)
   - Acts 13:1 (prophets, teachers)
   - Acts 14:23 (with prayer and fasting, appointing elders and committing them to the Lord)
   - Acts 14:27 (hearing what God has done through the church)
   - Acts 15 (sending people, welcoming people, hearing what God has done, resolving conflicts, deciding theology and      mission strategy (how we reach out))
   - Acts 15:41 – 16:5 (being strengthened and growing)