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[4104.18 --> 4108.84] who usually traveled with them or would be established wherever they ended up. |
[4109.16 --> 4112.08] And they would sometimes speak the future in prophecy. |
[4112.32 --> 4114.06] That's the way we commonly use the word. |
[4114.40 --> 4123.20] But most often, they would gather to speak and encourage and strengthen and rebuke and hold to account believers at their particular gatherings. |
[4123.20 --> 4131.50] Evangelists, again, we can trace this through the book of Acts and into early church history, |
[4132.04 --> 4138.66] refers to those people who went around the known world as missionaries, but who weren't apostles. |
[4140.34 --> 4146.12] And then we get pastors and teachers, which is maybe one we're more familiar with in our everyday language. |
[4146.12 --> 4153.90] Pastors and teachers here is a word pairing, and the word translated pastor is actually shepherd. |
[4155.84 --> 4162.92] Now, Peter says that it's the elders of the church who are to be shepherds of God's flock that is under their care. |
[4163.76 --> 4168.72] And so I, as a pastor here, am one of the elders in this church. |
[4168.86 --> 4174.08] Pastor Kevin is an elder here, and so are seven other men who have been called by God |
[4174.08 --> 4177.28] and installed into that position here in the work that we do. |
[4178.30 --> 4180.90] And so, follow the logic of this text. |
[4181.96 --> 4187.60] Christ himself, as the foundation and goal, gave these specific offices, |
[4188.30 --> 4191.44] plus others that are not mentioned in this text, right, like deacons, |
[4192.24 --> 4199.64] and he gave specific gifts, like prophecy or tongues or teaching or giving or hospitality, |
[4199.64 --> 4207.02] to equip his people for works of service. |
[4208.92 --> 4212.92] About that, works of service, notice two things. |
[4213.02 --> 4218.36] First, Jesus is the one equipping, right? |
[4218.42 --> 4223.06] The specific offices, whatever they are, are offices of means. |
[4223.44 --> 4226.44] That is, they're through whom Jesus is working. |
[4226.44 --> 4229.24] Jesus gives and causes the growth. |
[4229.70 --> 4232.48] That's why Paul will say in 1 Corinthians 3, |
[4232.94 --> 4236.92] one plants, one waters, God gives the growth, right? |
[4237.00 --> 4241.16] Jesus equips his people by using his people. |
[4243.02 --> 4246.38] And so now, in the big question, right, of why grow, |
[4246.92 --> 4250.32] the first answer is, because Jesus is growing us. |
[4250.32 --> 4250.96] Right? |
[4251.68 --> 4258.14] Draw near to Jesus, become part of his body, and you will grow and be grown. |
[4258.40 --> 4260.84] It's unavoidable. |
[4262.58 --> 4267.00] And somehow, if you manage to avoid growing, |
[4269.22 --> 4273.88] and you've been a Christian, or at least you've been attending church for a really long time, |
[4273.88 --> 4277.66] the question you need to be asking yourself right now is, |
[4279.04 --> 4281.84] why am I holding Jesus at arm's length? |
[4283.70 --> 4286.62] Because when you're close to him, you grow. |
[4288.28 --> 4289.98] Now, it might be slow, right? |
[4290.82 --> 4292.08] It might be incremental. |
[4292.66 --> 4298.14] It might be almost impossible to notice in the moment that you find yourself right now. |
[4298.14 --> 4301.32] But over the course of a lifetime, it will be clear. |
[4301.52 --> 4303.52] Because Christians grow. |
[4304.38 --> 4308.98] We are constantly being transformed by the renewal of our minds |
[4308.98 --> 4312.54] and the power of the Holy Spirit into the image of Jesus Christ. |
[4312.92 --> 4317.80] This is the work that God is doing in you and through you right now, right here. |
[4318.08 --> 4321.34] And this is the work that we, together, get to witness |
[4321.34 --> 4324.98] and to be part of in church life together. |
[4324.98 --> 4328.78] And second, notice, |
[4330.08 --> 4335.62] Christ gave to equip the saints, his people, for works of service. |
[4336.44 --> 4339.92] That phrase, works of service, is really interesting. |
[4341.14 --> 4346.66] First of all, all of the offices, all of the leadership, all of the direction, |
[4346.92 --> 4349.24] all of the discipleship, all of the pouring into, |
[4349.64 --> 4351.30] all of the preaching and teaching, |
[4351.30 --> 4354.86] all of the opening and closing of the kingdom of heaven through the keys, |
[4354.98 --> 4357.54] all of the gathering that we do, |
[4357.82 --> 4361.26] is to equip his people for works of service. |
[4362.44 --> 4368.20] That word, service, that Paul uses here in Greek is the word diakonia, |
[4369.08 --> 4372.26] which maybe sounds like a word we're more familiar with here |
[4372.26 --> 4374.18] because that's where we get the word deacon from. |
[4375.68 --> 4378.82] Now, a deacon, someone who serves, |
[4378.82 --> 4381.06] the word literally means servant. |
[4382.34 --> 4387.20] Specifically, in the New Testament, it is a table servant, right? |
[4387.20 --> 4392.24] Someone who brings and provides food for those who are reclining at the table. |
[4393.32 --> 4394.38] And so, here in that, right, |
[4394.42 --> 4398.32] that the life of the Christian who is growing in his or her faith |
[4398.32 --> 4400.66] is a life of servanthood to Christ |
[4400.66 --> 4403.10] and a life of service in Christ. |
[4403.10 --> 4406.88] And so, the question really is, for you this morning, |
[4407.08 --> 4409.30] what is your area of service? |
[4409.98 --> 4411.48] Where are you serving? |
[4412.14 --> 4416.18] Because growth and serving go hand in glove together. |
[4417.14 --> 4417.58] Right? |
[4417.60 --> 4420.18] If you're looking to grow, then practice service. |
[4421.04 --> 4422.64] If you want to grow in your faith, |
[4422.78 --> 4425.84] exercise that faith in service to the people around you, |
[4425.88 --> 4427.48] whether they're here in our church community |
[4427.48 --> 4429.42] or broader in our neighborhood community. |
[4429.42 --> 4431.86] If you want to grow in your faith, |
[4433.12 --> 4434.98] consider signing up after the service, |
[4435.92 --> 4437.32] right, to be a GEMS counselor. |
[4438.10 --> 4441.90] Or, if you're a young girl, to participate in the GEMS program. |
[4442.76 --> 4447.02] Consider signing up after the service to be a sound or media technician |
[4447.02 --> 4450.30] or to volunteer or to join up into a small group. |
[4451.16 --> 4453.22] One of the ways you grow, |
[4453.36 --> 4456.48] one of the ways that you are grown as Jesus does this work, |
[4456.48 --> 4459.96] is not just by Bible studies and by coffee break, |
[4460.06 --> 4460.94] both of which are awesome, |
[4461.12 --> 4463.40] and you have opportunities to sign up for both of those |
[4463.40 --> 4464.94] after service today, too. |
[4465.90 --> 4470.12] But it's by helping in the nursery that you are grown. |
[4470.60 --> 4474.04] It's by volunteering for kitchen cleanup after coffee |
[4474.04 --> 4475.34] that you are grown. |
[4475.34 --> 4480.56] And then finally, in this first section, |
[4482.80 --> 4486.36] Christ, as the foundation and the goal, |
[4486.50 --> 4488.74] has given us these offices and leaders |
[4488.74 --> 4491.52] in order that we, all his people, |
[4491.68 --> 4493.38] might be equipped for works of service. |
[4493.68 --> 4494.66] And we read, |
[4497.66 --> 4502.46] so that the body of Christ may be built up. |
[4505.34 --> 4506.58] So I'll say it again. |
[4507.76 --> 4511.70] Your serving leads to your growing. |
[4513.06 --> 4513.74] But there's more, |
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