CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 95:1-7 (NIVUK)
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide
THEME: CONNECTING IN MINISTRY
[Based on the book by Rick Warren: “The Purpose Driven Life”: Zondervan: 2002: pg.227 – 272].
READING: Ephesians 2:4-10 (NIVUK)
Made alive in Christ
4Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Eph. 2:10
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
“You were put on earth to make a contribution. You weren’t created just to consume resources – to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. While many best-selling books offer advice on how to “get” the most out of life, that’s not the reason God made you. You were created to “add” to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back…and it is called your “ministry,” or service.” [pg.227]
1. You were created to serve God.
Matthew 25:34-40 (NIVUK)
34 ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”
40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
2. You were saved to serve God.
2 Timothy 1:9 (NIVUK)
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
3. You are called to serve God.
John 15:16 (NIVUK)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.
1 Peter 2:9 (GNT)
9 But you are …. God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvellous light.
1 Cor.12:27 (GNT)
27 All of you are Christ’s body, and each one is a part of it. 28 In the church God has put all in place…
4. You are commanded to serve God.
Romans 14:12
12 Every one of us…will have to give an account to God.
Romans 12:5
5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other
Rev. Tim
