WEBVTT 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:20.399 And we understand that I am gifted for the greater good. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:33.679 First Baptist family, as our children go to children's church, let me remind you of the words found in Psalm 127, verse 3. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.439 Children are a gift from God. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:57.119 Every child who's playing in the nursery right now, every child who just walked through that organ side door to children's church, every child, preteen and teenager who's sitting in this sanctuary, every child is a gift from God. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:09.280 And so maybe this morning we just begin and we open our eyes and we can be overwhelmed by the fact that we are surrounded by the gifts of God in our very midst. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:16.480 We can open our eyes and admit that we are truly blessed. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:25.840 But this morning, I don't want you to simply see that you are surrounded by God's gifts. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:33.200 I want to introduce you just for a couple minutes to just a few of God's gifts. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:36.079 First, let's go to the next slide. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.159 First, this is uh Bo Jones. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:43.359 Bo is one of God's good gifts here at uh First Baptist Church. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:54.560 His mom and dad are Stephen and Kelsey Jones, and Bo, at the age of seven, listen, he's a big brother to three younger siblings, M.C. 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:56.640 Nolan, and Cooper. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:03.760 He's a first grader at Hugh Goodwin, and his teacher is Miss Haney. 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:09.759 The next person I want to introduce you to, if we go to the next slide, is Harrison Langston. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:14.560 Harrison is one of God's gifts here at First Baptist Church. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:16.080 He's nine years old. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:21.599 He goes to Northwest Elementary School, and Miss Fulco is his teacher. 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:28.319 His parents are Jason and Cindy Langston, and his big brothers are Landon and Spencer. 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:29.840 And go to the next slide. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:34.879 Another one of God's gifts here at First Baptist Church is Zane Walker. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:42.960 Zane, he also is nine years old, and he goes to Northwest, and just like his buddy Harrison, his teacher is Miss Fulco. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.240 Zane's parents are Clint and Stephanie. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:47.759 He has one big sister. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:49.360 Her name is Zoe. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:55.280 Another one of God's good gifts here at First Baptist Church is Maddox Black. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:57.360 Maddox is nine years old. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.120 He goes to Hugh Goodwin. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.360 His teacher is Miss Robbins. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.560 Maddox and his family, he's the youngest. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:11.680 So he's got a big brother Connor, a big sister Clarabeth, and his parents are Candace and Leslie. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:18.960 So I just introduced you to four of God's good gifts here at First Baptist Church. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.560 But now it's time for you to meet those four good gifts. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:23.680 So guys, come on out. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.080 Everybody wants to meet you this morning. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:27.759 You gonna come out, guys? 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:29.439 Oh, the doors are moving. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:30.639 Come on out, guys. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:31.840 Everybody wants to meet you. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:33.840 You're looking forward to meeting you. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:35.840 Yeah, here we go. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.319 Let's stand right here so everybody can see you. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.639 Alright, yeah. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:41.599 Come this way. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.479 So this side of the sanctuary can see you too. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:46.400 Pretty cool. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.599 Come on, guys, this way. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:49.360 Follow the leader, numb the leader. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:49.919 Here we go. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:51.280 Numb wait, okay. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:53.120 Whoa, working with kids is awesome. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.039 Here we go, bo, you're right here. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:56.719 Alright, come this way. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:57.599 Alright. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:03:58.319 Yeah. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.159 Whoa, those are pretty awesome, dude. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:00.960 I like that. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:01.919 Yeah. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:07.199 So these are uh four of my friends and four of your friends here at First Baptist Church. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:17.279 And I asked these guys, uh, they are so awesome and so bold this morning, and I know Nate Davis wishes he was dressed up with them because he's a huge fan of superheroes too. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:22.720 I asked them to dress up as their favorite superhero. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.399 And I'm gonna ask each of you guys the same question. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:30.639 Why did you pick the superhero that you picked? 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.720 So let's start down here with Bo. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:34.319 So, Bo, let's pull this off. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.040 Confirmation, this is Bo Jones. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:37.839 Alright. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:45.279 So, Bo, why did you pick Spider-Man to be your favorite superhero and dress up like him this morning? 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:46.879 Because he can shoot webs. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:48.560 Because he can shoot webs. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:49.439 Everybody got that? 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:50.399 Very cool. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:54.079 Harrison with the amazing abs. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:56.319 He's been working out. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:57.759 He's Wolverine, right? 00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:58.879 You're Wolverine. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.720 Why did you pick Wolverine to be your favorite superhero this morning? 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:05.920 Because he's brave, strong, and he's cool. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:08.000 He's brave, strong, and cool. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.040 And he's got this regenerative ability, right? 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:13.920 Like he can break a bone and automatically heal himself. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:16.000 That's pretty awesome in my book. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:19.759 Alright, we've got another one, so I can't even I don't know. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:22.480 Like these masks, can we confirm this is someone we know? 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:23.519 It is Zane. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:28.079 So Zayn, uh, tell me, why did you pick Spider-Man? 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.720 Because he's helpful, strong, and brave. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.959 He's helpful, strong, and brave. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:33.600 Very cool. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:35.519 So I'm hoping this is Maddox at the end. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.120 And can we confirm this is Maddox? 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:39.040 Yeah, he's got it off. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:44.079 So is this Spider-Man 2 or is this like a different Spider-Man? 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.680 Spider-Man 2, like from Spider-Man 2, the movie. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:51.040 I didn't mean that, but yeah, like, is this Spider-Man as well? 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:55.199 Um, but it's from Spider-Man, so he had a different costume in that movie? 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:57.040 Okay, I didn't even know that. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.000 Wow, learn something new every single day. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:06.160 So tell me, Maddox, why did you pick Spider-Man this morning to be your? 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:08.879 Because he can jump from house to house. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:13.519 And that's what every little boy wants to do, if we're being honest with ourselves, isn't it? 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:18.240 The ability to jump from house to house and not hurt yourself. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:21.519 What an amazing uh skill that Spider-Man have. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:24.079 Let's give our friends another round of applause this way. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.040 Y'all go down and see what your mom and dad, okay? 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:29.120 Alright. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:44.480 So here's the thing, and what we should think about this morning is that it's not just kids who love superheroes. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:45.839 Right? 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:53.439 Each of us has a favorite superhero, both the young and the young at heart. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:03.439 Uh maybe uh your favorite superhero and the way you know that you love superheroes is you always make sure and go to the opening night of the latest Marvel movie. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:08.639 Or maybe uh you show that you love superheroes and your love goes back a few years. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:24.800 You liked watching Christopher Reeves, uh, Christopher Reeve play the role of Superman, or your love for superheroes goes back even a few more years, and you loved watching Adam West as Batman fighting the Joker and the Penguin and the Catwoman? 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:27.759 Who is your favorite superhero? 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:30.639 I think all of us probably have one. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:31.680 Most of us do. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:34.160 We have a memory associated with it. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:43.040 And like uh the boy said, so often the reason we have a superhero that we like is a result of their strength. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:44.319 They're strong. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:50.480 I mean, who wouldn't want to be someone like the incredible Hulk who can like lift a tank over his head? 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:54.000 Like nothing is outside of his strength. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:08:05.199 Or another reason um I think we like superheroes is that every superhero, if you pay attention to their story long enough, what you learn about them is that they're not perfect. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.639 Every superhero has a flaw. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:13.120 But no superhero allows that flaw to define them. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:17.920 Instead, every superhero identifies that flaw and then they grow. 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:20.480 They grow and they become a better person. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:24.720 They're aware of their failures, they don't let them hold them back. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:32.000 And we're also inspired by every superhero's desire to do the right thing. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:38.000 Even if that right thing comes with a high personal cost. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:55.360 The reason why a superhero can always grow out of his failures, and the reason why a superhero has this ability to always do the right thing no matter the cost, is because a superhero has a certain mindset. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.240 A superhero knows this. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:04.080 Superhero knows I am gifted for the greater good. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:06.559 Hear that one more time. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:11.279 I am gifted for the greater good. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:20.720 The greater good, that names a good that extends far beyond an individual person. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:26.879 The greater good privileges we above me. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:35.600 The greater good, that's a good that seeks to help and to serve other people. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:51.919 And that focus and knowledge and willingness to serve the greater good, it's so important to the life of a superhero because that's what separates a superhero from a villain. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.679 Yeah, a villain has a different mindset. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:02.159 A villain says this I am gifted for my good. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:05.519 I'm gifted for my good. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:13.519 I'm gifted, in other words, to make my life better and to make my life easier. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:21.360 I am gifted so I can look out for myself above anyone else. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.000 I am gifted. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:35.360 And because of that gift, I either expect or I can force people to serve me and to take care of me and to do what I want them to do. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:44.320 Now, here's how your favorite comic book really begins to impact and speak to your life. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:49.200 And it's not because you want to be able to jump from house to house safely. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:55.039 I think all of us in this room, we aspire to be a superhero. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:02.559 But we too often settle for and act like a villain. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:20.799 We aspire to be a person who sees their gifts in service of the greater good, but when life happens, we first and foremost look out for my good. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:40.399 And this disconnect between aspiration and action has grave consequences, not just for your life, but for the life of we the church. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:45.600 This is our third week in our series, We the Church. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:59.279 If you've been with us either of the first two weeks, you know that this series of messages is focused on reclaiming the biblical vision for God's local church. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:08.879 To reclaim that biblical vision, what we've said in weeks one and two begins by defining the word church correctly. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:13.200 All too often we think church means a place. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:20.240 When in fact, according to the Bible, church means a people. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:28.559 And when it comes to church, the difference between it being a place and a people is monumental. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:35.840 Because those two differing definitions point us in opposite directions. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:39.279 They give us two different mindsets. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:47.919 Listen, if church is a place, it's really easy to have the mindset of a villain. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:51.519 I'm gifted for me and me alone. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.120 I am here for me and me alone. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:03.440 But if we remember that church is a people, our mindset can change. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:11.200 And our aspiration and our action can come in alignment with one another. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:24.879 Because when we realize that church is a people, we're more willing to say this: I am gifted for the greater good, for the good of we the church. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:43.039 And listen, every person who's called on the name of Jesus, every person who has received the seal of the Holy Spirit, that person has been gifted for the greater good. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:47.919 For the greater good of the local church. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:55.120 You've been gifted to serve in the church, to serve the people who sit around you today. 00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:03.759 And you've been gifted to minister alongside the church, outside the walls in our community. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:17.600 Church family, if we truly desire for we the church to flourish into the future, our aspiration and action must be in alignment with one another. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:26.639 We must say together, I am gifted for the greater good, for the greater good of we the church. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:42.960 And in the context of we the church, today's big idea means that every follower of Jesus, every life that's empowered by the Holy Spirit has been given spiritual gifts. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:47.519 Check out what Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:58.080 Paul says this a spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:05.519 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:08.240 I'm given the gift with you in mind. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:15.519 Not me in mind, with you in mind, and with you in mind, and with you in mind, so we can help each other. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:20.799 Every time I read 1 or 2 Corinthians, I am forever grateful. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:34.080 I am grateful because, listen, Paul's two letters that we have in the New Testament written to the church at Corinth, they put the problems of the contemporary church into perspective. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:47.679 The Corinthian church reminds me that God's people have always and will forever, always face issues and struggles that will be a bit of a hot mess. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:54.960 And we would be even a hotter of a mess if it were not for Jesus. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:16:00.799 If it were not for the power of the Holy Spirit that brings us together. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:20.399 Everyone in Corinth, because of the culture around them, focused on self-promotion and self-congratulation of taking care of me. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:24.080 Me was privileged over the we. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:38.159 So long before there were social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people in Corinth, listen, they were posting updates and sharing pictures that promoted themselves. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:45.600 They were climbing the social ladder because they wanted to make their lives easier and better. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:55.120 I'm gonna climb this ladder, I'm gonna make this statement, I'm gonna make this claim in public so that uh people view me as above them. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:10.400 I'm gonna make this claim, I'm gonna make this statement in public, I'm gonna view this person in that way from this perspective, and I'll climb a ladder, and then I can expect them to do what I asked them to do and to serve me no matter what it may cost. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:20.960 And this was one of the mindsets, this culture of self-promotion and self-congratulation, of climbing a ladder at the expense of other people. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:26.720 It was one of the primary factors that was completely ripping apart the church at Corinth. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:36.720 And the Apostle Paul, like a concerned father, he sees what's happening, he hears what's happening from afar, and he writes this letter to his wayward child. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:40.480 He's like, guys, guys, what is good and true, you need to know. 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:44.720 Return to it, understand what you have been given. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:50.319 Paul writes, 1 Corinthians, to change the mindset of that church. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:58.000 He wants that church to remember, I am gifted for the greater good. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.559 For the greater good of we the church. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:13.839 I'm gifted so that I can serve you and then I can minister alongside of you for the sake of the gospel in the city in which we've been placed. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:23.519 That's why Paul says spiritual gifts have been given to you so that you can help one another. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.640 That's a definition of a spiritual gift. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:31.200 It's just one way you can understand it. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:45.519 Spiritual gifts are supernatural powers given to followers of Jesus by the Holy Spirit in order to serve inside the church and to minister outside the church. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:49.279 Let's just think about that definition just briefly. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:19:03.519 Spiritual gifts are supernatural powers, they are evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in your life because you're able to do something that with your natural power you would be unable to do. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:10.079 Sometimes a spiritual gift, it just opens up a door you had never seen possible in your life. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:13.200 It helps you see a gift that you weren't even aware of. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:25.039 Other times, a spiritual gift, what it does is the Holy Spirit and his supernatural power comes into your life and he amplifies a gift that you already know is present. 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:31.839 But not everybody, listen, receives a spiritual gift. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:37.440 It's not like we're passing out candy at the door to whoever comes up on Halloween. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.720 A spiritual gift is given to a follower of Jesus. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:51.200 It's evidence of a life that says, Jesus is my savior and Jesus is my Lord. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:58.640 And through that spiritual gift, I'm able to serve and to minister in a way that says, What? 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.319 Jesus is alive. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:02.640 His power is at work in my life. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.599 Based on the way that I serve, I tell you that it is true. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:09.200 Based on the way that I minister, I declare that it is real. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.680 That's what a spiritual gift is. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:31.519 But it's not enough to know what it is if we don't see the gift and the gifts that God has put in your life. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:36.960 Listen to what Paul says later on in 1 Corinthians 12. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:46.880 He says the human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body, so it is with the body of Christ. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:50.720 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:58.240 If the foot says I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand, that does not make it any less a part of the body. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:04.400 And if the ear says, I am not part of the body because I am not an eye, would that make it any less part of the body? 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.880 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:10.400 Or if the whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.759 But our bodies have many parts. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:17.839 And God has put each part just where he wants it. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.640 I love what he says in verse 19. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.960 How strange a body would be if it had only one part. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:29.359 I think that's from the Adams family, right? 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:32.960 Thing or whatever, the hand that crawls around. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:36.079 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:38.480 The eye can never say to the hand, I don't need you. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.359 The head can't say to the feet, I don't need you. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:47.359 In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:57.599 Beginning in verse 12, Paul, by way of illustration, explains how every member of a local church is gifted for the greater good. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.759 Each family member has been. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.200 Given a gift. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:06.240 A gift to serve inside and to minister outside. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:12.960 And Paul, to make his point and to drive it home, he uses the image of the human body. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:18.319 And he just begins with this undeniable fact, something no one could argue with. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:24.559 Your body and my body, everybody's body has many parts, and everybody nods in agreement. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.359 Uh-huh. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.720 I agree. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:37.599 And he says, those many parts of your body and my body and everybody's body, they come together and they form one whole body. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:40.000 And everybody nods in agreement. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.680 Yeah, you're right. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.240 Doesn't take anatomy class to know that, Paul. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.519 What's the point? 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:53.599 And so Paul he offers a point of clarification that points to application, and he just adds this single phrase. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:57.920 He's like, Yeah, you know how a human body's made up. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:00.319 One body, many parts. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:05.119 And then he says, so it is with the body of Christ. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:12.720 And that's the moment where it all makes sense. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:17.200 That's the moment where he grabs their attention. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:26.880 And once he has that attention, he goes on and says, Listen, each of you has a unique role to play. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:32.960 Just like every part of the human body has a unique role to play. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:36.400 Each unique part can serve the greater good. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:44.559 No one would argue that the foot can do the work of the eye, or an ear the work of the nose. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:55.839 In every body part, no matter seemingly how small or insignificant it may seem to your eyes, it plays an important role. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.279 Here's his point. 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:14.079 For a human body to be fully functioning and fully at full health, all the body parts need to be present and operational. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:19.119 So it is with the body of Christ. 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:28.160 Which is why we say, I am gifted for the greater good, for the greater good of we the church. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:37.039 Some of us, though, when we consider we the church, we think to ourselves, oh, they don't need me. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:40.720 Oh, somebody else can do that. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:46.960 And if that's you, I just want to be as kind and as clear as possible. 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.359 You're wrong. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:56.160 That's not how God shapes the local church. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:04.640 If you call First Baptist Church home, your church needs you. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:17.519 If you call First Baptist Church family, then we need you to use your spiritual gift to identify it and use it for the greater good of we, the church. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:22.240 So which body part are you? 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:28.319 So when you're a child, uh, did you have one of these guys? 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.200 Mr. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.240 Potato Head? 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.440 Yeah, we did have one, didn't we, Spencer? 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.200 You had like this giant one. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.440 I've been able to find those recently. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:39.839 Uh this is young Jack Sawyers. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.880 He's not here today. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:44.160 He would also have been a superhero this morning, but he's not here today. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.279 Uh, this is his Mr. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.480 Potato Head. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:52.720 Um if you didn't have one, maybe your child or grandchild did. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.559 And so, Mr. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:56.559 Potato Head, the idea is simple, right? 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:59.279 It's a small plastic potato. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.519 And to Mr. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:07.200 Potato Head, you can attach a mouth, you can attach eyes, you can attach arms and feet. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.480 Mr. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:13.839 Potato Head has many parts that make up one whole body. 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:22.799 And to use Paul's phrase from 1 Corinthians 12, so it is with the body of Christ. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:28.079 Maybe someone needs to write a children's translation of 1 Corinthians 12 that uses Mr. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.359 Potato Head. 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:32.160 But let's put together Mr. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:43.279 Potato Head this morning just so you can think through some possible ways that you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit. 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:52.640 You've been gifted by the Spirit to serve inside and to minister alongside. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.240 First, we can give uh Mr. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:56.000 Potato Head a mouth. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:59.599 Mouth, that's how he speaks. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.440 Right? 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:11.440 So maybe you have the gift of teaching God's truth and God's word, and you want to use your mouth to do that. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:16.079 But uh, you know, another thing you can do with a mouth is you can sing. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:19.759 Maybe that's your gift, singing. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:23.759 Or another thing you can do is a specific way that you speak. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:27.599 It could just be you are a person who has the gift of encouragement. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.559 Man. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:34.559 Some of you, your gift of encouragement is overwhelming. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:40.079 And every time I speak to you, I leave and I am like lifted up. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:51.039 It's like I can't imagine my day without hearing that word because you are so gifted and you put that gift to use to encourage your pastor. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:53.920 And we say, thank you for doing that. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:56.480 You know, the other thing about Mr. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:28:03.039 Potato Head, and another piece you can add to him, um, you can uh give him an ear. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:10.000 Um, and the first thing I think of when I think about an ear is just the gift of listening. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:14.799 We have people in our church that have been trained to be Stephen ministers. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:27.680 Um, a Stephen minister listens, they offer confidential Christian encouragement by listening to a person who is going through it. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.960 Checking up, calling in. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:39.519 They're there and they're using their spiritual gift to serve within the church. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:42.079 Let's put this other ear on. 00:28:42.319 --> 00:29:04.240 You know, one of the cool things that we've seen over the last year and a half, um, now that we have a you know a bigger online presence and we have people worshiping with us online, it became really, really important that we had a really great mix that could go out over the internet so that it felt as much like possible you're singing songs with your church family. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:09.519 That takes the right sort of ear to hear it all and to put it all together. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:13.119 Or Nate in the sound booth, or Trey who works in the sound booth too. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:31.279 Like there's so many who just have an ear for sound, and that's really important when you're using microphones and speakers, but they're using their spiritual gift, something God has given them to serve within the church. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:40.079 When you think about the arms, one arm of potato, I think about this arm as an arm that guides. 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:54.079 An arm, a hand that can be put on someone's shoulder, maybe the shoulder of a child or a student to guide them and point them towards Jesus, just the role of a volunteer in their life, the role of a mentor in their life. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:30:08.160 We've mentioned this statistic recently several times, that um now it's believed that every child needs five adults in their life outside of their parents to be pointing them continually towards Jesus. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:13.920 Spiritual gift of being a mentor, of a guide in someone's life. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:24.640 Um, I think of this arm we put it on, and I think of just the guys in our church, our property team, and how they work to take care of our campus. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:37.839 They don't mind climbing on roofs, climbing up in the like the attic of the sanctuary to change light bulbs, helping us figure out problems that Brian and I or Dustin don't understand. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:42.160 They are here to help and here uh to serve. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.480 We give you know potato heads and feet as well. 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.960 Put those on him. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:53.920 He's got feet and feet, that's what allows you to walk, to go. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:31:00.240 I'm excited about those people who already volunteered in the spring to go, right? 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.839 To go and to minister outside our walls. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:22.720 And I'm excited about the people who I know are gonna volunteer to go in a week out to the soccer fields or go to scare on the square, uh, just to take and go with them, take with them the light of Christ to our community and just to be the presence of Christ outside of these walls. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:32.400 And maybe we can give uh potato this hat, and I think of um how this hat covers his head. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:54.720 I think about the people whose spiritual gift in this room is the spiritual gift of prayer, where they cover our church family in prayer on a daily basis, specifically our intercessory prayer ministry that covers the families and the children of our church praying for the next generation in this church and in our community. 00:31:55.119 --> 00:32:06.160 If you have the gift of prayer and you're not a part of our intercessory prayer ministry, or maybe this morning, listen, God's saying, and he helps you identify in just a moment, like prayer is my gift. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.079 Like, we need more intercessors. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:17.519 It's our goal to have every family who has children in their home that have an intercessor who prays for them on a daily basis. 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:24.480 Uh, next, we can uh give him a nose like this. 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.400 You know what you do with the nose? 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:27.680 You smell. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:32.799 And I with my nose, I especially like to smell really good food. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:50.319 And I think of um the people in our church whose gift is hospitality, especially when we extend that hospitality to uh folks in our church who are grieving and we prepare that meal for them. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:33:05.519 Or I think of the guys who are um cooking uh at these events coming up, how they just love to cook and see that food as a way that we can reach out and connect with people. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:09.519 And then we can give Potato Head just his eyes. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:13.759 And those eyes allow him to see. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:32.400 And there are people in our church who just have this keen ability to see um needs, to see and identify needs, needs that maybe I'm unaware of, or I don't see, or Brian doesn't see, or Dustin doesn't see. 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:46.799 They've been given that gift of like keen sight, of this attentive faith to the movement of God, and they see a need, and then they have this ability to rally people around them to go and address that need. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:51.440 A couple of those rally points coming up as Ray leads his team, right? 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:59.759 We're grateful for our friends at Open Hearts as they lead a team down to South Louisiana to minister in the hurricane uh relief efforts. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:12.000 Um, I'm also thinking about as we get back on the campus at Mermill Education Center to be a part of that team and to see those needs and to address them and just to be the presence and the light of Christ in those moments. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.719 What's your spiritual gift? 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:20.800 Is it one of the things I've mentioned that's just how people put them to use? 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:24.639 Or is it something else, something that's unnamed in this moment? 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:26.480 You may not be any of these parts. 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:28.320 You could be something else. 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.400 But listen again, hear it again. 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:44.559 If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, if you've received the seal of the Holy Spirit, you have received a spiritual gift that allows you to serve in this church and minister alongside of this church. 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:48.079 But now let's close this way. 00:34:48.159 --> 00:35:08.480 Just a word of thank you, a word of um celebration to the many men and women and teenagers who already know and already take it so seriously, the idea, and they have this superhero mindset I am gifted for the greater good. 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:16.480 And they've already are putting their gifts to work in this local church. 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:22.559 They are the sanctified superheroes of First Baptist Church, and they don't want any praise. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:32.079 Some of them are better described as like unpaid part-time staff, the hours they devote to the workings and the ministries of our church. 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:43.599 And to those men and women and teenagers, thank you for using your gift for the greater good of we the church. 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:55.840 Thank you for setting the pace and being a benchmark which we can all look to, giving us something to aspire to. 00:35:56.159 --> 00:36:02.719 Like there is nothing wrong to say I have a hero in this faith, and that hero in the faith sits on the pew beside me. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:24.000 And and and heroic not in the sense of like everybody knows them, heroic not in the sense that um everybody sees them in the community and thinks, oh wow, look at them, but heroic in the fact that they know their gift and they use it for the greater good of we, the church. 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:37.440 And for us to be a healthy, flourishing church, hear it again, we have to align our aspiration and action. 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:53.920 Because all those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus and are empowered by the Holy Spirit must agree together and realize together that I am gifted for the greater good. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:58.000 Not my good, for the greater good. 00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:02.400 For the greater good of we the church. 00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:04.320 Let's pray together. 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:27.280 As you're seated with your heads bowed right now, would you just thank God for First Baptist Church? 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:36.719 Thank God for the people who you already see using their gifts for the greater good. 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:07.119 For the greater good of we the church. 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:39.599 If you're unsure how you've been gifted, or if you maybe want to know if there's other ways you've been gifted, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to help you identify that supernatural power he has given you as a follower of Jesus so that you can serve and minister. 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:57.039 And now, Holy Spirit, we ask you to give us a vision of the future. 00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:10.639 A vision of the day when all God's children at First Baptist El Dorado used their gift for the greater good. 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:20.159 Give us a vision of what life would be like if each of us used our gift in this church to serve. 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:24.880 Used our gift so that we can minister alongside the church. 00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:37.039 Used our gifts not for just my good, God, but it would just be all about the greater good, the good of the body of Christ in the witness of this church. 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:54.960 God, give us a vision of what could be if we took seriously your word, your teaching on spiritual gifts today. 00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:58.079 In Christ's name we pray. 00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:59.039 Amen.