The Church I See, Week 3: We Add Value to the World Around Us

We lead PEOPLE into a new life of FREEDOM in JESUS. …Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 (KJV)  Value # 1 - We Keep Jesus the Main Thing  Value # 2 - We Live for the Other Person’s Good Value #3 – We Add Value to the World Around us Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? Matthew 5:13 (MSG) …Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  Matthew 5:14 (MSG) If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!  Matthew 5:15 (MSG) Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16 (MSG) …Let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. 1 John 3:18 (MSG) 1.  We SERVE For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 (NLT) Serving is simply when you intentionally focus your energy on meeting someone else’s need. …Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3 (NLT)   Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.  Romans 12:4-6 (NLT) So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.  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.  1 Corinthians 12:14-15 (NLT) And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?  1 Corinthians 12:16-17 (NLT) But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.  How strange a body would be if it had only one part!  Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.  1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NLT) The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”  In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.  1 Corinthians 12:21-22 (NLT) When the body is WORKING properly, the body can do more WORK. …Among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28 (NLT) 2.  We are Radically GENEROUS Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  2 Corinthians 9:6 (NLT) You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”  2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT) The hallmark of Christianity is radical generosity. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 (NLT) When we are generous with our EXCESS, we will always have an excess to GIVE. 3.  We are LIFE-GIVING Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV) The greatest way we can breathe life into a situation is to SPEAK life. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29(NIV) The hard conversation you need to have could be the most life-giving thing you could ever say. Are we wind at their back or wind in their face? 4.  We Leave it BETTER Than We Found It So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:17 (NLT) I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. John 13:15 (NLT) Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.  You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world…following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.  Ephesians 2:1-3 (NLT)  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us…  Ephesians 2:6-7 (NLT)   God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-11 (NLT)