UNITED: CHURCH

Sermon Notes, August 19, 2018

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

            Pastor Garry continued his sermon series on Ephesians.  The first three chapters of Ephesians are about Unity with Christ.  Today’s sermon, “United: Church,” is based on Chapter 4, where Paul shifts from our relationship to God, and talks about our relationships to each other as well.

            We all have a calling from God.  We are created to be in rhythm with God, and with others.  Verse 1 urges us to live worthy of our calling.  We’re to be humble and gentle and patient.  God is our head; we are the body—the Church, the Bride of Christ.  As the bride of Christ, we need to make sure that the body is all functioning.  God went to great lengths to make sure that none of us are the same. Each person has their own identity, even down to our unique fingerprints and our own DNA.  He created you to be you and me to be me.  We are all different. 

Because He made us different, He gave us all different gifts.  There are many teachers and preachers. Many of us have the same gifts, hospitality, or encouragement, for example.  But we don’t use them in the same way. One person can’t do it all. He may know HOW to do it all, but he can’t DO it all by himself. We really do need each other!  The church couldn’t function if all the positions weren’t filled by gifted people working for the kingdom of God.  We are all different, with different gifts.

Sometimes we let our differences divide us.  We let little things get between us.  Churches have been split over differences of opinion about some of the silliest things—whether or not children should be home-schooled, worship styles.  When there are differences of opinion, we should talk.  Not argue, but talk.  Churches that communicate when there are differences get stronger, rather than splitting.

When one part of your body stops working, your whole body doesn’t want to do anything.  So when one part of the Body of Christ stops working, what do you think happens?  It weakens.

We, heirs to the Kingdom with Jesus, have been gifted.  Some don’t want anyone to know it, and they hide their gifts.  We all have gifts that need to be used.  Remember the story that Jesus told about the landlord giving talents to three of his servants.  One guy buries his, and he’s the one who gets in trouble.  The other two, who used what they got, receives praise when the landlord returns.

Those of you who are using your talents, “Thank you!”  We are all in this together.  If we’re going to make a difference in our community, we need to ask the Holy Spirit what He wants us to do.  Pastor Garry knows part of his calling is to equip and empower his people to do the work of the Kingdom of God.  We’re better together.