Serving the church

The church is much like a puzzle that Jesus puts together for the benefit of the work.

Romans 12:1-6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Dedicated Service

12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this [c]world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [d]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, [f]according to the proportion of his faith;

Finding your place in kingdom building

1. Every piece of the puzzle matters. V3
Every piece o the puzzle is vitally important
When one piece is missing the puzzle cannot be complete.
The same is true of the church, when you are missing the church cannot be complete.
When you make the decision to not be involved you are taking a piece...

No piece of the puzzle is any more important than any other. The church is the same way, no person here is any more or less important than any other.

Why do so many people not serve the church?
1. Wrong definition of service.
Many people are serving in the church and don't even realize it.
Anything that you do within the church is service. Everything from being on the praise team to being an usher. 
Everything from working with the children to keeping the building in good repair and clean. All of it matters.

2. Wrong understanding of value.
When we were willing to be transferred to "other" team we helped them finished their puzzle, we learned the value of the one piece.
Let us not think that the things that we do lack value and don't really matter.
Every task that needs to be done matters and every person here is important.

2. Every piece of the puzzle is unique. V4-6
We have different gifts according to the grace given us.

3. Every piece has a different SHAPE
S - spiritual gift. God gives every believer at least one spiritual gift.
They only come from God and not from our own abilities.
Spiritual Gift Function to bless the church.
H- heart these are the things we are passionate about.
A- abilities these are things that you may have developed through life.
They may or may mot be connected with your SG
Combination of spiritual gifts with common abilities.
P - personality how our giftedness fits into the picture of who we are.
E - experiences things we have learned, done or been through helps improve our service.

Every piece of the puzzle has a place, so in Christ we who are many from one body.
There is a right fit and right place for every piece. Many times people don't get involved because they just don't know how.

4. Every piece of the puzzle impacts the others. V5
Each members belong to each other.

1. When you are not involved, you impact others.
When you keep your spiritual gifts to yourself, you make a negative impact on the church.

2. When you serve in the church, you bless others.

How do we get into the puzzle.
Remember that you are important to the church.
- no matter who you are or what you do, you are important to the life of this church.
Realize that we cannot accomplish God's plan without you.
- God has given you special gifts and abilities like no one else and only you can fill the place that God has for you
Recognize that Hod made you to fill a special place with the church.
- all of us have been graced by God with different gifts but the expectation is the same. The gifts that you have are to be used for the benefit of the body.