Ministry: You Were Shaped for Serving God

PASTOR BURCHAM'S SERMON

Sunday, October 24, 2004

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I may have mentioned this before, I don't recall, but my mother was a huge Elvis Presley fan, I mean huge fan. She had every album I think he ever recorded. As you might expect then, I grew up listening to the king. I'm guessing there probably isn't one song Elvis recorded that, at some point in my life, I didn't hear that song. So the same way she was kind of a fan, I guess just by virtue of my environment, I had to be one too. In fact, even to this day, every Christmas season comes along and I pull out the old Elvis Christmas album because I just have to listen to it. Now mind you, most of the people on staff here and at home would wish that I'd just leave it on the shelf, but I can't do that. I need to share with them what the king has to say about Christmas.

You know, you think about his life and you think about the enormous success he had. And now even how many years after his death, I think his estate is worth more now than it was when he was still alive. He sold something like 250 million albums during his lifetime. By worldly standards, you'd have to say he was an incredible success and he had an incredible impact upon our culture. And yet, family and friends who knew Elvis well said he didn't feel that way at all. In fact, he felt his life was unfulfilled and he wasn't a very happy man. Maybe that helps explain why he died at the age of 42 from obesity and drug addiction.

After his death, his wife, Priscilla Presley, gave an interview and she had this quote to say about him. She said, “Elvis never came to terms with who he was meant to be or his purpose in life. He thought he was here for a reason, maybe to preach, maybe to teach, maybe to help other people, but he knew he wasn't fulfilling that and that thought was agonizing to him, so he'd go on stage where he wouldn't have to think about it.” Elvis was searching for a purpose for his life, but it seems like he never found it.

I hope by this point in our journey of 40 days that you've picked up on the fact that it matters more how you live your life than what you do with your life. It matters more how you live than what you do for a living. Once we've been called to faith in God's son, Jesus, and once we experience His love in our life, we want to live a life then, the life God desires of us and the life that God has designed for us. And so we're looking at the various purposes we're calling them, the various ways in which God wants us to live out the faith He's given to us.

We can do that by following any number of paths. There are any number of activities or careers we could choose, so discovering our purpose in 40 days isn't supposed to tell us we're supposed to take this job transfer or we're supposed to move over here. Instead, it's more about how we live, how we live in response to God's love than it is what we do for a living.

That's the secret Scripture wants to unveil to us. It's more about how we live. When we live in sync with how God designed us and how God desires for us to live in response to Him, that's when we live a life which is fulfilling and meaningful.

This morning, we find ourselves kind of on the downside of the purposes. And this morning, we discover in the fourth purpose God has for us you were shaped to serve. That is, we serve God when we serve other people. Scripture talks about that, but when scripture speaks about it, it uses a word that sometimes we have a more narrow definition of. It uses the word ministry. Ministry is one of those words we have a rather narrow definition of in sort of our vocabulary. But when we search the scriptures, we find out the definition is a little bit wider than how we use it.

There are several mis-perceptions about ministry. The traditional view of the word ministry is we usually think of a minister and, when we think of a minister, well, frankly you think of Pastor Tim or myself. You think of a pastor. You think of somebody who gets up on Sunday morning and gives messages, somebody who's at the bedside at the hospital. You think of chaplains. You think of all those people who are called into the office of ministry. You think of pastors as they are part of the ministry.

Perhaps you've expanded upon that a little bit and you think well anyone who works for the church and that's their job, well then they're called to ministry. So we'd have Steve as our Director of Worship. He's called to ministry. Or DeAnn for Christian Education and Growth. She's called to ministry. Or Brian in Youth. He's called to ministry. And so that's how we define ministry.

But when you look at scripture, it's pretty fascinating because it's much more broad than that. It has a much more wider sense than that. If we go back to the New Testament and we go back to the original language and we find out the word that is translated ministry, you find out that it isn't always translated ministry. The same word, mind you, but sometimes, given the context, it makes more sense for the translator to put another word in. For instance, do you recall the story of Mary and Martha? Mary and Martha are going to welcome Jesus into the home. You remember Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, and she's listening to Jesus. And Jesus says He's not going to take that away from her. But Martha is busy in the kitchen, and it says that Martha was busy making preparations. Same word. Martha was doing her ministry. You see, when Jesus said He wasn't going to take it away from Mary, that Mary would have to go into the kitchen, He wasn't saying that what Martha was doing was unimportant. Martha was serving God by serving others. She was getting the meal ready for the disciples. The word there is Martha was busy with her ministry.

Another fascinating one is 1 Corinthians 12:5. It says, “There are different kinds of services but the same Lord.” Actually, you could translate that. “There are different kinds of ministries but the same Lord.” So there are different ways in which we can minister. There are different ways in which we can serve, but we all serve the same Lord. In other words, we serve God when we serve one another.

Or the most fascinating one for me is Ephesians 4:11. This is why it's part of our readings for today. Ephesians 4:11 says, “It was God who gave some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers.” But why? Verse 11 says, “To prepare God's people for works of service.” Or to prepare God's people or to equip God's people for ministry. To equip God's people for ministry.

You see, part of my job description, part of Pastor Tim's job description, that God gives to us, is to equip God's people, you, for ministry. Now it is true that he and I have been called into the office of the ministry, that is, the ministry of Word and Sacrament. But all of us in the body of believers are called into ministry. And it's our job to equip the people to be involved in ministry. Ministry is serving God through serving others. That means that you were made for ministry. When God called you to faith, He also called you into a ministry, that is, He called you into service.

Let's take a look again in Ephesians but a few chapters before. Paul is sort of setting the stage for Chapter 4, but in Chapter 2 what does he tell us? Well, in Verse 10, he says, “For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Now as good Lutherans, we look at that and we say, “Good works? But good works don't count for anything.” You're right. They don't. That's why Ephesians 2, 8, and 9 tell us they don't count for anything as far as our standing with God, as far as our relationship, as far as salvation is concerned. It says, “We are saved by grace through faith.” It's a gift of God. God gives us the gift of forgiveness. God gives us the gift of faith, and He gives us the gift of salvation. But what God gives us is a new life, and that new life has implications. We are created in Christ Jesus. We are given a new life in Jesus, and that new life takes on new meaning for us, new characteristics about that life. The new characteristics are we are created then to do good works. That is, we're created to live a life of response to God. We're created for service. The result of our relationship with God is now our whole life is turned around and our whole attitude is changed and there is a desire within us to live the life God desires and designed. And part of that new life is to be involved in ministry, to be involved in serving others.

Each one of us who have been called to faith have this inkling inside of us, this tugging that happens, this part in our life that seems empty, unfulfilled, until we get involved in ministry, until we get involved in serving others. And, in the same way, serving God. You see, it's not something you'll find in your career, no matter how good you are and no matter how great of a career you may have, you can still be unfulfilled. Frankly, you won't even find it in your family, as rewarding as the family is and as a great blessing it is that God has given to us. But there's a part of your heart and there's a part of your life that's searching for a deeper meaning that says, “My life counts.” God fills that because He calls you to ministry. He calls you to serve Him by serving others. It's one of the most fulfilling things you can do, and that's what God made you for. God made you for ministry.

In fact, your ministry is vital to the body of believers. Another fascinating aspect when we look through the New Testament at the word ministry, we find out that each reference it talks about serving fellow members in the body of Christ. It talks about serving the church, serving the local congregation. That's the ministry that's involved. If you look back again at Ephesians 4:12, it says why is it we're equipped? It says, “So the body may be built up.” That is so the body of believers may be built up and strong. That's why we are equipped to do ministry. So when the body of believers come together and they serve one another, the body becomes stronger and the body becomes more mature. In my opinion, our congregation is a living example of that, a living example of the body of believers serving one another and coming together. And the result of that, the body of believers here at Gloria Dei is stronger. It's more secure than it's ever been.

You think about the 40 Days Campaign. In one sense, who cares about the campaign? What I do care about? There are over 50 people, 50 members of this congregation who came together and joined the leadership team to go ahead and put on this spiritual growth for us. Fifty people that you probably don't know 49 of them. They're all behind the scenes. They're all working for God by serving you, to make sure that each Sunday is special and unique, to make sure there's a Ministry Fair and a Mission Fair, to make sure we have a grand celebration of God's blessings. Fifty people working behind the scenes, and that's only scratching the surface.

Think about the people who are involved in ministry that are vital just to this congregation. Do any of you know the names of the AV people in the back? Do you know they're there? Most times, you don't. And it's designed that way. They don't want you to know they're there. The only time that heads turn back to them is when my mike goes wacky, and that doesn't have anything to do with them. It's simply the fact it didn't get repaired. But yet we couldn't do a service without them. Or when you go to pick up a video tape to take to a friend or someone who's sick, they're the people you call. Vital ministry. They're serving you and serving God. How about the man or the woman who gave you your bulletin this morning and your Weekly Word ? They must have had a name tag on. Maybe you didn't know them. But they're here every week, and they're serving you and serving God. How about the volunteers, the people involved in ministry in Sunday School and Faith Alive? Teaching our children and passing the faith down to them. How about the fact that when you drive up to our facility, we glorify God by keeping this place looking fabulous? Those people who make sure the lawn and the grounds and the plants all look incredible. And each year it seems to get better and better. They're serving you, and they're serving God. They're involved in ministry. You see, ministry is more than just stepping into this pulpit and sharing God's Word. Now in my opinion, that's the greatest privilege God could ever give to me, but ministry is more than that. Ministry is far reaching. It's any number of things we do when we come together as the body of believers and we serve one another. This congregation would not be what it is without the literally hundreds of people that give of their time and their talent, literally thousands of hours each and every year, possibly each and every month, serving the body of believers so we might be built up and strong. And you're part of that. You're part of that even if you don't know it.

When we go to Paul's letter to the Church at Corinth in the 12 th Chapter, he talks about this metaphor of us being the body of Christ and He says the body is not made up of one part but of many parts. And He says, “Just because one part doesn't consider itself part of the body doesn't mean it isn't.” In other words, it says, “Just because the hand may not consider itself part of the body doesn't mean that it isn't.” The thing is if the hand here doesn't want to do it's job, that just means the rest of the body has to work twice as hard to make up for this. But now could you imagine with me for just a moment if every member here, every last one of us found a way in which we could get plugged into this congregation from the smallest of commitments to the largest of commitments, but if each and every one of us could find our place in the body of Christ, could you imagine the things God would do through us? Could you imagine the impact God would make on our community, our state, and in the world? It would be phenomenal. There's no doubt about that. All of you are part of the body, and all of you are called into service and called into ministry. It's the way God made you.

I know there are obstacles, but it's time for us to overcome the obstacles. It's time for you to be involved. The obstacles are real, and what I'd like to do is I'd like to hit them head on and, if you will, not mince words. The obstacles we put up in place to say why we can't be involved in ministry. The first thing we need to do is we have to separate fact from fiction.

Fiction No. 1 is this: In a large church, there is more than enough people to do the work. That's fiction. The larger the congregation is, the more the body needs to come together and the more the body needs each and every person to work with one another and be involved in ministry. It is a mis-belief. It is a mis-perception that someone else is going to do it, that they're just lined up ready and willing so I'm not needed. It's simply not the case. Every worship service here goes smoothly because of that crew of elders and also the crew of ushers, I'm talking about the ushers. Do you know three out of four Sundays we don't have a full crew? You don't know that because they're that good and I mean that. Three out of four Sundays, we don't have a full crew to serve God's people. It is a mis-perception to say there is always someone there and someone else is going to pick up the ball. There are many things this congregation is not doing ministry-wise because we have a lack of people and we have a lack of commitment. There is so much we could do if we were involved in ministry.

Fiction No. 2: I'm not good at anything. God hasn't gifted me. You've heard me say this before. You'll probably hear me say that again. Then you must be the only one. You must be the only person in all of creation God skipped over, because God says He gifts every single one of us, uniquely and specially. God has gifted you. Now unless you believe you're the only person in all of creation God missed, God has gifted you. That's why Pastor Tim last week asked you to fill out that Shape form. I know it's not easy. I know it takes time, but that's how you're going to discover the unique way God shaped you, the unique way God has gifted you and prepared you for ministry. Each one of us has been gifted by God.

Fiction No. 3: I don't have the time. Let's be honest about this. Instead of saying, “I don't have the time,” “I won't make the time.” I know that sounds harsh, but isn't that really what you're saying? I won't make time. Every single one of us has 24 hours in every day. There are not some people who are granted 36. We all have 24 hours, and the fact is we all make decisions and we all make choices. And I know how busy your schedules are because I know how busy my schedule is. And we do things the same way. We look at the schedule, and we make decisions. And we make choices of what we're going to do. Sometimes the choices are not easy, but the fact of the matter is we either choose to or we choose not to.

I'll give you an instance. Yesterday morning, 7:50 a.m., I was sitting on a soccer field with I think about 100 m.p.h. wind blowing from the north and freezing. That was a choice. I could have said, “I don't have time for this.” But it's a decision and choice I made and so did a whole lot of other parents. You make those same choices, so at least be honest with yourself. Are you going to make the commitment and make an investment in something that will bring fulfillment in your life and build up the body of Christ? No matter how small, because each of us has a part to play.

You see, we can overcome the obstacles because this is how God designed us and this is how God desires us. And if God desires us to be part of ministry, then God's going to make it happen. And He's going to make it happen in your life. And it starts when you make the first step. And the most important step you'll probably make this morning is when you walk out those doors, you'll have a choice. You can either skip the coffee and sneak out the wooden doors and head to Hy-Vee or you can head back into the center wing and you can look at the opportunities and the ministry of this congregation. First of all, I hope you get an appreciation of all the things the members of this congregation do. Second of all, can you discover a way in which you can get plugged in, that you can be part of that ministry?

It really begins today. It begins when you go home and you fill out the Shape form and you turn it back in next Sunday so you discover the way in which God has gifted you. You see, God has called us to faith and God has called us to service.

You know, I think I mentioned that Elvis sold over 250 million albums but the one that won him a Grammy and the one that he was the most proud of was actually the only religious recording he made. And he found that recording to be his best and his most rewarding. God has called us to faith. He's called us into ministry. We serve God when we serve one another. Amen.

Copyright 2004 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church