February 27, 2011Pastor David King
Aiming High in 2011
Part 5-Ministry-“Are You a Dead Sea or a Life-Giving River?”
In Israel there are two seas that share a common water supply, yet have distinctly different water qualities. The Sea of Galilee teems with life and was the backdrop upon which Jesus called fishermen to become fishers of men. Just a short distance south of the Sea of Galilee is another body of water, the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea like its name suggests is unable to support any type of life and is dead. What causes the difference? The Sea of Galilee has both a water inlet and outlet and the waters stay fresh and alive. The Dead Sea on the other hand has no outlet for its water and has become stale and unable to sustain life.
There is a spiritual lesson to be learned in these waters, specifically, a follower of Christ must not be content to only take in spiritual nourishment, but they must also be actively distributing spiritual nourishment to others. A believer who learns this lesson will be a life-giving river and one who fails to learn this lesson will become a spiritual dead sea.
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Gallilee is a beautiful fresh water lake that is fed from rain runoff from the mountains of Gallilee and the Golan Heights. It is 695 feet below sea level and is five miles wide and thirteen miles long. The lake is only 150 feet deep at the deepest point and is really a lake more than a sea. However, it is the main water source for all of Israel. It is filled by the Jordan River, which has it’s beginnings on Mt. Hermon, an often snow capped peak at the north end of the land of Israel. The Jordan then flows out of the Sea of Gallilee, down to Dead Sea.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is much larger than it’s northern counterpart. It is forty eight miles long and eleven miles wide and reaches a depth of over 1000 feet. It is the lowest place on the face of the earth at 1300 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea is dead because it is so salty. Twenty five percent of the water’s contents are salts. The water is clean and beautiful looking, yet it is bitter and nauseuous tothe taste. The salts in the Dead Sea are worth billions of dollars and are as valuable as any oil field.
The Dead Sea is so salty because it has no outlet. The reason the Sea of Gallilee is so sweet, is that it has both an inflow and an outflow. It both receives and gives. The Dead Sea, however, only receives and never gives. It is full of riches but there is no life in it. The difference between the two lakes make for a very good spiritual life lesson. The desert continues to speak!!
A Life-Giving River Invests Resources as a Steward:
A Dead Sea Stockpiles Resources like aHoarder
Ephesians 4:7-16; Matthew 25:14-30
Ephesians 4:7–16
7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we allcome to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Matthew 25:14–30
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Does your life reflect the generosity of Christ?
Do you view your possessions as yours?
Are you child-like or parade-like in your handling of resources?
A Life-Giving River is Refreshedby Self-Emptying;
A Dead Sea Grows Stagnant by Self-Living
Philippians 2:1-11
Philippians 2:1–11
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”-Philippians 1:21
“Deny Himself and follow me”-Luke 9:23
“More Blessed to give than to receive”-Acts 20:35
A Life-Giving River Teems with LifeAnd Vision;
A Dead Sea Drains Strength and Vitality
Proverbs 25:11-13; Hebrews 12:12-15;13:17
Proverbs 25:11–13
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. 13 Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Hebrews 12:12–15
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Dr. Maxwell refers to these kinds of people as “vision killers.”
Does your presence impart grace, hope and vision?
Does your presence bring conflict, problems and discord?
Does your magnifying glass point out peoples beauty marks or their warts?
Are you a magnet for Kingdom visionaries or a cesspool for problematic people?
Are you a problem solver or a problem discoverer?
The other day one of our church members and also a good friend of mine had the privilege of spending some time driving together. During that trip we talked ministry and life and had a good time. I consider this man a partner in ministry and one of the character traits that he possesses is the ability to present problems with solutions. Some people are great at pointing out all the problems, but never having any solutions. Those that I enjoy spending ministry time with are those that can both identify problems or opportunities and they are also able to identify solutions of which they will be a part.
Small Group Questions
Starter Question:
Share your most memorable church experience? (example: flooding the auditorium-Pastor King; wanting to quit VBS after working with 2s and 3s the first day of VBS)
Study Questions:
Read Ephesians 4:7-16
What ministries (cleaning, teaching, nursery, etc) do you believe God has equipped you to perform?
While serving in ministry what are some of the ways that you have seen God refresh you as you have served?
What have been some of your lows in ministry? What caused this low and how did you handle it?
Read Proverbs 25:11-13; Hebrews 12:12-15; 13:17 and consider the questions laid out in your sermon notes.
Does your presence impart grace, hope and vision?
Does your presence bring conflict, problems and discord?
Does your magnifying glass point out peoples beauty marks or their warts?
Are you a magnet for Kingdom visionaries or a cesspool for problematic people?
Are you a problem solver or a problem discoverer?
So What Should I do now?
Share with the group those areas that you have a propensity to sin as it relates to ministry and share what you plan to do to get victory in this area.
Share with the group what you are currently doing in ministry and how you can have them pray for you. If you are not currently engaged in ministry share with the group why and what steps you plan to do to change this in your life.
February 27, 2011Pastor David King
Aiming High in 2011
Part 5-Ministry-“Are You a Dead Sea or a Life-Giving River?”
In Israel there are two seas that share a common water supply, yet have distinctly different water qualities. The Sea of Galilee teems with life and was the backdrop upon which Jesus called fishermen to become fishers of men. Just a short distance south of the Sea of Galilee is another body of water, the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea like its name suggests is unable to support any type of life and is dead. What causes the difference? The Sea of Galilee has both a water inlet and outlet and the waters stay fresh and alive. The Dead Sea on the other hand has no outlet for its water and has become stale and unable to sustain life.
There is a spiritual lesson to be learned in these waters, specifically, a follower of Christ must not be content to only take in spiritual nourishment, but they must also be actively distributing spiritual nourishment to others. A believer who learns this lesson will be a life-giving river and one who fails to learn this lesson will become a spiritual dead sea.
A Life-Giving River Invests Resources as a Steward:
A Dead Sea Stockpiles Resources like aHoarder
Ephesians 4:7-16; Matthew 25:14-30
Does your life reflect the generosity of Christ?
Do you view your possessions as yours?
Are you child-like or parade-like in your handling of resources?
A Life-Giving River is Refreshedby Self-Emptying;
A Dead Sea Grows Stagnant by Self-Living
Philippians 1:1-11
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”-Philippians 1:21
“Deny Himself and follow me”-Luke 9:23
“More Blessed to give than to receive”-Acts 20:35
A Life-Giving River Teems with Life And Vision;
A Dead Sea Drains Strength and Vitality
Proverbs 25:11-13; Hebrews 12:12-15;13:17
Does your presence impart grace, hope and vision?
Does your presence bring conflict, problems and discord?
Does your magnifying glass point out peoples beauty marks or their warts?
Are you a magnet for Kingdom visionaries or a cesspool for problematic people?
Are you a problem solver or a problem discoverer?
Small Group Questions
Starter Question:
Share your most memorable church experience? (example: flooding the auditorium-Pastor King; wanting to quit VBS after working with 2s and 3s the first day of VBS)
Study Questions:
Read Ephesians 4:7-16
What ministries (cleaning, teaching, nursery, etc) do you believe God has equipped you to perform?
While serving in ministry what are some of the ways that you have seen God refresh you as you have served?
What have been some of your lows in ministry? What caused this low and how did you handle it?
Read Proverbs 25:11-13; Hebrews 12:12-15; 13:17 and consider the questions laid out in your sermon notes.
Does your presence impart grace, hope and vision?
Does your presence bring conflict, problems and discord?
Does your magnifying glass point out peoples beauty marks or their warts?
Are you a magnet for Kingdom visionaries or a cesspool for problematic people?
Are you a problem solver or a problem discoverer?
So What Should I do now?
Share with the group those areas that you have a propensity to sin as it relates to ministry and share what you plan to do to get victory in this area.
Share with the group what you are currently doing in ministry and how you can have them pray for you. If you are not currently engaged in ministry share with the group why and what steps you plan to do to change this in your life.