EQUIPPED
TO SERVE
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A.
In Ephesians 3:10 Paul wrote, “That the manifold wisdom of God might now be
made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”
1. If you asked the apostle what the purpose and mission of the church is, what
would he say?
a. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 he wrote, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God.” It is certainly true that we are called to glorify
God in everything we do as individuals and as the church.
b. The church glorifies God by revealing what Paul calls a “mystery.” This mastery
is the redemption and reconciliation that comes through Jesus Christ.
c. You and I are involved in something much bigger than we are. It is larger than
our congregation, city, state, nation or world. Through the church we are involved
in something that astounds angels.
2. The church’s great purpose is to glorify God. Our mission is three-fold.
a. Evangelism.
b. Equipping.
c. Encouraging.
B. Suppose you hired someone to remodel your house. They examine your home and
give you an estimate for the work. You’re excited about having the work done and
look forward to the finished product. How would you respond if the contractor
showed up for work on the first day and said, “Excuse me, I’m ready to go to work but
there is one problem. Do you have a hammer I could borrow? How about a saw? Do
you have a screwdriver and a carpenter’s level? And by the way, can you give me a
few nails and screws?” Most likely you would tell that fellow to leave before he began.
Why? He was not equipped to do the work.
1. In the words of an old song, “There is much to do, there is work on every hand;
Hark the cry for help comes ringing through the land.”
2. The question is, “Are we properly equipped to do the work?”
C. Notice what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:7-16:
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it
mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He
who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that
He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets,
and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of
the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we
all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and
carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in
deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects
into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and
held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each
individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
1. God’s grace has been given to each of us. That grace is demonstrated by the
giving of gifts to His people. Look at Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12 and
1 Peter 4:10-11.
2. Just as you and I are different, our gifts are different. Paul demonstrated this in
verse 11. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as
evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.”
a. These are only a few examples of the multitude of gifts God gives. Your gift may
be public or private; large or small; physical or spiritual. Every Christian is a
gifted Christian.
b. Though we are gifted in many different ways there is a common purpose for our
gifts. Notice verse 12, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service. to
the building up of the body of Christ.”
c. The mission of the church must include equipping Christians to use the gift God
has given you. Notice verse 16, “being fitted and held together by what every
joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the
growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
D. There are three specific areas in which we must be equipped.
I. EQUIPPED FOR BATTLE
A. In Ephesians 6:10-11 Paul wrote, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength
of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm
against the schemes of the devil.”
1. In 1991 the country of Iraq invaded a neighboring country called Kuwaiti.
President George Bush (41) said, “this aggression will not stand.” He put
together a massive alliance of nations who began sending equipment and
soldiers to the region. Why did the stockpile so much equipment? They wanted
the troops to be ready for battle. When the battle began Iraq was driven out of
Kuwait in a matter of weeks.
2. You and I are engaged in a fierce spiritual battle.
a. We are in a battle for our souls. Paul said, “For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces
of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly
places” (Ephesians 6:12).
b. We are in a battle for the survival of our families. Marriage is under attack.
Parents and children are being alienated from each other. Children are being
exploited and abused. The value of life is demeaned on every front.
B. Can the church allow this aggression to stand?
1. When Jesus promised to build His church He said, “The gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.” The church is to be on the offense. We are not to stick our
heads in the sand as we sing, “In the sweet by and by.” We have a God given
responsibility to be a positive force for good.
2. We must equip people with a knowledge of the word of God which produces faith
(Romans 10:17).
3. We equip young people to be examples of speech, conduct, love, faith and purity
and to be example of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:12). .
4. We must equip husbands and wives to love one another and bring up their
children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
II. EQUIPPED FOR SERVICE
A. God is interested in good works.
1. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
2. In Ephesians 2:10 Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in
them.”
3. In 2 Timothy 3:17 we read, that Scripture is given to us so we might be,
“equipped for every good work.”
4. James 2:18-20 states, “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have
works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my
works.’ 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe,
and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith
without works is useless?”
B. How does a church equip people for service?
1. Opportunity
a. Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neil, was a long time congressman and speaker of the
House of Representatives. His district was in Boston, Massachusetts. After
one election he saw his next door neighbor and thanked her for voting for him.
She replied that she had not voted for him. He said, “We’ve been neighbors for
over twenty years. I’ve mowed your lawn. Our families are friends. We visit in
each other’s homes. Why didn’t you vote for me?” She replied, “You never
asked me to vote for you. People like to be asked.”
b. There are many people in churches who would be glad to help but are never
asked. They may or may not respond to a public announcement or a note in
the newsletter. They will respond to a personal invitation to help.
c. We must give people the opportunity to use their gifts.
2. Observation
a. What is the best way to train a person for a job? Do you merely tell them or
give them a written manual? The best way is observation.We recognize this in
nearly every vocation. What would happen in churches if every elder decided
that they would mentor a young man to be an elder some day? What if you
took someone with you to deliver a meal or make a visit? What if each Bible
Class teacher had a young man or young woman who helped in their
classroom?
b. I began helping as a teacher for a fifth grade boy’s class when I was fifteen
years old. Each week I observed the teacher as he instructed those boys.
3. Obligation. One week the teacher of the 5th grade class called and said, “I cannot
be there. You do it.” He gave me a responsibility and I had an obligation to fulfill.
We must give people responsibility and turn them loose!
III. EQUIPPED FOR ETERNITY
A. The greatest task of any church is to equip people for eternal life.
1. We must love people.
2. We must care about people.
3. We must influence people for good and teach them about Jesus.
B. A church may have the most exciting programs in town. They may have the most
beautiful building in the county and the greatest entertainment available but it
means nothing if it is not preparing men, women, boys and girl for eternal life.
CONCLUSION:
A. A preacher asked his audience, “How many want to go to heaven. Everyone raised
their hand except sister Jones. The preacher said, “Sister Jones, don’t you want to
go to heaven?” She replied, “Sure, but I’m not ready to go right now!”
B. If the Lord came today, would be be equipped and ready to go? Please consider the
matter carefully and come to Christ today.
