Never Hoard the Blessing of God

In one paragraph

This was a combined-service Sunday at First B, and Pastor Mark used the occasion to walk the whole congregation through the five purposes of the church, with service as the lens. He introduced the people currently leading each ministry area, invited the congregation to see where they fit, and grounded it all in scripture before closing with communion. Pastor Mark opened by revisiting a sermon he...

Read together

1. Psalm 147:1 opening verse about how good and fitting it is to sing praises to God
2. Ephesians 4:4-7 read at the welcome to emphasize one body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, grace given according to the measure of Christ's gift
3. 1 Peter 4:11 the banana sermon text: use whatever gift you have received to serve others as stewards of God's grace, so that God may be glorified
4. Matthew 18 wherever two or three are gathered, Christ is in the midst, referenced in connection with the corporate temple idea
5. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, read corporately with emphasis on the plural you all being bought at a price to glorify God
6. Ephesians 4:11-12 Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for works of service to build up the body
7. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 sow bountifully to reap bountifully, God loves a cheerful giver, grace abounds for every good work
8. Ephesians 2:8-10 saved by grace through faith, not of works, we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works
9. Colossians 3:17 whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
10. 1 Corinthians 10:31 whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God
11. 1 John 1:9 referenced as the promise that God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess
12. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 the words of institution for the Lord's Supper, read during communion distribution
13. 1 Corinthians 11:33 when you come together to eat the Lord's Supper, wait for one another, read as mutual service
14. 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened to see horses and chariots of fire, quoted to introduce the women's retreat

Talk about it

1. Pastor Jonathan opened with the banana sermon illustration, where he wasted 70 pounds of green bananas by hoarding them instead of sharing them. Where in your own life have you held onto a gift or ability instead of using it, and what held you back?
2. Pastor Jonathan described five purposes of the church: worship, growing, outreach, connection, and service. Which of these do you feel most naturally drawn to, and which feels most unfamiliar or uncomfortable to you?
3. The circles illustration placed community, crowd, congregation, committed, and core as rings moving inward, with the challenge being to move one ring further toward the center. Honestly, where would you place yourself right now, and what would it look like to take one step inward?
4. First Corinthians 6:19-20 was read with the 'y'all' emphasis, pointing to the body as a collective temple rather than only an individual one. How does thinking of this congregation as one shared temple change the way you think about your responsibility to the people sitting around you?
5. Ephesians 4:11-12 says that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers exist to equip the saints for works of service. Pastor Jonathan said his job, and the elders' job, is to equip you to do ministry, not to do it for you. What is one thing you feel God has been putting on your heart to do, and what is one step you could take this week toward actually doing it?