"Super Church": 2 Super men and women

 Focus Passage: Rom. 12:1-8

No one is good at everything, but super men and women are great at something. Think of the 8 year old piano prodigy. He might terrible in math or science, but put him in front of a piano and it is magic. Think of the professional basketball player. He may have done poorly in school, but he flies toward the rim like a bird in flight. God’s children don’t have to be great at everything either. Some are great leaders. Others are great teachers. Others encourage and comfort. All God’s people have the opportunity to be great at something because God has made them great. They just have to discover what spiritual gift has been given to them.

• Use God’s gift faithfully v.6 I know that some of you are saying, “But I don’t have a gift.” The Bible says that you do. You find your gift by trying out things that interest you and you do it over and over again so God can teach you to use the gift that He gave you. If you were to play the piano only occasionally, you would never excel despite any natural gifts. You have to use your gifts faithfully. God wants you to lead, teach or help others regularly, so He can develop your spiritual gift and make you great.

• Use God’s gifts humbly v. 3 No one likes the braggart. The best professional basketball player is not the guy bragging to the media. It is the player who quietly goes out and scores points and supports the rest of the team night after night. God gave you the gifts you have to do ministry and support others in their ministry. You will find joy and friendships as you work in concert with others and make the team look good. It is not about you. It is about God and His ministry.

• Use God’s gift in concert with others v. 5 Remember that you are part of a team. A professional basketball player will shine when he is good at passing and setting up shots for others. He uses his gifts to help them use their gifts better. Your gifts will shine when they are used in concert with others. The leader shines when she helps teachers succeed or helps the treasurer manage money better. Batman had Robin and the Lone Ranger had Tonto. Your gift becomes more powerful when it is complemented by the gifts of others.

Remember that the church is not like the world around us. The gifts we have were given to us by God and are meant to be used in service to others. As everyone uses their gifts for the rest of the church and community, they will be served by others using their gifts. You don’t have to be good at all things because God will fill your life with people who are good at the things that you don’t do well. Super men and women are often good at one thing and use that gift for others. God’s dream is to have a church where each person uses their skills and gifts in their area. He has the best people who are gifted to teach. He has the best people leading the church. He has the best people running communications, stewardship and outreach. That is a church we all want to be part of. It is a church where everyone is a super man or woman by the grace of God.