Fizz - Part 4 Share the Fizz

Part 4 – Share The Fizz

Various Scriptures

Introduction:

We’ve been talking about becoming a carbonated church for the past few weeks. I’d like to review a little what we’ve learned.

We’ve determined that growing churches are carbonated churches. There’s a fizz of excitement and change.

We’ve used the First Church in the Book of Acts as a model. ~~

First week – Flat (flat churches are full of flat people) ~

Second week – We learned how to maximize our fizz (We have to add some biblical elements to our church) Fizzy-ness is not busy-ness.

Last week – We were given a stern warning that it’s dangerous to be shaken and not stirred. ~

And now today we’re going to talk about the real secret behind a church that’s got fizz. We’ve been saying all along that fizz really has nothing to do with programs, services, music, buildings, or any other things most people would point to as why a church grows. All those things are nice, and many of them needed, but they’re not the source of the carbonation. The secret to real fizz in a church, the source of the carbonation comes from those who serve. There is something attractive, something magnetic about a church where everyone senses their responsibility to minister to others.

A Ministry Primer -

And when a person visits Park Lake and they see how everyone is working unselfishly together to accomplish God’s vision, that’s impressive, that’s attractive, that’s magnetic. ~

I. Ministry Preparation

So what does it take to prepare myself for ministry? Three things:

I must be Ready, Willing, and Able.

A. I Must Be Ready

1. Ministry means “to give my time and my talents to help or serve others”.

2. Many Christians have the wrong idea about that word “minister”. They think that the church has only one minister. But the fact is, the church has as many ministers as it has members, because God’s purpose for every member is that they be a minister. a) The moment God calls a person to salvation, He also calls them to service. To be a Christian and not be a minister is a contradiction. If I call myself a believer and I’m not giving my time and my talents to help or serve others, then I’m contradicting God’s Word.

b) 1 Peter 2:9-10, “…for you have been chosen by God himself-you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God's very own-all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were less than nothing; now you are God's own. Once you knew very little of God's kindness; now your very lives have been changed.”

3. The simplest definition of a minister is “a Christian”. God tells us that he chose you Himself. He’s made you holy and pure and you belong to Him. And the reason he chose you is so that you would show others through your service and ministry how God has changed your life, and that He can change their life too.

So how do I get myself ready to minister? Become a Christ-follower. The moment you step across the line of faith and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you’re ready to minister.

B. I Must Be Willing

1. If you’re really going to serve God by serving others, you must be willing to do so. God’s not going to force it on you. Though He has commanded us to minister and serve one another, He’s not going to make you do it.

You’ve got to be willing to.

1 Chron 28:9

Worship and serve him (that’s the command… but how?) with your whole heart and with a willing mind.

NLT 2. That’s the thing about God’s commands. If you’re goal is to please God, then they are not optional. They are expected. The ten commandments aren’t called the ten suggestions. God has commanded us as Christ-followers to serve Him by serving others. If you want to please God, if you really want to be happy and fulfilled, then you will minister.

Gal 5:13-14

13 For you have been called to live in freedom — not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.

3. If you are a Christ follower, they you have been set free. That’s awesome! But many Christ followers abuse their freedom. They think, “Wow! I’ve been saved from my sin, saved from hell, I’m free!” And then they use that freedom to satisfy themselves, or sit and do nothing, or even worse they just continue to live like the world.

But the fact is, you’ve been set free for a purpose. Your freedom has been given to you for a mission. And that mission is to serve God by serving others.

Just like we said before. The moment you are “called” to salvation, you are “called” to ministry.

4. Check this out. This is the real heart of willingness here. Peter is instructing specifically Pastors of churches, the Elders or leaders in a church.

1 Peter 5:2

Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly — not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

NLT If you are going to minister to God’s people, then you must be Ready, Willing, and…

C. I Must Be Able

Able - having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications; qualified:

“OK. See Max. That’s the problem. I just can’t do it. I’m not able. I don’t have anything to offer. I’m not like you. I can’t get up there and do what you do. I just don’t have the ability. And besides all that, I’m really busy.”

This is the one that most people try to hide behind as the reason they don’t minister. They would argue that they are just not able.

“I’m too busy”

“I don’t know the Bible good enough”

“I’m not the best example.”

“I’m shy”

“I don’t like to be up in front of people”

“I’m not talented enough”

“I don’t have enough experience”

“I can’t sing or play an instrument”

“I just don’t have what it takes… I’m not able.”

There’s a theological word that answer’s all those arguments, “Bologna”!!! 1 Peter 4:11, “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides…”

Phil 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1 Tim 1:12, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.”

1 Cor 12:6-7

6 There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.

All four of those verses are telling us something. God has given each of us the strength and ability to minister. Isn’t that cool? God never asks us to do something He hasn’t already equipped us to do. He asks us to minister, so He has given us the strength to do it.

II. Ministry Problem

A. Now, there’s a problem. We’ve looked at how to prepare ourselves to share the fizz. We must be Ready, Willing, and Able.

1. And here’s the problem. We see that, we hear that… and still most of the people in the church would say, “Well, I’m just not ready”. I’m not prepared to get that involved. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. I’m busy. I’ve got a family and a demanding job. I’m just not ready to minister to others. Maybe someday when everything slows down, but right now… I’m just not ready. 2. OR – They say, “I’m just not able. I’m not a very talented person. I don’t have much to offer. I can’t do this or that. I’m not experienced enough. I don’t know the Bible good enough. I’m just an average person with little skills. I’ll just sit this one out and let someone else, more gifted than me, minister.”

B. But you know what hardly anyone would say? “I’m not willing”. Most church members would never say, “I’m ready and I’m able, but I’m just not willing.”

But here’s the truth. You ARE Ready. You ARE Able. So if you’re not involved in ministry, there’s really only one reason… You ARE NOT willing.

It’s time we stop with the excuses. Be honest with ourselves. If you’ve trusted in Christ, God has made you ready and God has made you able. Those aren’t even really up to you. But one thing God will not make you do. He will not force you to be willing.

Now, the Holy Spirit will convict you. And I believe He’s doing that right now. He’ll shake you. But you have to be stirred. You have to be willing to get involved.

What does it take to share the fizz? What do you need to become a minister here at Park Lake Church? Three things: You Must Be Ready, Willing, And Able. You’re ready. You’re Able. But, are you willing?

(Refer to handouts)