Notes - 10th September 06

Bible passages:
Jeremiah 18:1-11
1 Peter 4:7-19

'You were shaped to serve God'.

What is your instant reaction to this opening sentence?

We live in a culture where 'self' seems to come first. What do you think of the idea that it is only when you put God at the centre, that your personality, character, experiences and achievements begin to become complete?

On a scale of 0-10, how centred is your life on God at this moment? How do you think it might show itself if your life is not centred on God?

(Read Jeremiah 18:1-11)

What did Jeremiah see and hear at the potter's house?

Being re-shaped by the divine potter isn't always a pleasant experience. Can you recall times when God has shaped you significantly through some major events?

In order to be reshaped by the potter, the clay has to be soft. How would you describe the behaviour of a person with a hard heart? A person with a soft heart? What's the condition of your heart, how may it become more pliable?

Heart

In the Bible the term 'heart' describes our desires, interests, dreams, ambitions, hopes, affections. Your heart is the real you. Your heart determines why you say the things you do, why you feel the way you do, and why you act the way you do.

In short your heart is your 'passion'. What really fires you up? That tells you the nature of your heart. Repeatedly the Bible tells us to 'serve the Lord with all your heart'. God wants service that's passionate, not just dutiful. If our heart is in our service, it shall be enthusiastic and it shall be effective. Is that true of our service of God? God has uniquely designed us, the Bible would teach, to have God at the centre. Because of who He is (our Holy Creator God), and what we are (frail sinners), that means that God seeks to be directing our lives, shaping them, changing them to be like Jesus.

That was the third great purpose Warren identified for our lives.

But the fourth, which we are looking at now, is that when we accept Christ as our Saviour and Lord, we are saved to serve. Everything about us, God wants us to use to serve Him, and bring Him glory. Indeed, God gives us gifts to carry through the unique ministry He has for us to do.

Warren suggests that we need to discover our God-given, unique way of serving Him and has developed an acrostic for us to see what this may be for us, using the word "SHAPE":

Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experience

(Read 1 Peter 4:7-19)

Spiritual gifts

How many of you think of these as rewards or abilities you earn by your own efforts?

They are 'gifts': the Giver determines what He will give and to Whom. But He is generous, and all believers will receive a number of spiritual gifts. A gift is only any use if we receive it, open it up and use it - the point is for us to do this. Not only do we need some help in discernment from the Spirit, the word and other believers, we also need to realise that spiritual gifts are not given for your own benefit, but for the benefit of others in the Church. God planned it this way so that we can help others with our gifts and they can help us with their gifts. No one has all the gifts, we need to rely on others and them on us. Do you know your giftings, are you using them for others?

(In your own time prayerfully look at 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11, Romans 12: 4-8 and ask God to show you the gifts He has given you.)

Notice how the passage in 1 Peter on gifts, is immediately followed by teaching on suffering for being a Christian: we love the teaching on gifts, we find it very hard to accept suffering for Christ as well, as part of the package. In what possible sense can suffering for being a Christian be a source of joy for us?

Points to Ponder:

*What do you love to do that you could use to serve others in the family of God?

*In what ways can you see yourself passionately serving God, others and loving it?

*How does comparing ourselves with others keep us from fully developing our unique shape?

*How is 'using your shape to serve others' different from the way most people understand 'ministry'?