To this point in the series, we’ve mainly focused on the way that you fit, on your place in the body of Christ, and the freedom you have from God to serve God where you are with the gifts he’s given you. There is another component to this. How do you multiply ministers? How do you pass on a legacy of faith and service? At least part of the answer is this: You take them along, and you disciple them while you go. In this final sermon of the series, we’ll learn from Elijah as he passed on the mantel to Elisha. (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-15)
Congregation of Misfits - #4 - Shaped for Purpose
In his great mercy, God has gathered together this group of people as a small tribe among his one holy people. We are his! We belong to him. We belong to each other. We belong to the whole church. We don’t just have a place here, we belong to one another, each of us shaped for a purpose toward one another. A sermon on Romans 12:1-8.
Congregation of Misfits - #3 - Every Misfit a Minister: Crowned Work
Now that we have set down our roots into Jesus. Now that we have confidence in our sufficiency and have seen our place in the church. Now, we’ll set our roots down one more time into another piece of our identify – each one of us a priest, a minister, a servant of God. This gives color to our vocations and our place in life. They are not just mundane moments, but moments in which we give holy service to our holy God. A sermon on 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Congregation of Misfits - #2 - There are no Misfits
Roots before fruit. Identity before purpose and possibility. Remember? Today, we will dig into another part of our identify. Last week, we regained our confidence because God counts us righteous. Today, we see that God is building each one of us – oblong and oddly shaped stones that we are – to be one holy temple. Each misfit fits in this building. A sermon on 1 Peter 2:4-8.
Congregation of Misfits - #1 - There are No Misfits
It’s true that at times we can feel like a misfit in the church. We’re not sure what our purpose is in the church or in the world; we may not be sure where we fit. But the truth is, the whole idea of misfits is really a misnomer. The truth we are justified in Christ, sufficient in him alone, erases pride, and raises us from any despair. We receive our sufficiency from him. There are no misfits. A sermon on 2 Corinthians 3:4-6.