Let's begin in verse three, hear now the word of the living God. For I say through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Or as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. Or ministry, let us use it in our ministering. He who teaches in teaching, He who exhorts an exhortation, he who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. This is the word of the living God, and we say thanks be to God. Amen. Please be seated. Let's pray together. Now, living God, we pray that you would give us aid in the preaching and in the hearing of your Word. We pray that the voice of our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, may be known to us in the preaching of the Scriptures. We pray that by your Spirit you would aid us, that application may be made in our hearts, that you would give us a desire to be comforted, to be exhorted, to repent where needed. Help us, we ask. For the glory of your name, in Jesus' name, amen. Well, this morning we looked at the reality that in the church of Jesus Christ, we have a call not only to give, to support the work of ministry, but to serve This evening, I want us to consider service in the house of God. Consider that from Romans chapter 12. What does it look like to serve as brothers and sisters in the church of Jesus Christ? That is our question this evening. Our text, beginning in verse three, speaks to this reality, but I want you to see the context. Paul, writing to the church at Rome, says this, just two verses prior to our text. Romans 12, 1, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, or could say, your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. And then Paul writes in verse three, for I say the grace given to me to everyone who is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought. And he continues with this discussion of what it looks like for the people of God, the Church of Jesus Christ to serve. Interestingly enough, in this text, there seems to be priestly language the body of Christ, priests, as other passages of scripture will call us, called to make sacrifices, living sacrifices. In our text this evening, if we were to borrow an Old Testament language, it seems as though in addition to our priestly sacrifices, there are priestly tasks, tasks of service within the body of Christ. So this evening, brothers and sisters, let us consider serving. Three headings, three considerations. What does it look like to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His people? Firstly, we must say that we ought to serve out of humility. Serve out of humility. Notice Paul says, through the grace given to me. Now, Paul, as an apostle, is writing this. He has to defend his role as an apostle in many places in Scripture. But as an apostle, he is saying, for the grace of apostleship given to me, you could also understand that, in a sense, all of us who are Christians have been given grace, general favor from God. Paul, in this general favor of God and in his role as an apostle, says to the church at Rome, that each person, each believer is to not think of himself or herself more highly than he ought to think. When we consider the passage before us and consider serving in the church of Jesus Christ, the first consideration that Paul brings us to is humility. If our service is out of pride, if our service is out of show of self, you're already in the wrong frame of mind. We ought to be a people who don't think of ourselves more highly than we ought. In two ways we need to consider this, both as individuals and then as a church. As individuals, we need to remember humility. When we look at our lives, we need to remember that there is nothing that we have that we've not been given. We ought not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Perhaps you have a Bible in front of you. One of the benefits of our text is that sometimes words are put in italics to show us where we've got to explain something in English to make it make sense. It's really one main verb in the underlying language. Don't overthink yourself, is what Paul is saying. Don't overthink yourself. The New King James Version, maybe your version has this as well, adds the phrase, think of himself more highly You have to render this in a way that we can understand. Don't hyper-think yourself. Now, Paul has to encourage the body of Christ, encourage its members, for individuals not to be over-focused on themselves. Not to look at themselves in the mirror of this world and think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. Service must come out of humility. Now, why would Paul say that? Because in just a verse or two, he's about to say that we have gifts. Service is going to come out of the giftedness of the Spirit of God. Before Paul talks about the gifts that we're to use, he reminds us that we ought not to think about ourselves more highly than we ought. You see, the Holy Spirit of God has gifted every single believer. But if believers don't remember to think of themselves, as the text says, soberly, rightly, then those gifts will become trophies of self, which do not ultimately serve the purpose for which Christ, by His Spirit, has given them, and that is the edification of the body. If this church, Grace Baptist Chapel, is to be a church where gifts are used properly, the first thing that we need to all remember is to serve out of humility. He tells us in two different ways, doesn't he? Everyone who is among you, number one, don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think soberly. Perhaps we could render it this way. Don't be drunk on yourself, but be sober. Don't be drunk on yourself, but be sober. Think soberly as God has dealt to each one measure. In verse 3, our view of ourselves must center on God's work in us. Our self-evaluation, our giftedness, how we view ourselves must always include mindfulness of God. So as you think about serving the body of Christ, as you think about undertaking this task of living lives of sacrifice before the Lord serving in the body. Is your focus on you? Or is it on praising God and seeking to live a life? Glorifying him grateful for what he's given you. John Calvin said this regarding our text, quote, and here is a reason given for that sober-minded wisdom which he had mentioned. For as distribution of graces is various, so everyone preserves himself within the due boundaries of wisdom who keeps within the limits of that grace of faith bestowed on him by the Lord. Hence, there is an immoderate affection Hence, there is an immoderate affectation of wisdom, not only in empty things and in things useless to be known, but also in the knowledge of those things which are otherwise useful. When we regard not what has been given to us, but through rashness and presumption go beyond the measure of our knowledge. It is often to be seen with what insane trifles they are led away, who by foolish ambition, Proceed beyond those boundaries which are set for them. I know that may seem like a wordy quote, but what Calvin is after here is the reality that if we think too highly of ourselves, we might envision ourselves beyond what God has actually given to us. Think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. We are to serve out of humility, remembering that God sets the boundaries of our giftedness, that God gives us our gifts, and that our service is not out of selfish ambition or pride. When you think about serving the church of Jesus Christ, when you think about serving the master himself, the first consideration is to serve out of humility. There's a second consideration in our text, and that is this. We ought to serve out of a desire to help others. We ought to serve out of a desire to help others. Look at verse 4. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another, having then different gifts. according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. There perhaps is one of the main phrases of this passage, using gifts, serving in the body. The body to which we have been called is built on many and needs many. But notice, this desire is not to serve ourselves. Paul gives a list of gifts. Now, we ought not to think that the list of gifts here is exhaustive. Sometimes when people think about spiritual gifts, they'll take the list of spiritual gifts from a couple of New Testament passages. Perhaps they'll even develop certain kinds of inventories and tests and try to mysteriously figure out what their gift is. I think we'd be better served if we look at the text and say to ourselves, Paul is not trying to give a full theology of all of the gifts, but rather give examples, just enough examples for us to see that there is a purpose in these gifts, and that is to help others, to help the body. Notice there is the expectation that each gift will be used and used well. for the purpose of helping others. Look at the list that Paul gives. And again, this isn't the only list of gifts in scripture. He says in verse six, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith or ministry. Let us use it in our ministering. Who are we going to minister to? Who are we going to boldly proclaim to the Church of Jesus Christ, he who teaches In teaching, exhortation, giving with liberality, who will we give to? To the church of Jesus Christ, to its needs, to the purposes of the body. You see, the purpose of these gifts is not, again, that they may be trophies of self, but that the body of Jesus Christ might be built up and served. Verse eight, he who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, those who have leadership gifts in the body ought to consider how to hone that leadership and use that leadership with diligence so that it may be used well for the body. The question for us to think about this evening, then, is that as we consider our gifts and the call to use them, to serve in Jesus' church, does the church of Jesus Christ get the best of our service? Or, does the church of Jesus Christ, as one person I heard just this past week say, Does the Church of Jesus Christ get the dregs or we may say the leftovers? Do we consider it an honor to serve Christ, to use our gifts for the good of his people? This requires us then to consider, secondly, whether we actually have a growing love for Christ's people. Our lives can be so busy. The tasks before us can be so many. Do we remember that we have a call to serve? And that the main focus of the giftedness of his people is going to be the blessing of his church. When we consider them serving in the body of Christ, we need to consider that we ought to serve out of humility. And serve out of a desire to help others. In thinking soberly about ourselves, then one thing that we must pray against, one thing that we must watch out for in our own lives is the kind of temptation that sounds like this. I want to find a church where I can use my gifts. Now, that sentence in and of itself is not sinful. It might be good. I want to actually help Christ's people. I want to serve Christ's people. Sometimes I've had the opportunity to hear people say they just desire to serve Christ's people. They don't care what it looks like as long as it honors Christ. I must, I must use my gifts. I must help his people. It's what he's called me to. However, sometimes the, I must use my gifts, can be, I must use my gifts. This church doesn't recognize my gifts. I must find a place that will use my gifts and talents. You see, if the giftedness of the Holy Spirit is for the unified body, which we'll see in just a moment, then we need to remember that in various seasons, in various contexts, the use of our gifts and the needs for which our gifts can be used may vary. But if we have in mind a lack of sober mindedness and we are, in some sense, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, we will think no matter whether this is a square peg Round hole, I will force my gift into the situation. But our desire ought not to be, recognize my gift! But church, where is the need? How can I help? We must serve out of humility, but also serve with a desire to help others. But there is in our text a clear third consideration when we think about serving, and that is that we should serve with the goal of doing good to a unified body. We should serve with the goal of doing good to a unified body. Look at verse 5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ. And, and perhaps, brothers and sisters, here's one of the main, or perhaps, at least, if not the main, One of the main sobering texts speaking of the Church of Christ. We being many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. That's a sobering statement. That as Christians, we are united to Christ and we are members of one another. Having then different gifts according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. So because we're one body and we're members of one another and we've been gifted, let us use our gifts for the purpose of helping one another. Verse five, so we being many or one body in Christ. The reason that. Brothers and sisters around you have been given gifts, and the reason that they must use these gifts out of humility is so that the body of Christ may be unified and that this unified body may have good done to it. Paul will speak of this reality elsewhere. Turn over to First Corinthians. First Corinthians chapter 12. First Corinthians chapter 12. There are several themes in the New Testament that Paul seems to have to speak of in a variety of churches. Sometimes, in one letter to one particular church, we get a doctrine or a theme. But sometimes, Paul actually has to remind multiple churches of similar themes. We see this discussion of the unity of the body in 1 Corinthians 12, beginning in verse 15. There, Paul writes this. If the foot should say, because I'm not a hand, I am not of the body, Is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, I am not of the body. Is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them in the body, just as he's pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet. I have no need of you. No, much rather those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And he continues to discuss this theme to the believers Corinth. Each of us are a part of the body of Christ. We are united to Christ. We have been gifted with gifts to bless the body of Jesus Christ. But we need to remember that in the use of our gifts and in the striving to serve, we ought to serve with the goal of doing good to the body. Versus emphasizing what part of the body we are. How are we to serve in Christ's church? Well, as we read this passage this evening, we see that we are to serve out of humility. We ought not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. We ought to serve out of a desire to help others. And we ought to serve with the goal of doing good to a unified body, the one body of Jesus Christ. So what ought we to do with this passage this evening? Let's consider a few considerations before we pray together. As we think about serving with these themes in view, we ought to pray that God would give us hearts like we see in this text. That the Lord would give us humility as we think soberly about ourselves. and about the gifts that we have. Maybe that we ought to ask the Lord to give us a desire to love the body of Christ more than we do, to help others, that there might be fruit from our service, that in our service, the body continues to be unified, praying that the Lord would cause these things to be true within us. But we ought to also remember who we are. So often when we think about service, we think about what we do. We ought to remember who we are. That's what Paul calls the church at Rome to do. Remember who you are. Look what he says in verse five. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. This is the definition of what the Church of Christ is. You could say it in other ways. Other books of Scripture do. But here, in Romans chapter 12, we are described as being one body in Christ and members of one another. What is a Christian but a part of the body of Christ? This, of course, takes us to a very crucial doctrine. And that is union with Christ. Union with Christ. We being many are one body in Christ. Elsewhere in the scriptures, God will teach us. The Holy Spirit will give the apostles words to teach us about the reality that we are united to Christ. That full theology of union with Christ is not in our text, but it's implied there. We've never heard of this doctrine of union with Christ. Let's just take one moment to consider it. Paul says, we are one body in Christ. If you are a Christian, you are in Christ. He is our head and we are the body. But being in Christ means that by the Spirit, you have been united to him through faith. that you are attached to Christ, that you are united to who He is in His perfect life, in His atoning death, in His victorious resurrection, and in His exalted ascension. All that Christ has done, you are united to. Now, you didn't do it, but you are united to it by faith. Christ's perfect life. is now yours by faith. His record of righteousness is now yours. You are united to him, brought into his body. Christ's atoning death, the merits of which are yours by faith. His resurrection. His resurrection. You remember that Paul says this just a few chapters before in Romans chapter 6. Romans chapter 6. Notice what Paul says in the same letter. In this chapter, chapter 6, he's speaking of avoiding sin. Paul preaches such a bold gospel. that the question could come, Paul, based on how rich God's grace is, Romans 1-5, are you really saying what we think you're saying? Is it possible that because of how rich grace is, we could stay in sin? So Paul has to address that, doesn't he? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6 to certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live in it any longer? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. If we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him. When Christ died, you died. Your record of sin died. Your deeds were nailed in Christ on the cross. Paul continues, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin, for he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all. But the life that he lives, he lives to God. Paul then answers the question of whether we should live in sin because of how rich grace is. Likewise, you also reckon, consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now, that lengthy passage read aloud ought to remind us of our union with Christ. How many times in Romans chapter six do we see that we are in Christ, with Christ? When he died, we died. When he was raised, we were raised. We are united with Christ. So some six chapters later, when he speaks about gifts and begins to say, as we serve, don't think of yourself more highly than you ought. Think soberly, remembering the grace of God. Remember that even though we're many members, and that all the members do not have the same function, we are one body, and then there is that phrase again, in Christ. Brothers and sisters, in addition to praying that God would forge in our hearts, hearts that are humble as we think about serving, hearts that desire to help others with our gifts, we ought to also remember who we are. Remember that we are united to Christ, and therefore, if I'm united to Christ, and you're united to Christ, and you're united to Christ, then as Paul says in Romans 12 verse 5, we are individually members of one another. How often do we think of the church of Jesus Christ, not as the place that I go, not as a group of saved people, although both are true, How often do we think of the church as that place where there are others that I am united to because they, like me, are united to Christ? It really puts consideration of service on a very high level, doesn't it? It's not simply a matter of doing a few things, occasionally trying to help a few people. We are the body of Christ. We are gifted as individual members who are one in Christ. And so, we need to remember who we are. United to Christ and members of one another. If churches of Jesus Christ today in the United States In the West, perhaps, all over this world, we remember that when they come together, they are one in Christ and individually members of one another. How much would we see greater unity? How much would we see greater service when we remember who we are? So pray that the Lord would give us hearts like this. Secondly, remember. who you are as you consider these gifts. Perhaps this evening you have questions about what Jesus Christ has done, who He is. Our text doesn't lay out the full gospel, but you need to understand this evening that this passage assumes all that comes before it. Paul can say that believers have been gifted with gifts, that they ought not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, but before all of that, Paul has told us who we are. Romans chapter one, we're part of a sinful world bent against God. Romans chapter three, that there is no one righteous, no not one, no one who seeks after God. But then at the end of Romans chapter three, he says, that God, in His rich grace, has brought about salvation in Christ. That Christ kept the law of God in the stead of the sinner. In Romans chapter 3, 4, and the beginnings of chapter 5, Paul can say, if you're in Christ, the perfect law keeper who died for sinners, then you have peace with God. You're justified, you're declared righteous in Christ. And so in chapter six and following, even though you continue to wrestle with sin, sin no more because you are in Christ. So it's good for us to consider serving, but we ought to remember who we are. And if you're here tonight and you don't know Christ, you must start there. It's not your service that saves, but it's Christ and what he's done. But if you're Christ this evening, you belong to him by faith, then consider the questions of our text. Do I serve out of humility? Do I think of myself rightly? Am I soberly considering myself or am I thinking more highly of myself than I ought? When I think about the gifts and talents that God has given me, why do I want to use them? Is it out of a desire to help others or is it a desire for others to see me? And what's the goal? What's the goal? Is it that this unified body in Christ might have good done to her? Or is it some other goal? Brothers and sisters, as we consider service this evening, Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, boldly reminds us. That these are the things, at least in this text, that we ought to consider, let's pray. Living God, we pray that we, your people, might be encouraged to think rightly about service, about using the gifts which you've given to us. We pray that we might not think of ourselves more highly than we ought. We pray that the good of others might be in view, that others would be served. We pray that you would cause us to see that your body is one body, help us to love the church more than we do. We pray that the use of our gifts would have the good of your body in view. We pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.