1. Give an illustration from your observation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Think “synergy,” and “symphony.” The music is so much more than all the instruments heard separately.

2. Name some people who serve “under the radar.” Commit to a way, place and time of affirming and thanking them for blessing you and others.

3. Name an area where you have been broken. Now think of opportunities to serve in this arena. We typically think “I’m not ready,” or “God can’t use me” but is that really true, or is something not of God stopping you? Meditate on (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Will you talk this over with someone you trust?

4. Take some time to fill out the Interest-Ability Inventory found in the brochure racks of the church. This helps us help you serve God in the area He has gifted you. It’s a win-win-win scenario: Others are blessed, you are benefited as a by-product and God is glorified. Turn it into the office. We ask this of all our regular attenders & required of our members. Don’t make more than five checkmarks for starters. Inidicate whether it’ a “new” or an “update.” If you already have an accurate one in our I-A database, you don’t need to do another one.

5. Remember, before you offer your gifts to the Lord, offer him your WHOLE self. Have you? Why not today?

I.  I grew up in the Mahoning Valley, a name obviously reflecting the Native Americans who first settled this area. Listen to the Youngstown TV stations, 21, 27 & 33, how proudly and constantly they talk about “our valley,” the Mahoning Valley, as if Youngstown was the mecca for all things bright and beautiful. I was in the humongous Mahoning Valley Council of the Boy Scouts. I loved to visit the Mahoning Valley Dairy just up the road to get ice cream as a boy.

     A.  Now picture the mighty Mahoning River, the one that rages during rainy seasons just east of Alliance and floods a lot of land near Rt 62 around Oyster Rd. Anyone ever seen its source? It starts on a little hill near a tiny crossroads appr. 20 miles southeast of here, known for the pink elephant in front of it’s primary & most prosperous business, a bar, called “Pinky’s.” No it’s not a place where everyone knows my name. I’ve never been.

      B.  I’ve heard people who have seen the headwaters of the Mississippi say the same thing. At its source near the Canadian border it’s a trickle. What makes any river mighty are the tributaries that flow into it. This is the original “trickle down” theory, illustrating the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. That’s also the church.

     C.  I actually have a direct tributary of the mighty Mahoning flowing through my back yard. You can’t see it. It’s in a 4’ pipe underground. Coming from all directions, those tributaries feed & form a river, enlarging it with every additional tributary and trickle.

II.  That's not just the way rivers grow (12:7; Eph 4:11-16). Each member, each tributary, each trickle is VITAL to make the church flow & grow, IF we work together in love to build & to bless each other, then bless the world.

     A.  Many times people’s gifts in the church work under the radar, unseen, quietly helping strengthen and build up, like the tireless nursery workers, the unsung sound men, and custodians…until they make a mistake or don’t show up. They’re like that tributary in my back yard, quietly flowing contributing its part to make the Mahoning the river it is once it winds its way into Youngstown.

     B.  As we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, we become bigger people in Christ…TOGETHER; enlarged and charged by the people around us. YOU are one of those tributaries, made to enrich and enlarge the lives of the folks around you.

III.  Paul challenges us to that edifying ministry in (Eph 4:16) and models that in (Rom 1:8-13). NOTE the superlative words here: "…all…all…whole…I long to see you… impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong…”.  Note also the spiritual war involved in hindering this work of blessing others w/ our gift, helping develop theirs, and being blessed by theirs.

     A.  I remember touring the famous Carlsbad Caverns in NM. It’s not one of the wonders of the world, but it should be. There are gorgeous stalagmites, stalactites, and hold tights. Once in the Ohio caverns touring the underground darkness. I thought I would lighten up the atmosphere w/ some sound effects. Joyce was carrying 3 year old Eric who did not appreciate my wolf howls. Not sure how the other tourists felt about my finely tuned skills. When Eric heard the howl he put a death grip around Joyce’s neck, which she kindly reminded me would lead to my finding this cavern my grave if I did it again. Actually she whipped around, still in the choke hold, gasping: “Thanks a lot! That’s all I need.” Later I was carrying Eric and becoming a little bored w/ the same barely visible sights and damp slimy rock walls we were constantly buffing with our shirts & shorts in those narrow passages. So I let out another barely audible wolf howl. Eric reared back pounded my chest chastised: “Thanks, that’s all I need!”!

          1.  Back to Carlsbad. There we entered this one large chamber, and the guide turned on the light and directed our eyes to this high vaulted ceiling. You can probably guess what animals we saw hanging out up there. LOTS of bats. They fly out like a giant storm cloud each night.

          2.  Early explorers of this cave had found large quantities of bat guano. I don’t think I need to spell that out or give synonyms what that is. They made tons of money selling that stuff. And why am I telling you this? I’m glad you asked. That gross stuff is a key ingredient in gunpowder, mascara and even some lipsticks. Ladies, all wipe your lips in unison. I haven’t kissed my wife since I read this. (Not.)

          3.  If man can turn something stinky & seemingly useless into something useful and beautiful, what can God do? He wants make something beautiful out of those gifts you think aren’t of much value. He can and He will, IF you offer it in the Master’s hand.

     B.  One way He does that is to use us in exactly the areas where we have been beat down & broken. He wants to heal us where we have been wounded SO THAT WE CAN REACH OUT AND BLESS and build up those who have been wounded like us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

          1.  I don't know all the troubles you’ve seen. It could be anything from sickness, to abuse, to addiction, to grief. But whatever the trouble, I know that it's made you need the Lord more than ever before. And so you experienced His compassion, His comfort, His strength, and His support in some deeply personal and powerful ways, so that you can help others with the comfort you have received from Him.

          2.  People who’ve known intense loneliness are some of the friendliest people we have here. Sexually abused people have reached out in our CR ministry and other ways to salve the pain of others who haven’t yet been healed from that guilt and shame. Some of the guys who make the best coaches, unpacking the potential of even the least talented athlete on the team, were those who knew what it was like to ride the pine (bench), get cut or get ridiculed for not performing.

          3.  God wants to do that for you if you'll bring Him all that pain, all those wounds, all those memories. He wants to take all that ugly stuff--stuff the world might call “guano,” gifts you might think are useless, and He wants to turn into something useful.

IV.  I’m continually in awe how God is always taking useless stuff and little people and multiplying their value and power. The ordinary shepherd’s staff in Moses’ hand became an instrument of miracles and power in front of Pharaoh. The five loaves and two fish in the little boys hand fed 5000. The tiny band of Gideon’s army (300 of 32,000) routed the mighty multitudes of Midianites because God didn’t want the larger army Gideon had mustered to get the glory (Judg 7). He alone deserves that. The widow’s one little jar of oil was continually poured out until she had filled all the jars she could beg, borrow or steal. David slew Goliath w/ one little rock. If David would have been bigger than Goliath, we have no story to thrill us. Yet in our world, bigger is always better. Power makes right. In God’s kingdom, it’s the small that shows up the big, it’s the weak that shames the strong, it’s the foolish that often confounds the wise (2 Cor 12:9-12; I Cor 1:23-29, 31).

     A. Some of you don’t think anyone values you, including God. You think you’ve got a rap sheet or a resume that qualifies you for the city dump, not Donald Trump. “You’re fired!” But…

     B.  Just think of little Marita. Doesn’t she humble and inspire you at the same time? Doesn’t she put our problems into a different perspective? I pray she inspires you to want to offer your gifts to Christ today and tomorrow, however humble or undeveloped or developed they may be. Before you offer your gifts, offer yourself. GOSPEL HERE. 

God's great blessings (Eph 3:20)
Pastor Rick Sams