Stewardship of the Spirit
Carrying Faith Forward
October 7, 2018
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
The new series, Carrying Faith Forward, teaches that after Jesus came the Spirit, which sovereignly distributes diverse spiritual gifts to believers so the local church—using time, worship, money, and intentional service—can work together for the common good and bless the wider culture, calling members to stop quenching the Spirit by inactivity.
Summary
This sermon launches the Carrying Faith Forward series (part three of the church vision) and will focus over the next weeks on time, worship, money, and a study of Ruth. It emphasizes that after Jesus came the Holy Spirit who applies Christ's righteousness and gives each believer a unique distribution of spiritual gifts. Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 4 shows that those varied manifestations are purposeful and given by the same Spirit for the common good. The gifts are intended primarily for the life and benefit of the local church, which in turn is the best way to serve the surrounding culture—yet many are quenching the Spirit through inactivity. The call is for everyone to discover and use their gifts to build the body and carry faith forward into the world.
Key Points
- Launch of new series: Carrying Faith Forward, focusing on time, worship, money, and a Ruth study
- Reminder: Jesus first, then the Holy Spirit who applies Christ's righteousness to us
- The Spirit gives diverse spiritual gifts to each believer as a sovereign, purposeful distribution
- Paul (Ephesians 4): gifts are manifestations of the Spirit and all serve the common good
- Those varied gifts are meant to build up the local church and benefit the wider culture
- A large portion of the congregation is inactive, effectively quenching the Spirit
- Urgent call: identify and use your gift to serve the church and carry faith forward
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