2. Are you connecting to the Church? The Call to Community

4. the Lordship of Christ …He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. (Eph 4:7-10)

5. Leadership that Equips And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (4:11-12)

6. Fellowship that is authentic …speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… (4:13- 15 )

7. spiritual community… where souls connect, where shame weakens, where sin surfaces, where failure meets grace, where irritations soften, where holy desire grows." where souls connect, where shame weakens, where sin surfaces, where failure meets grace, where irritations soften, where holy desire grows." Larry Crabb

8. Stewardship as a lifestyle …from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.. (4:16) …from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.. (4:16)

9. As a steward… I am not the owner, I give myself first to God, I help support the community with what God has provided Cheerfully…Proportionally Sacrificially Knowing He “always makes me rich enough to be generous” in all sorts of ways.

10. We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (2 Cor. 8)

11. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12. You are one of God’s gifts to this church! ‘Un-wrap yourself’ and serve the Lord with gladness! the BIG idea

14. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.