August 6 Sermon - Ephesians 4: 1-16

What I learned at Vacation Bible School

Last Sunday we had the conclusion of our Annual Vacation Bible School. Its success was the result of a lot of work by many people - more than 40 of our members contributed their time and effort in some way - and there were an equal number of students - so a lot of people were involved.

As I reflected on how VBS had come together, I realized it is an example of what Paul wrote about in our second lesson. Paul is discussing the church - and almost everything Paul says about the church is true of VBS. In other words, VBS is a miniature church - an example of what the church should be.

First Paul reminds us that Christian life is essentially communal. We not simply individuals each on our own spiritual journey, but also part of a group that journeys together. We’re a family - and like all families we have to bear with one another - that could mean put up with one another - with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2,3

Family life isn’t easy - it involves compromise and individual sacrifice - respecting the needs of others. Church life is no different - and no easier. We have to work to maintain the bond of peace.

Unity in the family has a natural basis - we’re all related. Unity in the church isn’t natural - but rather is spiritual. We are called by the Spirit into the church - and empowered by the Spirit to maintain family unity.

Vacation Bible School - the church within the church - was united around a common purpose: to present the heart of the gospel to our children in just one week. And to present it in a way that they would enjoy learning - and retain what they learned. Everything revolved around that purpose.

As a congregation, we are a community based on shared beliefs - There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. 4:4-6.

At the heart of those shared beliefs is simply our confession that Jesus is Lord. In the creed, we confess the beliefs that we share with one another and with other Christians throughout the world and over time. These elements of faith unite us and define us as Christians - the one relationship we share through our baptism and faith in Christ.

United, we are better able to respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him - joining with other disciples on a journey of faith - a journey that is not just an individual quest, but a group travel experience.

In Vacation Bible School, since we had only a week and were teaching children, we reduced a set of common beliefs to five basic promises of God that kids could learn and remember: God knows you - God loves you - God treasures you - God forgives you - God is with you always.

There were lessons and Bible stories, activities and crafts, songs and reflections -- all of which reinforced those basic promises of God.

VBS was the result of many people doing different things, illustrating Paul’s words:

Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. 4:7

God has gifted each one of us - graced us with talents and abilities - some of which are designed to be shared and used for the benefit of others in the community. As our first lesson reminds us, God will give us what is necessary for the journey.

One way the Lord provides is to call a variety of people into the congregation. God does not create homogeneous groups, but rather diverse assemblies of varied and different people. That enriches us - and also provides that reservoir of talents and skills that will be necessary.

One of the interesting aspects of Vacation Bible School was to see the “hidden talents” of many of our members. For example, we had an excellent teacher who was here every night at VBS, but didn’t teach a single class. Instead she led the games - and found some new and interesting game for the kids every night.

Our resident gardener wasn’t here talking about gardening but rather was arranging all the meals for every evening. Feeding people instead of feeding plants.

Along the way, we discovered we had some excellent cooks, some who hadn’t shared their talents before.

One of our council members who had not been involved in Sunday School or teaching at other times, was the teacher for an elementary school class.

Before VBS began, we discovered some artists, who came to paint the background scenes for the children’s Bible lessons. It was amazing to see how a number of individuals could simultaneously be painting the same scene.

There are many more examples I could give, but the point is simply that many people came to share a variety of individual talents and skills -- and had fun doing it.

The point is that is the way the church is supposed to work.

Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. 4:7

Everyone is necessary and has a role to play - for we all have been gifted by God with different talents and abilities. And VBS reminds us that when we use those talents in his service - in ministry - we can have fun. Enjoy doing it because we’re using what God has given us in a way he intended – thus fulfilling our purpose – and that brings satisfaction and joy.

Within the congregation, the challenge is to identify the talents and abilities - and somehow relate them to the ministry of the church. Each of us could do many things. There are even things we might do - that we have the ability for - but haven’t thought of doing.

How can those talents be matched to the ministry of the church? How can we identify the things we’re equipped to do - have the talent for - but haven’t discovered yet?

Our stewardship team has accepted the challenge and will be developing ways to help you identify your gifts and talents for service to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 4:12

“Equip” means to prepare – to make serviceable or useful. The object of this equipping is to prepare you for ministry – for service to others in Christ’s name. That in turn, Paul writes, has the objective of Building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 4:13

So the final goal is both individual and group.

As individuals we are to grow in spiritual maturity – and the measure of that maturity is the full stature of Christ.

The group – the church – reaches the goal when it functions fully as the body of Christ – united in faith and purpose - and everyone has a stake in the adventure. Each one of us is gifted in some various ways – and everyone belongs, is needed and wanted.

Our recent VBS experience also reminds us of one more element. As we work together, offering our God-given talents, we experience joy and satisfaction – we all have a good time together.

That’s one sign that you are using your God-given talent in an appropriate way – you enjoy doing it and it brings a sense of fulfillment.

Paul pushes us, as a church, to invite members to use their gifts and talents in a great adventure of serving God. For the Lord has chosen to work through each of us individually – and all of us together as Christ’s body – a diverse but integrated group that journeys until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 4:13

At VBS, the goal was to help children grow in faith – and the church’s goal for us is the same -

To help every member to mature spiritually - to grow up in every way...

Grow up in faith - trusting God more

Grow up in knowledge, so we can

begin to discern God’s will for our lives

Grow and mature, as we focus more on the Lord and his way - on the things which will endure.

To grow closer to one another as we join in the adventure of building the kingdom.