(Note to reader- Prior to the message, a clip of The Learning Channel'stelevision show "Trading Spaces" was shown. In this clip two families haveareas in their homes which are in need of updating. Each family gives the other family a small idea of what they would like to have done, but it is entirely up to the visiting family to decide what area of the home needs rennovated and what decor to use. When it is finished, each family may or may not like what has been done to their home.)
What is "Trading Spaces" all about?
Have you watched The Learning Channel’s program, "Trading Spaces"? What an outrageous concept for a reality television show! On this show neighbors make over each other's houses with help from rival interior designers. As they trade spaces, one couple wears green shirts and the other couple wears blue shirts. (Note to reader- the worship team was outfitted in two different colored tee-shirts.) And short of giving a few suggestions, they have absolutely no idea what their neighbor will be doing to their home. Sometimes the changes neighbors make are appreciated, but sometimes the changes are not well received!
I always thought they should do a follow-up program to see how well the neighbors are getting along months later, after trading spaces. Are the neighbors still talking? Did the changes stick? Did the couples undo their neighbors' work? Would they do it all over again if given the choice?
Homes are such a private and deeply personal space. Could you even imagine letting your neighbors into your home when you were gone, let alone giving them permission to remodel a room? And what about letting one of those wacky interior designers have free reign of things?They can do some pretty far out stuff!
What is God's desire for our church?
Now, think about the mission of the Church. The Church is all about trading spaces. But instead of opening our houses to our neighbors, the Church is about opening the deepest part of our lives to one another--- our hearts, our minds, and our souls. Instead of making cosmetic changes, the Church is about helping each other make deep, lasting changes. Changes that define our characters and our destinies. And instead of there being interior designers, thereare spiritual designers to coach us along. Now isn’t that a much hipper job title than senior pastor?Jon Morrissette, spiritual designer. Someone might as well pull the fire alarm. There wouldn’t be a quicker way to clear the building!
This idea of trading spaces and building up each other’s lives spiritually is found all over scripture. In fact, the Bible describes us as a, "spiritual house" or, "building." 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV) says, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV) says, "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building."
We should be working with God to build our spiritual house.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV) says, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." And even greater is the fact that God himself is the chief architect and builder. Hebrews 3:4 (NIV) says, "For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." Hebrews 11:10 (NIV) refers to God as the, "builder and architect." So trading spaces, in a spiritual context, is all about working with God to build his spiritual house.
As we think about this thing called Church, we should remember that God is the architect and not just the builder. He’s given us a blueprint for how he wants his spiritual house to be built. I think passages like Ephesians 4:1-16 provide a blueprint for what we are to become. Ephesians 4:1-16 (NIV) says, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his trainand gave gifts to men.' (What does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
God's first desire for us is that we live a life worthy of our calling.
For example, one of God’s desires for us is that we live a life worthy of our calling. In Ephesians 4:1 (NIV) Paul says, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." When the Jewish people built God’s temple in Jerusalem they spared no expense. They brought in the finest stonecutters, goldsmiths, and building materials. The temple was so spectacular that it blazed in the sun, humbling anyone who entered its gates.
The Bible says our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Everything about our lives is to bring glory and honor to the living God. God’s desire is that our lives would accentuate his glory, causing people to praise God and assign worth to God. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:16 (NIV). "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
We all have parts of our lives that do not bring honor to God. It's like this building. There are some aspects of this building that honor God, but there are parts of this building that he may grimace over like the scuff marks, the signs of wear and tear, or the lack of attention to detail. God’s desire is that our entire lives be worthy of the calling we have received.
God's second desire for us is that we truly become a united family.
One of God’s desires for us is that we become a truly united family. In Ephesians 4:2-6 (NIV) Paul says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Some of the most important qualities any of us can possess are humility, gentleness, patience, and the ability to bear with one another in love. The reason humility is important is because you may be the part of God’s spiritual house that is not bringing God honor and you may be the part that may need to be renovated. It takes humility to embrace the kind of deep changes that bring honor to God.
It also takes humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance to come alongside members of God’s household and help them make the deep changes God desires. Humility is the nails that hold God's spiritual house together. Humility is an indispensable building component. If you are too stubborn and hardened to be nailed, you have no place in God’s spiritual house. God doesn’t want any stray boards. In God’s household there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father. We are to be united in bringing honor to God.
Third, God desires that our gifts fill the whole universe.
God also desires that our gifts fill the whole universe. In Ephesians 4:7-10 (NIV) Paul says, "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.' (What does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)"
Our spiritual gifts are like a shard of glass taken from a broken mirror. When used for our own glory, our gifts are useless and dull. But when used to reflect God’s glory, those same gifts become spectacular and glorious. Just think, as the architect of his spiritual house, God fashioned you in your mother’s womb and through yoursalvation, gave you the spiritual gifts that would add glory to his house. So God’s household consists of people who honor God, who with humility are being built into that household, and who use their gifts to fill the universe with God’s glory. So how does God go about building his spiritual house?
How does God build his spiritual house?
First, all disciples make trading spaces their ultimate goal. Ephesians 4:7 (NIV) tells us that, "grace has been given (to every one of us) as Christ apportioned it." In the Bible we discover that people have gifts like encouraging, giving, teaching, leading, administrating, shepherding, pastoring, counseling, evangelizing, discerning, praying, and hospitality. I don’t believe that the Bible gives a comprehensive list of gifts. Some people have the spiritual gift of serving, which encompasses just about everything imaginable!
God’s household needs people who set up chairs, sweep floors, prepare meals, sew nametags on clothing at the nursing home, cut grass, trim bushes, pick up trash, change signs, prepare coffee and communion, push snow, and count money. And God’s household needs people who serve beyond these four wallsasdoctors, nurses, realtors, accountants, mechanics, repair men, andfood servers. Every single one of us has a contribution we can make to God’s household.
We make trading spaces our goal.
You have a piece, I have a piece, and together as one, we reflect God’s glory. When your piece stays in the box, the totality of God’s grace appears incomplete to world. You are to use your gifts to build up the body of Christ. You build value into my life and I build value into your life. We all build value into each other’s lives.
One of my favorite passages in scripture is 1 Peter 4:7-11 (NIV) which says, "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
So first and foremost, we all make trading spaces our goal. We make it a priority to get into each other’s lives and to bless one another with the gifts God has given us.
Every disciple is equipped to do the work of trading spaces.
Second, every disciple is equipped to do the work of trading spaces. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) says, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
These verses speak of being prepared for works of service, of being built up, and of becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. When I look at Lakeside, I see our church doing some really incredible things. Like a dozen kids going to Haiti on a missions trip. Like our church partnering with Pioneer Bible Translators to bring the Bible to people groups who do not know Christ. Like dozens of volunteers serving in our community, helping the elderly, partnering with Inner City Mission, distributing food and clothing. Like people visiting hospitals, caring for the sick, and encouraging the discouraged. Like people rolling up their sleeves and serving in the nursery, our children’s ministry, worship ministry, building and grounds. Stuff like that.
The people who make the greatest contributions are people who are willing to be equipped. The people who make the least contribution are those who say, "I’ve never done that. It’s not my spiritual gift. I can’t do that. I don’t have time to learn." Sometimes there are things that aren’t your spiritual gift. Like I don’t have the spiritual gift of singing and I would be worthless in the nursery. But there are times when you have a spiritual gift, but you don’t know until you give it a try.
There was a time when I thought my only spiritual gift was to be obnoxious and disruptive in church. And so that is all I did in church. My parents would scold me for being an embarrassment to their good name and I’d say, "It’s my gift." But in addition to being obnoxious and disruptive, God had in mind that I would teach, preach, evangelize, counsel, administer, and lead. But it has taken years of preparation to do some of these things. And I am still learning to do most of them well.
The point is that you have to have a desire to be equipped for works of service. No one can put that desire in you except God himself. I loved the attitude of our worship teams after our last worship minister left. You know what they said? They said, "Never again! We are going to cross-train." They broke out of their mold and said, "Let me try that. Show that to me again." This attitude is what makes God’s spiritual house magnificent.
Every leader should be equipping others and not just doing the work of trading spaces.
A last way God builds his house is by every leader equipping others, and not just doing the work of trading spaces himself. Just look at the verses in Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) again. "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Let me tell you what I love about Lakeside and what I hate about Lakeside. First, I hate the fact that I cannot adequately cover all the bases that need to be covered in this church. In my last church, which was much smaller, I felt on top of things. I could get into every home, call on just about everyone, teach, preach, share the gospel, and counsel. But at Lakeside I am continually buried. There isn’t a night that I don't go home without thinking of ten more people I should have called, prayed over, evangelized, counseled, mentored, or equipped. And I know that there are times when you as a congregation are frustrated with my inadequate response to your needs.
But let me tell you why I love Lakeside and why I left my previous church. I love it that I cannot do everything here and that I have no choice but to equip you, as a body, to do the works of service. You see, in my last church, it was easier to do it myself than it was to equip. It was easier to do it myself than to pick up the phone, invite someone along, and train them to share the gospel,to make a hospital call, or to lead a small group.
I love Lakeside because so many of you are catching God’s vision of a church where every member contributes, and leaders equip, and the whole church builds itself up in love instead of abdicating its responsibility to professional staff! The one hundred unfinished items on my list at the end of the day make me want to equip harder, because that is really the only way to make a difference.
Can you believe the difference trading spaces makes?
Can you believe the difference that trading spaces makes? The truth is that along with God, we are building something that lasts for eternity. Ephesians 4:14-16 (NIV) says, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Imagine the extraordinary good that would come if we all traded spaces. If the people in blue shirts served the people in the green shirts and the people in green served the people in blue.