Your Spiritual DNA - 2
Nurturing Network
November 12, 2006
Pastor Paul W Newell

There are things about me I just can't change.

Networks are the big thing right now. Everyone wants to be a part of the right network. It doesn’t matter if it’s cell phones, friendships or business – it’s all about the network. This morning I want to invite you to be a part of the most powerful network on earth – but more on that in a few minutes.

We are in the second week of our D.N.A. series. We’re looking at the core pieces that make FamilyFellowship what it is – and what makes us as individuals unique.

All of us have distinct DNA. Most of what you are started with your DNA. Your shape has a lot to do with your DNA. A lot of what you either like or don’t like is the result of your DNA. Your DNA is the basic building block of your physical self. It’s not everything, but it’s where it all begins.

We talked last week about living out our DNA. God created you to be someone special. You were shaped for a certain purpose.
When you try to live opposite your DNA, life gets pretty frustrating. Just try to be right handed when God made you a southpaw! (Or trying being ugly when God made you so good looking! <grin>)

When you try to live apart from your God given purpose, you are going to be miserable. There are lots of miserable Christ followers around because they are not living out their God given DNA – purpose.

It’s only natural to live out your DNA.

As a church we have a DNA. FamilyFellowship has some basic components, core pieces that make us what we are as a church family. We don’t want to be frustrated or try to do church apart from how God intended. So we’re researching our DNA.

Last Sunday we looked at our Divine Determination: WE don’t give up!

Part of our DNA is that we don’t give up. We can’t stop doing what God has called us to do!

The reason why we don’t give up: It’s a God thing! We have a directive from God to reach our neighbors and the Pass for Christ. We can’t give up; we can’t quit – eternity is too important for us not to make sure that everyone we can is introduced to Jesus Christ.

It goes against our God implanted make-up to quit. Every time we think about quitting, giving up, not reaching out to others – something inside us tells us we can’t. When we try to stop – we’re miserable. We have a Devine Determination.

This morning we take on our Nurturing Network.

I don’t know about you particularly, but I’m assuming you and I are a lot alike – we want to belong. I’ve haven’t met many people who really want to be totally lonely!

We have a need, a drive to belong. We always sounds better than “me”.

You and I have the opportunity to be a part of the most of the most powerful network on earth – Christ’s Church.

Maybe you never thought of church as a network – but look at what the Bible tells us about us...Christ’s church.

“Under his [Jesus Christ’s] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.” (Ephesians 4:16a)

The whole body is fitted together – that’s a good description of a network, fitted together.

The Apostle Paul in this little verse is describing how each of us as Christ Followers fits into the church. He calls it a body. What is a body? A bunch of individual members (hands, feet, eyes, ears, etc.) all fit together. They are all networked together.

Look at the rest of the verse:
“Under his [Jesus Christ’s] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part [of the body or network] does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

That verse is describing part of your DNA. It’s describing part of FamilyFellowship’s DNA. We don’t only have a Devine Determination to never stop – we are part of a Nurturing Network.

Maybe you never really thought of yourself as part of “Church”, or maybe you just haven’t taken your part that seriously, but if you look at that verse again you will see how much your spiritual DNA is driving you to be a part of a nurturing network (a church).

First, You FIT the Network.

I don’t know about you – but every part of my body fits together just right. I mean my arm is hanging there – just right. My eyes are looking out here – just right. My feet are attached – they belong down there!

You may not like the way a certain part of by body looks or acts – but the reality is – it’s all mine. All these parts BELONG TOGETHER.

As a Christ Follower YOU BELONG, you are a perfect fit in Christ’s Body, in His NETWORK.

You fit in the network.

Look back a few verses to Ephesians 4:4
“We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.” (4:4-6)

Now go back to verse 16... “the whole body is fitted together perfectly...”

The point is “WE” – once I give my life to Jesus Christ, “me” becomes “we”. WE become a part of Christ’s body.

I know at times it’s easy to think you don’t fit when you don’t feel like you are connected to other people in the network – but you are a part.

It sort of reminds me of some of the neuron-scientific research that I’ve read about (dealing with the brain).

Sometimes the synapse or nerve endings in someone’s brain get disconnected. It might be because of a stroke or some other chemical imbalance. When that happens the person can’t perceive things correctly. Sometimes it leads to depression, other times its other types of mental or emotional malfunctions. But whatever the case – the cause, scientists believe, is often the failure of the nerves in the brain from networking properly.
So, these neuron-scientists have developed certain types of psychotropic medications to help get the nerves re-networked.
Sometimes our connections with others within Christ’s Body, His network aren’t working properly. That doesn’t mean that we’re not a part – it just means that we need to apply the right spiritual medications to get ourselves connected properly.

Get connected...which leads me to the second point about our spiritual network: not only do you fit in the network...

Your best work will be done in and through the network

Get connected...be connected...

I don’t only want to fit in – I want to know that what I do matters in the lives of those I connect with. I don’t want to feel disconnected or alone – AND I don’t want to feel useless.

The next part of the verse says, “as each part does it’s own special work...”

That’s a powerful truth: the network needs you!

If you go back to verse seven you will see what the work is that is being referred to here...

“However, he [Jesus Christ] has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ.” 4:7

The Bible teaches us that God gifts and shapes each one of us with a unique gift or ability to serve Christ and others inside the network – the church. It’s not about our talents or how great we are – it’s totally because of Jesus Christ’s generosity.

But the point here is that we’ve been given a gift to use inside the network. Other places in the Bible share lists of some of those gifts or abilities – the important part isn’t the list – but what you can do with what God has given you – and only you can do it!

If you look down a little you will see that not only does God give each of us as Christ Followers a special gift – but He also gives us special people to help us develop our gifts and abilities to serve Him and others. Look at verse eleven:

“He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord...” (4:11-13).

That’s a lot to take in, so here’s the Cliff Notes version...not only did God give you a gift, but he’s give you some people to help you perfect your gift to the point that you really get mature and experienced in your walk and service with God.

Your best work will be done in a through God’s Nurturing Network – His church because His Nurturing Network was designed to help you exercise and grow your gift.

That’s why we’re talking a lot these days about gathering and growing. We gather together, we help gather others to Christ – and we grow in our ability to know God and serve Him and others!

You fit perfectly into Christ’s nurturing network.

Your best work will be done in and through Christ’s nurturing network.

One more powerful thing about your Nurturing Network...

God’s love is ultimately and fully experienced in the network.

“...so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

I’m amazed at how this passage goes back and forth...look at the verse right before this one...

“Instead, we will hold the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ...” (4:15)

The whole purpose of Christ’s Network – the Church – is nurturing: Gather and Grow!

The beginning of the passage talks about all that Jesus Christ has done for us – one body, one Spirit, one future (heaven), one Lord, faith, baptism. It talks about God loving us so much that He came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins. It talks about God’s purpose for us and His desire to see us become all that He planned for us to be...and all of that is about God’s love. He loves us and wants us to experience and share that love inside His Network and then through His Network to a world far from God.

I started this morning by telling you I wanted to invite you to be a part of the world’s most powerful network. Now I want to make that invitation official.

I want to invite you to become a part of Christ’s family – His Church.

So,...where do I sign up? How do I become a part of The Network?

Well, it sort of comes with two offers. The first offer is to become a part of the BIG NETWORK – to become a part of Christ’s Network by accepting Jesus Christ into your life.

It starts by giving your life to Jesus Christ. You need to come to the point where you admit that you need Jesus. You need Him to forgive you of your sins. You can’t forgive your sins yourself. You can’t be good enough to ever make up for even the smallest of your sins. You need Jesus Christ to forgive you.

He died on the cross to buy your forgiveness and all you have to do is accept what He did – ask God to forgive you of your sins, accept what He did on the cross for you.

And then you need to tell Jesus that you are giving Him control of your life.

The Bible tells us, “If you confess [agree] with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [that He is the boss, controller of your life] and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead [he has the power to forgive your sins] you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

It also says, “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) So if you pray that prayer you can know that Jesus has forgiven you and given you His eternal life.

That’s what it takes to join the ultimate Network. – accept Jesus Christ.

But there is a second part that I want to encourage you to do this morning...

Don’t only join Jesus – really join His church. Get involved with a LOCAL NETWORK of believers. That’s what we are here at FamilyFellowship. FamilyFellowship is a local network of believers – it’s part of our DNA.

What does it take to be a part of the local network?

Well you have to be a part of the Network first. You need to be a Follower of Christ – a believer. Then you need to show that commitment by being baptized. If you haven’t been baptized since you’ve accepted Christ you need to take that step next.

Then you need to attend one of our FACs classes. We’re planning one next Sunday right after morning worship. FACs will tell you more about what it means to be a part of our local network – FamilyFellowship.

Your spiritual DNA is what drives you in your walk with God. Our spiritual DNA is what drives us as a church family. We have a Divine Determination to see God’s Work – we can’t give up.

And...we are a nurturing network – we work together,

We fit together – perfectly. You belong – so get in!

Your best work for God will be done in and through FamilyFellowship – so get busy!

This is where we can ultimately show Christ’s love the best – so start really showing it!

To download the audio version of this message click here.

Devine Determination - Part three Click Here