All In: Consumers to Contributors

Picking Up Where We Left Off: A Church Where Everybody Plays Their Part

Good morning — to everyone in the room, everyone watching online, and a special welcome to KingsGate youth who are still with us this morning. Today we're going to pick up where Pastor Dave Smith left off last week, digging deeper into what Paul writes in Ephesians 4:12–13:

"…to equip his 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."

I don't know about you, but that sounds good to me. And the question we're going to answer today is: what does that look like practically for us — whatever your availability, whatever your gifts, wherever you are?

Because first and foremost, Paul paints a picture where everybody plays their part. You're going to hear me say that word a lot this morning. Everybody serves. Everybody contributes. Everybody is equipped for works of service. Not just the leaders, not just the pastors — everybody. Not just the people who think they have enough to offer — everybody.

Standing on the Shoulders of Faithful People

I have the honour of having grown up in this church, and I became a Christian in this church. I'm standing here today because of faithful men and women who served week in and week out. Because of their faithful service, I had an opportunity to come to know Jesus, to have my life transformed, and to discover the calling God has put on my life.

From the first day I walked in — the welcome team who greeted me, the kids team who made me feel at home in an unfamiliar place, the youth team who told me about Jesus every Friday night, the team who lost sleep on youth camp when I gave my life to Jesus, the life group leaders who discipled me, the Alpha table hosts who gave me space to ask questions and invite my friends — the list goes on and on.

Those are the people Paul is talking about. Every one of them played their part to build up the body of Christ. Every one of them used the gifts God had equipped them with. And because they did, my life was transformed.

So before we go anywhere else, I wonder if each one of us could reflect on the people who have played their part in your story. Some you'll know by name; some you won't. Some will never even know the significance they've had. Those are the people Paul is describing.

If we're a church that believes in transformed lives, then we need to be the kind of church Paul describes in Ephesians 4 — a united, growing, mature, healthy church. And he makes it clear: that isn't built by the chosen few, or the people with the most time. It's built when we all play our part — when we move from just consuming what church has to offer to contributing with what God has done and wants to do through us.

So this morning we're going to break it down into two points:

1. Everyone equipped
2. Everyone growing

Point One: Everyone Equipped

Let's start with verse 12: leaders are given "to equip his people for works of service."

I love that Paul starts with the word equip before he even gets to works of service, because it reflects God's heart for each of us — a heart that doesn't leave us where we are, but restores us, shapes us, and prepares us for everything he has for us.

As we heard last week, the goal of equipping is restoration — restoration so that something can fulfil the purpose it was designed for. This is exactly where God starts with us. He saves us. He restores us. And then he invites us to join him in his mission for the church. And Paul says it's for everyone. So let's not switch off this morning — this message is for everyone.

A Lesson from a Lunchbox

I brought something with me today — my childhood lunchbox. Not in case I get hungry; there's a point to it, so stay with me.

I loved my packed lunch. Any '90s kids remember having a packed lunch every day? I opened mine with complete confidence. It wasn't a packed lunch in my opinion without a Frube — a little tube of yoghurt. And for me, the mighty cheese string. On the elite days, you didn't just get a jam sandwich, you got a Lunchable. And school trip days were the best, because you got a bag of crisps — and anybody who knows my love of crisps knows that was a very good day.

But something I remember around the school dinner table was that not everybody liked what was in their lunchbox. You'd look around and think, "I've still got my jam sandwich, and Kira's got her Lunchable," or, "Why did she get crisps and I've got a box of raisins?" Some of my friends swapped their lunch every single day.

I think we can still do the same. Not compare lunches — though I do get food envy — but compare ourselves. We compare our gifts, our availability, our time. They can sing. They're confident. They've got loads of time. They're really good at that. And before long we've convinced ourselves that what God has equipped us with isn't enough.

Another Famous Lunchbox

But Paul tells us something very different. He speaks from a place that assumes everyone has something to contribute. Whatever season of life you're in, everyone has a part to play, because every believer is equipped for works of service.

We see this beautifully illustrated in another famous lunchbox in the Bible — the feeding of the 5,000. That lunchbox was initially nothing impressive, nothing significant, probably looked like a bit of a joke at the time. But a boy came to Jesus with what he had — exactly what he was equipped with in that moment. And when it was placed into the hands of Jesus, that's when it became enough. More than enough. Far more than that boy could ever have imagined.

This is exactly what Paul is describing: a church where everybody brings what they have, plays their part, and uses what God has equipped them with to build up the body of Christ.

The Next Generation Stepping Up

One of my greatest joys as a pastor — other than seeing youth and young adults come to know Jesus — is seeing them serve God with what he has equipped them with. I don't have my own children, but I think I get a glimpse of what it means to be a proud parent when I see our young people stepping up and stepping out.

• I love that our young people welcome other young people on a Friday night.
• I love that at our celebration services, our lights are planned, prepped and run by an 18-year-old.
• I love that this morning our lights are being run by a 13-year-old.

I so appreciate my young adults leadership team who step out and do what God has equipped them for, so I can step out and do what he's equipped me for. Because yes, I'm a pastor — but I am not equipped for everything. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Let's also take a step back and think about the kids team discipling our KingsGate kids right now, the welcome team who greeted you with a smile, the car park team standing there in rain or shine, and the prayer army covering this whole morning in prayer. The list goes on. Right now there is an army of people using what God has equipped them with to serve you and me, and to allow God to move and do what only he can do.

Point Two: Everyone Growing

We've established that Paul says everyone is equipped for works of service. But let's look deeper at verse 13, because Paul moves from everyone serving to everyone growing:

"…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."

This is where Paul is heading — not just more people serving, but more people becoming more like Jesus. And I think this is one of the most beautiful truths of the whole passage. We often think about serving as something we give, but it's also about who we become in the process. As we build up the body of Christ, Christ builds us too.

The Toothpaste Game

I remember the first time I was asked to serve. I was still a young person in KingsGate Youth, asked to run a game — on this very stage, actually. At the time I thought, I could say no. I don't feel confident. I don't feel ready. But instead I said yes. I recruited a friend and we led the game.

It went something like this: five pairs of young people — one standing, the other lying underneath with a cup in their mouth — and the person on stage had to squirt toothpaste into the cup. Sounds funny, right? It was great in the moment. But something I hadn't thought about was what happens when toothpaste goes in someone's eye. In my inexperience, there was no eye protection and no clothes protection!

But that's not the point. Looking back, it wasn't really about the game or whether it went well. That was the beginning of God shaping me and growing me. I believe he used it to plant a seed and grow me into the youth and young adults pastor I am today. And all I did was say yes — and allow God to equip and prepare me.

Growth Comes Through Our "Yes"

That's exactly how I've seen God work time and time again. I've learned that God grows us through our obedience. He grows us through our yeses. He equips us when we step out.

Because maturity isn't simply about doing more or knowing more. Maturity is about becoming more like Jesus. And one of the ways we become more like him is by saying yes, by stepping out, serving his church and building up his body.

Ephesians 4 paints a picture of serving that is so much more than filling a gap or filling a rota. The goal is a stronger, healthier, more mature church. The goal is transformed lives — more people encountering Jesus, more disciples being made, the body of Christ growing in unity and maturity.

And this doesn't happen when the majority consume and a few contribute.

From Consumers to Contributors

So I'd love to challenge us today. Can we stop saying:

• "Someone else will do it."
• "Someone else will welcome them."
• "Someone else will disciple our children."
• "Someone else will do what God has gifted me for."

Because Ephesians doesn't describe a church built by somebody else. It describes a church built by everybody.

Just imagine with me — if every one of us here in the room and watching online responded to this message today. If we stopped coming to church, sitting comfortably in our seats, knowing others will carry the responsibility God has gifted us for. That might feel challenging, but I think that's exactly how Paul wants it to feel — because imagining that is also imagining the people who would be reached, the disciples who would be made, the lives that would be transformed, and the generations surrendered to Jesus.

That's what God is calling us as a church to become. And what an honour that God uses ordinary people like you and me to be part of his story.

A Question and an Invitation

So let me finish by asking you a question: What has God equipped you with right now, in this season of life? Whatever that season looks like, however young or old you are — what has God given you that you can use to build up the body of Christ? What gifts, what availability, what experience, what step of obedience is he asking you to take today?

I know there is something for each one of us to respond to. And I want to honour those who have served faithfully for many years — thank you. But I still believe there is something for each of us today.

If You've Never Said Yes to Jesus

Maybe you're here and you've never said yes to Jesus. The reason I'm standing here today isn't because I had something to offer God — it's because I came to understand that God has so much to offer me: freedom, forgiveness and purpose that only he can give. So before we talk about building up the body of Christ, I want to invite you to respond in your own heart today — to become part of the body of Christ, to accept Jesus into your life for the first time, or to come back to him.

Saying "I'm All In"

For many of us, today's response is simply saying, "Jesus, I'm all in." And that will look different for each of us. Maybe it's:

• "I'm sorry when I've dismissed what you've given me."
• "I'm sorry when I've sat back and allowed someone else to do what you've gifted me for."
• "God, I want you to use what I have today. Help me play my part."

I'm all about a physical response — doing something that moves us from just listening to actually taking a step. So wherever you are, in the room or online, if you are able, I invite you to stand with me. This isn't ultimately about the physical response; it's about a heart that says yes to Jesus and yes to the purpose he's put on your life.

Open your hands with me and let this be your prayer:

Jesus, everything I am, everything I have, everything you've entrusted to me, I place into your hands. Jesus, I want to say I'm all in today.

Let's pray:

God, thank you so much for inviting us into your mission. Thank you that you use us — that you don't just save us, but you restore us, shape us, and include us in what you're building. Today, with open hands, we place ourselves into your hands once again.

For those feeling weary in their serving, bring them strength. Holy Spirit, we welcome you. For those who are hurting, bring healing. For those who have faithfully served week in and week out, bring fresh joy and fresh strength. For those you're calling to take a new step today, bring courage and boldness.

Lord, we partner with you and with each other in building up your body. And as we do, would you build us, equip us, and continue to restore us, so that we can receive your love and use it to point others to you, Father. As we step out, may more lives be transformed. Amen.