Certainly, parents are aware of the diversity of children. Brothers and sisters are born from the same parents, but my, aren’t they different! Sociologists have helped us realize that the birth order certainly impacts diversity. Did you know that out of the original 23 astronauts, 21 were first-borns? Also, the highest percentage, over 50%, of Presidents of our nation is first-born children. However, the noted artists of the world are not first born. Yes, birth order affects the diversity within the family and world.

Here we are on Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, remembering and reclaiming the importance of diverse color in our country. As the late James Brown stated 30 years ago, black is beautiful. The same can be said about the colors of all people!

Without a doubt, we live in a diverse world. However, diversity does provide beauty and flavor for life. It is only when and if we fear diversity that we place barriers between others and us.

As Paul wrote these marvelous words in I Corinthians 12, he addresses the diversity within the church. In these eleven verses, Paul lists nine spiritual gifts that are granted to the church. Certainly, Paul did not mean for these gifts to be all-inclusive because he speaks about other gifts in other verses and in his other letters. Instead, Paul was trying to make one very important statement –

God has granted each person particular gifts that are important for the church.

Paul writes in verse 7, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

One of the purposes that I have for this sermon is to share with you my own particular vision and goals for St. Stephen for this coming year. There are actually four goals.

1. The first one is to equip our members with a knowledge of their spiritual gifts.

If particular spiritual gifts of the Church are for the common good, then it is important for every member to know what gifts he or she has been given by the Spirit. Very soon you will be hearing about classes we will be offering entitled, “Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts.” These classes will be offered at two different times, during the Sunday morning time, as well as on a weeknight. The goal is to develop a data bank of member’s gifts. If we need people for hospitality purposes, we will know who you are. If we need teachers, or administrators, or nurturers, and many more, we can list your gifts and invite you to share out of that giftedness.

One thing is clear, if a person functions out of one’s giftedness you are energized - not burdened! Importantly, your particular gifts are for the common good of the church.

2. Secondly, I want us to reclaim the importance of “Outreach,” by deliberately focusing upon our mission statement of “making disciples of Jesus Christ.”

In Ephesians 4, Paul list other gifts of the Spirit, and in verse 13 he writes: “…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.” In other words, the diversity of gifts of the church are important for each of us to become mature as Christians.

In our culture where Christianity is actually on the decline, we can not sit idly by and say, “here’s a quarter, call somebody who cares.” The question you and I must answer is, Do we really care? Do we not believe that discipleship is of the utmost importance, not only to our lives individually, but for the world that we live in? If our answer is not in the positive, then we make Christ’s coming purposeless. It means that the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples, is no longer necessary in our culture.

Again, education is a key component for “outreach.” At a time to be decided, I want us to offer you classes on faith sharing, so that our entire church culture will be affected with a sense for outreach.

Do you know why people come to a particular church…it is because of a relationship…certainly not because of the preacher. You are most likely here today because someone invited you. Also, there is a basic premise within Christianity, “Sheep produce sheep, shepherds “shepherd” the sheep.”

It is my hope that every leader of our church, that every ministry that we envelop and every mission that we support, will have one major focus…to life high the Cross of Jesus Christ. And, never let us forget that balancing a social and a personal gospel is our Wesleyan heritage.

3. Thirdly, I want us to place an emphasis upon Children and Youth Ministries.

In doing much research in preparation for our Leadership Retreat, held for our Church Leaders on January 6, I discovered that the greatest growth of any particular age group in our immediate community surrounding our church the age group of children and youth.

Sometimes we think of making disciples of Christ only in terms of adults. Yet, as Jesus one time scolded his disciples for trying to keep children away from him, we too need to realize the value of focusing upon the spiritual needs of children and youth. We have wonderful Sunday School classes, musical programs for our children, sports ministry, scouting, and a marvelous pre-school. However, are there other needs for families with children? What about after school ministries that we can initiate, what about a tutoring program for children who have difficulty with particular subjects? Do we care? Do we see that God can use our gifts for the common good?

4. The fourth goal that I have is to assist church members in reclaiming the spiritual value of Financial Stewardship.

Specifically, financial stewardship is one of the most important steps of discipleship that can ever be gained. Stewardship has more to teach us about our own money management and about our love of God and neighbor than most any other teaching that we may have in Christian Discipleship.

As a pastor, I have observed over the years of my ministry, that members who practice conscientious and deliberate financial giving to the church are able to manage all the other areas of their lives successfully. As a church, we love you enough to help you grow in the spiritual value of good financial stewardship.

You will discover that instead of just having a fall campaign on financial stewardship, throughout this year we will be placing an emphasis on the spiritual values about stewardship.

There you have it. During 2007 I pray that the following will happen: That we will….

1. Equip our members with a knowledge of their spiritual gifts.

2. Reclaim the importance of “Outreach,” by deliberately focusing upon our mission statement of “making disciples of Jesus Christ.”

3. Place an emphasis upon Children and Youth Ministries.

4. Assist church members in reclaiming the spiritual value of Financial Stewardship.

Above all, nothing can be accomplished without prayer. Please begin praying for the goals. Pray that the Spirit will use you for the common good of the church. Amen!