Equip the Saints for the Work of Ministry Vs. Being Seeker Sensitive

Based on Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11 says the church leadership should equip the saints for the work of ministry versus being seeker sensitive. In seeker sensitive churches the focus is taken off believers and put on unbelievers. This is a reversal of the biblical pattern, and it leaves believers spiritually weak, emaciated, and starving. The focus should be on believers so they can be built up, equipped, sanctified, and strengthened. Then they can perform the work of the ministry, including going out and sharing the gospel with the lost.

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00:00 Sermon: Equip the Saints Versus Seeker Sensitive

03:55 We don’t want to be seeker sensitive because (Lesson 1) it typically means ________________ ______ versus God.

25:20 We don’t want to be seeker sensitive because (Lesson 2) we want unbelievers to ____ __________________.

38:44 We don’t want to be seeker sensitive because (Lesson 3) we want believers to be ________________ and ____________________.

Family Worship Guide

Directions: Read 2 Peter 2:8, first Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, Ephesians 4:11-16 and then answer the following questions:

Day one: what does seeker sensitive mean? Why would a church want to be seeker sensitive? What seems good about being seeker sensitive? What is wrong with being seeker sensitive? What do churches typically dismiss, or get rid of, when they are seeker sensitive? What might churches embrace when they are seeker sensitive?

Day two: how should we treat unbelievers when they come to church? How do we want unbelievers to feel when they come to church? Should we treat longtime believers in the church differently than new attendees? If so, how? How should believers feel in worldly situations? How does the gospel sound to unbelievers? How about to unbelievers?

Day three: what is the primary purpose of the Sunday morning worship service? Who (besides God) is it primarily for? What do we want to do with believers in the worship service, and why do we want to do this for them? What is the danger of not doing this? Why is it important for unbelievers that believers be spiritually strong?

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