Strengths and Spiritual Gifts in the “Church”

Your Spiritual Gifts, How to Discover & finding a way to integrate them along with your Strengths into the ministry and outreach of your church.

The goal of this post!

As Christians in the church we may know more about “Strengths” than “Spiritual Gifts”. Our knowledge of “Strengths” usually comes from our work in the secular world and our desire to advance our careers. No problem with this. However, we should have same and more of a desire to discover our Spiritual Gifts and where the LORD would want to use us in His Church.

¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. New Living Translation : EPH 4:11-13

Where can we find wisdom regarding the need for “Spiritual Gifts”

We need to go to God’s word!

Another good reference to “Spiritual Gifts” is in 1st Corinthians 12.

More “Spiritual Gifts” listed in Scripture!

We may know all about “spiritual gifts” but it is important to use them in the church.

Importance of knowing our “Spiritual Gifts”

Missing pieces?

”God has created each of us with a unique contribution to make in our world and our times. No other person has our same abilities, motivations, network of friends and relationships, perspectives, ideas, or experiences. When we, like misplaced puzzle pieces, fail to show up, the overall picture is diminished.”   Richard Stearns: President of World Vision U.S.
Quote from his book: The Hole in our Gospel 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 
 

A good place to stop and Bookmark this page/site and to easily come back for further discovery of what the Holy Spirit may be showing you for ministry!

Be sure to check out all the LINKS to other posts of mine…for more on the relationship of “Strengths” and “Spiritual Gifts”.

Where we should use our “Spiritual Gifts”.

They were given to us to use in the “Church”. Meaning the universal church but more specifically in the local church where He has placed us and where we can work together in unity to minister to each other and advance God’s kingdom!

Where I can learn about Strengths: A good list! From a prior blog post of mine.

Although “Strengths” and “Spiritual Gifts” are similar in some respects, they are also different. There is a lot of confusion in the church about them and the importance of knowing and using them.

Volunteering or Serving. Integrating your Passion, Gifts, Strengths, Abilities, Personality and prior Experience into the various Volunteer opportunities the LORD presents you with is one of the keys to Eternal joy!

 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ  Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

The Journey of Life:  To Be God’s people…”Embodying the love of Jesus Christ in the city and the world” by volunteering!

Volunteering or serving the LORD in the place you are called.

A good post on the difference between Natural talents we are born with and Spiritual Gifts

Is your church helping you discover your “Spiritual Gifts” and providing a place and opportunity for you to use atleast one of them?

Do they have a plan to integrate your Passion, Gifts and Strengths into their ministry and outreach?  Don’t get discouraged. This may be something new to them.

A good spiritual gift survey

There are other spiritual gift surveys on the internet. Would be good to do several assessments and see if and how they compare!

Ok, you now know your spiritual gifts! Next step

Making a difference in your church

What I did to help people in my church (some 15 plus years ago) to find a place of ministry using their “Spiritual Gifts”

In conclusion, a short prayer:

We eagerly desire the spiritual gifts You’ve given for our common good. Help us understand the various gifts and how they work. May we use what we’ve received to serve others, administering grace in love and with renewed passion.

Life-Giving Prayers for Your Church.-adapted from A Month of Prayers for Your Church. @Sandra Higley 2005. Church Prayer Leaders. Network

A few take a-ways from our study.

I first learned about “Spiritual Gifts” in the early 70’s while attending a Lutheran church and the pastor’s wife taking a few of us to the International Lutheran Conference on the Holy Spirit in Minneapolis. Over 15,000 people (mostly Lutherans from Minnesota and Wisconsin) and also other denominations from all over the world attending and praising the LORD!

My spiritual journey started in a liberal Lutheran Church, then to a Charismatic conservative Lutheran Church where I was an Elder, and then to a non denominational church where I was on the staff for 5 years (my last paid position) and now a Missionary Alliance Church.

Depending on your church denomination, particular church, and Individual Bible teachers, one will experience a variety of teachings and emphasis on “Spiritual Gifts”.

Discovering ones spiritual gift is a journey. It can start with taking various “gift assessments” but the best way is to volunteer in ones local church.

Need help in finding a good volunteer opportunity?

All the gift assessments assess one’s prior volunteer experience and other people’s reaction to your ministry. All based on your prior experience.

Subjective at best. When changing churches, one can and will have new experiences. May be hard to use your prior “gifts” in a new church. But always great volunteer opportunities outside the church. But spiritual gifts are to build up the body of Christ!

Also, it is good to get confirmation from other believers.

Hopefully now that you have read the post, you will take one of the Spiritual Gift Assessments and know your top 3 or 4 gifts!

Knowing our gifts is not enough. It is just the first step. Now what are we going to do with them?

If you have a spouse, compare your gifts. Did you learn anything new about them and how you and your gifts relate to each other?

For further study and prayer: How does your spiritual gift relate to the will of God for your life?

How does your gift relate to the lives of others around you? Your family, friends, church members?

How is your gift being or going to be used in your church?

A lot to pray about!

Playing Your Part

Each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function. -Romans 12:4

“…for the body of Christ to function fully, each of us must play a part. Every believer is uniquely gifted for service. When these gifts are combined in a cooperative relationship, “each part does its share” (Eph. 4:16) and the separate parts make up the whole.(Romans 12:5.

We need each other. What part are you playing in the life of the church?

What has God called you to do?

An old post of mine from my blog post of some 6 years ago…on Calling. What has God called you to do?

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, questions.

Blessings on your journey!

For further study: How involved is God in the details of your life? A short sermon by our pastor from our church.

Booklet below from one of my prior Holy Spirit Conferences. Only one I saved or could find. 1976.

Blessings on your journey with the LORD and your ministry!

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