Archive for spiritual gifts

Helping Your Members Discover Their Spiritual Gifts

By Sandy Coelho · Comments (0)
Thursday, October 27th, 2016

spiritual_gifts_2WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? As a follower of Jesus, exploring and exercising our spiritual gifts is a vital and exciting part of our spiritual journey. Paul writes, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:4 NIV).

WHAT DO I DO? Here are some ideas:

  • Teach. Small groups are a wonderful place to help members to discover, explore and put into practice their spiritual gifts.  You might consider taking time to do a study with the whole group to learn about spiritual gifts and how they really do work among the body especially in your local context.  Even if some of your participants know about the gifts they can really help to give first-hand testimony about their own gifts and how they have used them for the benefit of the local body and beyond.
  • Inventory. Once you have done some teaching on spiritual gifts, it really is important to be sure to have them do a spiritual gifts inventory.  There are many spiritual gifts inventory tools on-line for free.  Be consistent and choose one so that everyone is using the same list and definitions of spiritual gifts.  Once everyone has completed the inventory, spend some quality time debriefing the results and give time for questions and further exploration.
  • Utilize. It is now time to help participants launch and use their gifts.  It is important that, as a leader, you help facilitate opportunities for your group members to begin to utilize these precious gifts they have discovered.  Try and pair them with other believers who can walk with them in becoming a full partner in ministry as they learn to discover the joys of using their spiritual gifts.
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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Sunday School
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The Leader’s Spiritual Gifts Affect What Happens In Groups

By Mark Donnell · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 13th, 2015

coffee mugA Bible study group met in a home to study how various ministries should work in the body of Christ. One member commented, “I don’t understand how different gifts can work together.”

At that moment a woman accidentally dropped her cup, which broke and spilled coffee all over the floor. Each group member responded differently to the mishap, according to their spiritual gifts:

The teacher gave some advice.  “Next time if you will put your cup on the coffee table, that won’t happen again.”

The administrator responded by organizing a clean-up committee. “Bill, please go find a mop. Sally, could you help him with a towel?”

Bill, who had the gift of service, hurried to get the mop.

Sally, who had the gift of helps, followed Bill and said, “I’ll help you!”

The person with the gift of exhortation said, “We all make mistakes so don’t let it get you down.”

The person with the gift of mercy put her arm around the woman, patted her hand and said, “I feel so badly for you.”

The person with the gift of giving exclaimed, “I’ll buy a new set of coffee mugs to replace the broken one!”

They all used their various gifts together to resolve the situation.

A spiritual gift can be defined as “an individual manifestation of grace from the Father that enables you to serve Him and thus play a vital role in His plan for the redemption of the world” (Ken Hemphill, Serving God: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts Workbook, p. 22.).  It is not a special ability that one develops on their own like a skill or a talent.  It is important to choose group leaders with the group purpose in mind, because the group will ultimately begin to take on the characteristics of the group leader. The goal of a group leader is to discover how God in His grace has gifted them for service and to lead others in the same joy of discovery.

According to the book, “Countdown: Launching & Leading Transformational Groups,” the prime candidates for group leaders are those with one of the speaking gifts:

  • Prophecy – proclaiming the Word of God boldly in order to build up the body and lead to conviction of sin. (Romans 12:6)
  • Teaching – instructing people in the truths and doctrines of God’s Word for the purpose of building up, unifying, and maturing the body. (Romans 12:7)
  • Shepherding – looking out for the spiritual welfare of others. (Mark 6:34)
  • Exhortation – encouraging and motivating members to be involved in and enthusiastic about, the work of the Lord. (Romans 12:8)

Groups will tend to take on the characteristics of the leaders gifts.  However it is important that all of these ministries be carried out.  So other group members will need to be enlisted to cover them, much like our little story at the beginning.  When recruiting leaders to help accomplish the ministries of the group, recruit people to a vision, not just a job description.  Help them to understand how their service will help the group accomplish God’s purposes.

 

Mark Donnell serves as the Small Group Sunday School/Discipleship Specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention in Jefferson City, Missouri.

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Categories : 31 Day Countdown, Sunday School
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Groups Increase Sharing

By Jonathan Jordan · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 6th, 2015

smallgroup2One of the first lessons we all learn, or at least should learn, is to share.  Many times I find that adults really don’t share that well.  They revert back to the “mine, mine, mine” stage.

To be a follower of Jesus requires more of us.  More of what we have been graciously given from God in forms of gifts and money and of US.  Our faith is not something that is held close, or to hide from the world.  Our faith is not only important to those who don’t know him, but those brothers and sisters in Christ that need us, and some don’t even know it.

One of the major struggles in churches is to have your congregation get involved in a group.  Groups are the lifeblood of our churches and getting people in those is not only important to the life of the church but also to their Christian walk.

Gifts

  • People in Groups give more of themselves by contributing their gifts to work. Those that attended a group at church were more than 30% greater to contribute by serving others than those who did not attend a group.
  • People in Groups were over 35% more likely to have responsibilities as a teacher, mentor, Bible Study leader etc.
  • People in Groups were over 20% likely to serve those in the community that are not affiliated with your church.

Money

  • People in Groups will give over 4% more to the church

 Faith

  • People in Groups were 25% more likely to pray for the spiritual status of those who don’t follow Jesus
  • People in Groups were almost 2.5% more likely to invite someone to church

The idea of being in a Group has less to do with us but more to do with those around us and following Jesus.  That idea is sometimes misunderstood and believed that the Group is about us, and is there to serve our needs.  The problem that arises is when EVERYONE believes the Group is for them and not others, honoring Jesus, serving the community and so on.

Groups help us in many ways and I have been a part of many and find when I am ready to give much, I receive FAR more from others than I imagined.

People in Groups share more:

  • Their Gifts
  • Their Money
  • Their Faith

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Jonathan P. Jordan is a Sunday School Missionary for the Georgia Baptist Convention. Stay current with Georgia’s “Growing Groups” Strategy at gabaptistgroups.org

 

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Categories : 31 Day Countdown
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