5 - UNDERSTANDING GOD S DESIGN FOR OUR LIVES

Transcription

1 Effective Discipleship Through Academics, Service & Missions. 5 - UNDERSTANDING GOD S DESIGN FOR OUR LIVES Our Spiritual Gifts, Passion & Personal Style of Ministry Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. INTRODUCTION This lesson holds the key to helping us live fruitful and fulfilled lives in God s Kingdom by understanding and developing our Spiritual Gifts, passion and personal style of ministry. We may not be aware of the potential God has placed in us and that we have been designed to make a significant contribution in the Kingdom of God. Many believers use the trial & error method of finding their place in the Body of Christ. This is really motion without movement and may eventually (or accidentally) lead to a meaningful place of service. But there s a better way! God has created all of us in multiple ways to accomplish His will in and through us. This is done by serving Him with our Spiritual Gifts, passion and personality. By identifying three important areas of our lives we see that God has equipped us for successful ministry! In this way we will be able to make a significant impact in the Kingdom of God by being who God created us to be and doing His Will with results. GOD HAS EQUIPPED US FOR MINISTRY 1. Our SPIRITUAL GIFTS tell us we do best in the Kingdom of God. These are spiritual abilities and activities which give us tremendous joy. 2. Our PASSION tells us we can best focus our energy or motivation. It is the area in which we desire to make a significant impact. 3. Our PERSONAL STYLE of ministry or temperament tells us we will serve using our gifts and our passion with confidence. This is our own unique personality. Each person is uniquely wired in the way they respond to situations and people. Knowing your personality or temperament will help you to understand what kind of work environment is helpful to you. As well, it will help you to know how to work with others with different personalities. Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 1

2 SERVANTHOOD Serving with love A. Serves out of... Obedience I want to serve God B. Motivated by... What God sees Serves an audience of One C. Attitude of... Whatever it takes Goes beyond expectations D. Results in... Praise to God Directs attention to God SERVITUDE Serving without love Obligation I have to serve God What others see Serves to please others It s not my job Does the minimum Self-seeking Draws attention to self BUT FIRST, THE FOUNDATION OF SERVANTHOOD 1. Success in the Kingdom is not based on our ability, talents or strength (Zechariah 4:6) but on as defined in God s Word. John 13: So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you., If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Also Matthew 20:25-28 & Philippians 2: Servanthood or servitude? Webster s Dictionary defines servitude as the state of subjection to an owner or master, slavery. When we serve Christ and His Church, we must be careful not to serve with this attitude. Servanthood is motivated by a love for the one being served, in this case, Christ and His Church. Notice the characteristics of servanthood vs. servitude in the illustration on page We are all called to serve through God s love. Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 4. Serving one another is actually. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 5. Serving is an act of obedience and. Romans 12:1 Present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 2

3 Part 1 OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Definition ~ Spiritual gifts are unique abilities given by the Holy Spirit to every believer according to God s design and purpose for the building up of the body of Christ. It answers the WHAT issue. EACH ONE OF US IS UNIQUE 1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. An illustration with the old keyboard ~ Because everyone is unique and important in the Body of Christ, we believe everyone is able to experience a meaningful place of service in the Church. Notice the illustration, below... Xvxn though my kxyboard is old, it still works vxry wxll xxcxpt for onx kxy. You would think that with all thx othxr kxys functioning propxrly, onx kxy not working would hardly bx noticxd; but just onx kxy out of whack sxxms to ruin thx xntirx xffort! You may say to yoursxlf I m only onx pxrson. No onx will noticx if I m involvxd or not, or whxthxr or not I do my bxst. But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx! To bx xffxctivx as a church, xvxryonx nxxds to bx activxly participating. Xvxryonx nxxds to bx an activx mxmbxr of thx Body of Christ. So, thx nxxt timx you think that you arx not important or nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my old kxyboard. You arx a kxy pxrson! WHY KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS? 1. We are to be aware of our gifts and to use them as God provides the opportunities. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant (uninformed). 2. There are four primary texts that provide the basis for spiritual gifts. The lists overlap, possibly indicating that there more. Write out the gifts that are mentioned in the passage given below... A. Romans 12:3-8 B. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, C. Ephesians 4:11-12 D. 1 Peter 4:9-11 Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 3

4 CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1. Spiritual Gifts are, Divine endowments given by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:11) 2. Every believer is unique and has one or more spiritual gifts. (Romans 12:4-8) 3. We will be held for whether or not we use them. (Matthew 25: 14-30, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Peter 4:10) 4. The benefits and there will be greater unity and harmony. (Ephesians 4:11-15) 5. God is glorified when we serve in our giftedness (1 Peter 4:11). 6. Through the use of Spiritual Gifts, God s love flows through ME to others! THREE WAYS SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE EXPRESSED 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1. Gifts (Charisma) - The spiritual drive which God places in us to enrich His Body, the Church. 2. Service (Diakonia) - The which are open to us for the exercise of our basic motivation. 3. Working (Energema) - The actual in the lives of those to whom we minister as determined by the Holy Spirit. THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR GIFTS 1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has recieved to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms. 1. Four ways we can abuse the understanding of our Spiritual Gifts A. our spiritual gift upon others, expecting them to serve as effectively as we do with similar results. B. Viewing our gift as. C. Not seeking to serve others for the common good but using our spiritual gift for personal satisfaction. D. Doubting the need of our spiritual gift so that we its expression. Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 4

5 2. We have been entrusted with these grace-gifts as stewards, and there needs to be a commitment to their growth and use. What can you do to develop your spiritual gifts? A. Effectively use your gifts to serve others. B. Be confident in God s ability to accomplish His will in your life. C. Be a model to other believers of a fruitful life in Christ. Lead by example and guide others in a deeper understanding of what it means to walk personally with Jesus Christ. PLEASE DO THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS SURVEY NOW Part 2 OUR PASSION Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 3: that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. DEFINITION - Passion is the God-given desire that compels us to make a difference in a particular area of life or in a ministry. It answers the WHERE issue. Passion is the in serving God. It may be difficult, for example, when entrepreneurs are asked to be maintainers, and those less extroverted are asked to be outgoing. Go through the following questions and honestly take time to identify where your passion may lie. This will require a time with no distractions. PASSION ASSESSMENT Some of our passions center around a people group and some around a social issue. Read the following lists (not in any relevant order) and circle any that tug at your heart. 1. People groups such as: Infants, youth, teen moms, single parents, college students, divorced, widowed, career women, young marrieds, empty nesters, men, elderly, hospitalized, disabled, poor, refugees, homeless, Unreached Other 2. Social issues such as: Environment, child care, Discipleship, AIDS, homosexuality, politics, racism, education, addictions, literacy, the Church, poverty, family, abortion, hunger, reaching the lost, missions Other 3. Reflect on the following questions and write your initial answers on a separate sheet. Do not answer these questions in light of what others may want you to say. Make them totally yours. A. What would you do if you knew you couldn t fail and would have the necessary resources? Be specific. Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 5

6 B. What situation most concerns you? (not out of criticism but out of genuine love) C. What do you truly and genuinely care about? D. At the end of your life you have peace knowing that you d done something about E. Based on the information above, where would you make the most significant contribution? Part 3 OUR PERSONAL STYLE OF MINISTRY DEFINITION - Your personal style of ministry is the way you do ministry. It answers the HOW issue. There is really no right or wrong personal style, just different. Your personal style indicates the way you prefer to relate to people and the world around you. The two key elements are how you re energized and organized. Serving in ways inconsistent with your personal style leads to shallow a decreased motivation that seems to drain you, false relationships, and, ultimately, burnout! PERSONAL STYLE ASSESSMENT 1. Read each statement and circle the number that best describes what you would PREFER to do or be. Then circle the number that leans toward that answer. 2. Do NOT answer according to what you feel is expected by a spouse, family member, church leader or employer. Select the behavior or perspective that would come naturally to you if you knew there were no restrictions or consequences for your answer. 3. WHEN COMPLETED, total your E and O scores and plot them on the graph provided. Then draw intersecting vertical & horizontal lines. Place an X where the lines intersect each other to identify your position on the graph. QUESTION 1 - HOW ARE YOU ENERGIZED? (E) A. I am more comfortable Doing tasks FOR people Being WITH people B. When doing a task, I tend to Focus on the goal Focus on relationships C. I get more excited about Advancing a cause Creating community D. I feel I ve accomplished something when I ve Completed a job Built a relationship Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 6

7 E. It s more important to start a meeting On time When everyone gets there F. I m more concerned with Meeting a deadline Maintaining the team G. I place a higher value on Action Communication TOTAL NUMBER (Plot this number on the vertical E column on the chart, page 8) QUESTION 2 - HOW ARE YOU ORGANIZED? (O) A. In life, I generally prefer to Be spontaneous Follow a set plan B. I prefer to set guidelines that are General Specific C. I prefer to Leave my options open Settle things now D. I prefer projects that have Variety Routine E. I like to Play it by ear Stick to a plan F. I find routine Boring Restful G. I accomplish tasks best By working it out as I go By following a plan TOTAL NUMBER (Plot this number on the horizontal O line of the chart, page 9) Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 7

8 O UNSTRUCTURED O STRUCTURED E TASK TASK UNSTRUCTURED 7 10 TASK STRUCTURED PEOPLE UNSTRUCTURED 35 PEOPLE STRUCTURED E PEOPLE THREE TYPES OF SERVICE 1. Organizational, on going and long term These ministries meet regularly and are organized to meet ongoing needs within the body. It is an iron sharpens iron experience (Proverbs 27:17) and develops meaningful relationships and accountability. Examples are: 2. Projects, short term These ministies are called together to meet special needs that arise in the Church. Service is rendered until the task is completed, then the ministry team disbands. This type of service develops our gifts and servanthood. Examples are: 3. Promptings, spontaneous These ministry opportunities are made available to each of us by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In this context, there is no outward organizational structure. It builds confidence and trust in the Holy Spirit s leading which will enable us to use our gifts in unexpected ways. Throughout life, there will be unplanned opportunities for you to exercise your gifts and abilities and to be a blessing in areas never planned for! Examples are: Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 8

9 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Transfer your answers from the Spiritual Gifts Survey, Passion Assessment and Personal Style Assessment to this page. From this we can get a clearer picture of how we can make a difference serving in a meaningful place of service in line with how God created us. 1. MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS 2. MY PASSION 3. MY PERSONAL STYLE 4. In what area(s) of service in the Body of Christ does it look like I could make a significant contribution? 5. In light of all this information, write a short statement you believe to be God s call on your life. Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 9

10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you ; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 10

11 ANSWERS UNDERSTANDING GOD S DESIGN FOR OUR LIVES What Where How Servanthood one another Serving Christ worship unique abilities accountable entire church basic opportunities effect Projecting Special suppress Fuel Christian Life Center Discipleship Institute 11