We have spent the last month in 1 Corinthians 12 looking at spiritual gifts. In this chapter the apostle Paul lays out many crucial truths concerning our spiritual gifts and our relationships to one another.

As we conclude this series, I encourage you to keep these truths in mind:

• We all have different spiritual gifts but we are ONE body with ONE Spirit.
• We have been baptized and placed securely in the Body of Christ.
• Each gift is individually given not as we decide, but as the Spirit decides for God’s purposes.
• We are not just individuals – we are a whole body. It all works together or none of it works. We grow together or we don’t grow much at all.

And, as you continue to move forward in living out your gifting, here are 5 steps I encourage you to take:

TRUST THAT GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU FOR MINISTRY OR WILL EQUIP YOU FOR MINISTRY.   

The Bible says that every child of God has been given a superpower. It might not always feel like comic book proportion, but the Holy Spirit has given you or will give you a spiritual gift and it is in fact a superpower.

It’s supernatural. It’s not you. It’s God given, God empowered and God expressed and it is awesome!

(For help figuring out your gifting, check out this S.H.A.P.E Assessment.)

LIVE OUT YOUR MINISTRY BELIEVING YOU ARE ONE PART OF A BIGGER WHOLE.

If we don’t realize that we are but one piece of the puzzle, we will either become arrogant believing everything depends on us or we despair thinking we are alone. Believing we are one part of a bigger whole allows us to joyfully and freely enjoy partnership and the reinforcements of the Body of Christ.

LOOK OUTWARD.

All of us, me included, can quickly get consumed with the almighty SELF. I often ask my prayer partners and mentors to pray for me, because I often have a consuming pity party.

I am a big proponent of healthy self-examination, but we have been recreated by the Holy Spirit to look outward. Our best versions of ourselves come when we are serving others, pursuing others’ interest above our own and following in our Savior’s footsteps.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

SERVE!

Serve somewhere! Start with opportunity. What does the church, HUB group, workplace, school or neighborhood need?

Don’t fixate on your specific spiritual gift; begin by meeting legitimate needs. Pick weeds, clean off chairs, hold babies, drop off gifts to those who are sheltering in place, visit people in the hospital. In God’s perfect timing, He will move you into your gifting, and you will bless a lot of people along the way.

(Need some ideas about where to start? Take a look at our Serve With Us info and see what grabs you.)

PRAY FOR JOY.

You may feel weary, beaten down or apathetic when it comes to serving the Body of Christ. You may not have the motivation or emotional/spiritual space to venture out with your gifting again. Maybe your very first step is to pray and ask others to pray for joy in serving God and others.

I am praying for you on this journey. I am so thankful for each of you and this body of believers here at Church of the Open Door.

Father, pour out your Spirit on us and move us forward together!

Much love,

David Anderson

P.S. If there is a specific way we as a staff can be praying for you as you seek the Lord about using your gifts, we would love to know.