The Compass – first foundational lessons (basic)

Take a minute right now to list out the very most important Biblical truths that a believer would need to understand so that they can continue to grow in their relationship with God – even if they were to find themselves in an environment with just a Bible, but no other believers or churches.

That’s a challenging question, isn’t it?  It’s a good question, though, to ask.  Your answers to this question should lead you to the foundational lessons that every believer should understand…and foundational truths you would want every believer to not only understand themselves, but to be able to communicate these truths to other believers.

There is a series of studies called The Compass that are based on communicating theses foundational truths.  I have already written about 2 of these foundational lessons, The Compass – The Spirit-filled Life and The Compass – Prayer.  This week I want to direct you to 2 more of these lessons:   

Assurance of Salvation  and Fellowship.

Look through the lessons to make sure that you yourself have a solid understanding of these foundational truths.  Think about who you could communicate these truths to as well (and ask them to pass these truths onto others as well – 2 Tim.2:2!)

End Of Year Evaluation

Some quick thoughts on spiritual gifts and ministry

What is the purpose of spiritual gifts and how much of ministry is directly related to our spiritual gifts?  I have asked myself this question many times.  I’m not sure that there is a clear answer.  I have done a quick study of what some theologians and pastors have to say about using our spiritual gifts in ministry and here are a few points I have learned:

• Eph.2:10 – we are saved to serve God with the abilities, talents and gifts He gave to us… 
• Eph.4:12 – our gifts are given to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up body for works of service…
• 1 Peter 4:10 – use your gift to serve one another as faithful stewards of the different gifts of God’s grace

 

We are given gifts for serving the Lord.  It brings me great joy and I am energized when I serve the Lord with my gifts.  But for many of you who are students and young adults this is generally the time period when many of you are beginning to discover your gifts.  It is the time when you are trying various things to find out what your gifts are and are not.  Eventually you will find yourself serving the Lord more often within your gift/gift set, but there will be times when you are called to serve outside of your gifting.

Here are a couple of thoughts about ministry with our spiritual gifts and outside of our spiritual gifts.

·         Don’t let the uncertainty of knowing your gift/gifts and how or where to use them stop you from serving the Lord now.  When I was a young believer, I was involved in a lot of different ministry activities.  I wasn’t able to say at the time whether or not they were connected to my spiritual gifts.  It was through those experiences of doing various types of service, though, that I began to identify my spiritual gifts. 

o   Look at the whole package of what God has given you  – talents, skills, training, experiences,  opportunities  and specific passion for certain things in addition to your particular spiritual gift/s.  Focusing on ministering out of your spiritual gifts alone might not be taking into account all the other things He gave to you when He formed you in the womb. 

o   All believers are commanded to perform certain ministries whether or not they have the “gift” for that ministry.  For virtually every spiritual gift mentioned in the Bible, there is a corresponding command to all believers.   We are all commanded to pray, have faith, to serve, to tithe, etc. Those commands are not just directed to those who have the gift of intercession, the gift of faith, the gift of service, the gift of giving.  For example, some believers have the gift of evangelism, but all believers are commanded to preach the gospel.

Let me use the example of my roommate, Robi, and me:

Robi – has the gift of evangelism.  I do not have the gift of evangelism, but I have received much training in doing evangelism.  We both are capable of communicating gospel clearly, but for her sharing the gospel with someone is a joy and for me it is an act of obedience.

I have the gift of service.  For others, like Robi, the act of serving is more like a sacrifice.  I don’t even think about it; I walk into a situation and immediately ask, ‘how can I help?’ or I simply jump in and start serving.  For others serving is an act of obedience when they would rather be somewhere else, anywhere else, but they know that their help is needed.

                (Be careful when you find yourself frequently saying, ‘that’s not my gift, I won’t do it.’  You might be using that as an excuse to get out of doing things that all believers are commanded to do.)

• A couple of other thoughts about spiritual gifts:

o   In a typical ‘job’ situation, it is said that the best a person can hope for is a 60% fit of their education,  training, skills, talents, passions to the job description of what they have been hired to do.  Forty percent of their job requires something outside of their ‘gifting.’  I think it is similar in ministry - there will be times when you are needed to serve in areas that are outside of your gifts. 

o   Our gifts will be developed as we mature.  "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6

What are you learning about your spiritual gifts as you serve the Lord on your campus?  What pieces of advice can you add to these thoughts here?

Step out in faith and let the Lord use your gifts and talents and skills and abilities and acts of service and obedience for the glory of God and the extending of His kingdom.  The rewards and your joy will be great!