Archive for October, 2009

Your Personality: A Defining Part of Your Ministry Profile

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Your Personality is a Piece of Your Ministry ProfileWho you are will help to determine how you do ministry.  God uses the whole of who you are so your personality is a defining part of your ministry profile.  Two people with the same spiritual gifts in the identical measure could look different in the way they express their gifts because of their personalities.

Read the following Scripture and consider God’s perspective on your personality:

Ps. 139:13-14 – He created our innermost being.  Who we are is no accident and is intended to be used for His glory.  — Let’s yield to Him and not make excuses for ourselves.

Matt. 22:37 - He commands that all of who we are is to go into loving and serving Him.  — Let’s yield to Him and not consider this optional.

Gal. 5:16-26 - He provides His Spirit to help us turn from the dysfunctional aspects and replace them with good fruit.  — Let’s yield to Him and not get in the way of effective service.

Resources to Help You Understand Your Personality Temperament:

List of books from different approaches.

Your Heart Passions: An Important Part of Your Ministry Profile

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Passions of Heart is Piece of Ministry ProfileWhat God lays on your heart as a matter of concern or interest should not be neglected.  It is an important piece of the puzzle that makes up your ministry profile, helping you to focus the use of your spiritual gifts on people and issues in which God wants you involved.

Read the following Scripture and consider the difference serving from the heart makes:

Prov. 4:23 – It affects your motivation in serving  … so guard your heart.

Lk. 6:45 – It affects your communication in serving  … so work at putting good in your heart.

Ps. 20:4; 37:4; Prov. 3:5-6 – It affects your outcome in serving   … so trust your heart to the Lord.

Resources to Help You Serve Those to Whom Your Heart is Drawn More Effectively:

List of books & resources on various issues, needs, and people

Spiritual Gifts: A Key Component of Your Ministry Profile

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Spiritual Gifts: Key Part of PuzzleYour God-given spiritual gifts are a key piece of the puzzle that makes up your ministry profile.  They help determine the direction and effect your ministry should take based on God’s special divine empowerments given for you to serve. 

Read the following Scripture and consider how a good understanding about spiritual gifts helps prevent you from pride and dysfunction in serving the Lord.

1 Cor. 12:7-11 – Spiritual gifts are given by and operative in our lives by the Holy Spirit and are not personal strengths … so don’t take credit for what God does.

Rom. 12:3, 6-9; Eph. 4:7 – Spiritual gifts are distributed according to grace, not merit … so avoid comparisons and competitions with others.

1 Cor. 12:4-7, 12-31; Rom. 12:4-5 – Spiritual gifts vary and are not all given to each person but God will bring unity out of such diversity …. so accept and appreciate one another’s contribution.

Resources to Help You Understand & Identify your Spiritual Gifts:

Online Training about Spiritual Gifts
Online Spiritual Gifts Test
Spiritual Gifts Materials Published by MinTools.com

Your Walk with God: An Integral Part of Your Ministry Profile

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Ministry Profile is Like Putting Together Pieces of PuzzleYour walk with God is central to effectively serving the Lord.  It is a most integral piece of the puzzle that makes up your ministry profile as it motivates you and helps to keep you on track.  Read the following Scripture about walking with God and consider how it helps you in ministry:

2 Cor. 5:7 – Walking by faith enables you to think big, to step outside of the box and take risks.

Gal. 5:16-26 – Walking in the Spirit helps you keep in step with God rather than operating out of the flesh and yields the kind of heart qualities that will help you maintain the right kind of attitudes, determination, and relational integrity needed in ministry.

Eph. 4:1-7 – Walking worthy of the calling you received leads to the kind of humility and oneness needed in ministry as you realize grace levels the plain.

Eph. 5:1-2; 2 Jn. 1:6 – Walking in love exemplifies a sacrificial spirit as seen in our Lord Jesus, making you willing to go beyond simply what is “expected” of you.

1 Jn. 1:5-2:2 – Walking in His light generates a life of integrity and authenticity that people look for in Christian leaders, teachers, and ministry workers.

1 Jn. 2:3-6 – Walking as Jesus walked provides a pattern and a standard to follow.

3 Jn. 1:3-4; Ps. 86:11 – Walking in truth keeps you faithful to Him and not pulled in every direction, feeling the need to please people or follow the latest fad.

Resources to Help You in Your Walk:

Walk the Walk and Other Devotionals Published by Ministry Tools Resource Center

List of Books & Internet Resources on Various Aspects of Your Walk

Article:  At the Core of Serving