to be sensitive toward those who are suffering, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, so as to feel genuine sympathy with their misery, speaking words of compassion but more caring for them with deeds of love to help alleviate their distress

Servant #1:  He was a teenager, one with ADHD.  He would often find himself in trouble at school and at church.  He could be self-absorbed, self-gratifying, and lacking in self-control.  Yet, when he saw someone in need, his heart went out to them and he wanted to do something to help.

Servant #2: In her eighties, she would visit people in nursing homes.  “Those poor old souls,” you could hear her say, as she pondered the conditions some of them were experiencing.  Her heart ached over their loneliness and losses and she wanted to be there to comfort them and let them know that someone cared.

Both of these servants were in a stage of life that presented their own needs, yet when they saw others in need were able to step outside of themselves with the compassion of Christ.  These individuals were years apart, yet both served the Lord.  Gifts are not age specific.  Nor are they held back from those with special needs or disabilities.  When it comes to having or using spiritual gifts, the issue is if you know the Lord.

Lesson to be learned: 

Let’s provide opportunity for all to serve.  Children and teens who know the Lord have much to offer right now.  They are members of the church of today, not merely the church of tomorrow.  We should come alongside of them, mentoring and discipling them to use their gifts.  Our senior citizens should not be shelved simply because they are old.  They have much to offer.  The psalmist wrote “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come” (Ps. 71:18).  Proverbs 16:31 adds, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor.”

to steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others

Servant #1:  This person came alongside of his pastor who was not administratively inclined in a way that made the pastor look more efficient.  He coordinated tasks behind-the-scenes, reminding the pastor of the various details that needed attention.  He was not on staff, nor had any kind of title for what he did.

Servant #2:  This person took on a volunteer position as the Director of VBS in her church.  She planned, recruited, and coordinated all the various facets of Vacation Bible School.  During VBS you wouldn’t have even known she was at the helm as she continued to work behind-the-scenes making sure everything went smoothly … and it did.

Servant #3:  This person, me, worked full-time in a church as a Director of Christian Education. Prior to working for the church I revamped their children’s ministry, investing many hours into planning strategies to implement a more discipleship-oriented ministry.  I was not their Children’s Director, simply someone who volunteered time to get it off the ground and delegated responsibilities to others.  Now, as Director of Ministry Tools Resource Center, I continue to find myself planning, organizing, and coordinating efforts to efficiently use the resources and means God has given the ministry to help equip others.

All of these servants have the spiritual gift of administration but they are not all in leadership “positions” or roles.  They would not all be labeled as administrators but nonetheless do administrative work.

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s be careful we do not pigeon-hole the use of spiritual gifts into positions.  A spiritual gift can be used in a paid or volunteer position, full or part-time.  A spiritual gift can be used by someone with or without a title, in a recognized ministry position or not.

to share what material resources you have with liberality and cheerfulness without thought of return

Servant #1:  This person held a high paying, executive job in a major corporation.  When I first began Ministry Tools Resource Center, stepping out in faith with little financial resources, I received several very large gifts from this person at critical junctions.  He tried to give anonymously but I did find out who it was and was able to thank him.  What a blessing!

Servant #2:  This person was retired and on a limited income.  Regardless, she repeatedly purchased extra food at the grocery store and gave me her surplus knowing that I too was on a limited income because of being in ministry.  Consequently, money that would have been spent on groceries could go toward other bills.  What a blessing!

Both of these servants had the spiritual gift of giving.  One was able to give big and the other in less substantial ways.  The end result, however, was the same with both.  I was blessed!  I experienced God’s faithfulness to me through both of these servants, confirming His direction in my life to do this ministry.

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s not look at what we have, or don’t have, and say God can’t use us.  The amount is not the issue but rather being used by God to bring about eternal good.  Sometimes He will use the means of those who are rich and sometimes He will use the means of those who are poor.  If He is the one using what is in our hands, it is significant.

to come along side of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be

Servant #1:  This person enjoys counseling others to reach their potential in Christ, to make decisions that line up with His Word, and to trust Him with their past, present, and future.  This servant of God prays with people as they seek to process life in healthier ways.

Servant #2:  This person loves to teach children and has done so for many years.  She was quite surprised, though, to recently find out she did not have the gift of teaching but rather the spiritual gift of exhortation.  After explaining the difference between teaching and exhortation and how teaching can be a platform for using the gift of exhortation, she could see that indeed this was her gifting.

Servant #3:  This person makes up a bag of encouraging Bible verses for people going on short term mission trips to take with them and read one each day.  People return commenting how the verses were just what they needed for each day.

All of these servants have the spiritual gift of exhortation but use it in different ways. 

Lesson to be learned:

Let’s be careful we do not limit how God might want to use us by too narrowly defining how a spiritual gift can be exercised.

1)  Objective:  Invest much prayer into whatever you do.

You are depending on God and not yourself to bring results which is guaranteed to make a difference.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Cor. 3:7)

2)   Objective:  Work at getting everybody involved.

You are following God’s design for the church out of which He brings growth. 

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

3)  Objective:  Think outside of the box.  Learn to be more creative.

You are following the example of Jesus.  How can you go wrong doing that?  We have precedence with Jesus of working outside of the box as seen in a previous post. 

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (Jn. 13:15 – He stepped outside of the box in doing something not typical for His position.)

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Pet. 2:21-23 – He suffered because He wouldn’t stay in the box.)

4)  Objective:  Make an effort to meet people where they are.

You are following the Apostle Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 which was with the intent of reaching more people.  Also, you are obeying the greatest commandment which is to love (Matt. 22:37-40).

I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (1 Cor. 9:22)

5)  Objective:  Know where to find resources that will help you be more effective.

You are allowing God to use other believers in your life which follows the the concepts He established of iron sharpening iron and interdependence within the Body.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Prov. 27:17)

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  (1 Cor. 12:21)

6)  Objective:  Be good stewards of the resources you do have.

You are doing what is right, investing what God has given you, and He rewards that.

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matt. 25:23)

The bottom line is that God works within and honors what He has established and commanded.  Follow objectives that line up with Him and see the difference it makes.

Every month I write a newsletter update about new content on the site embedded in some words of encouragement or equipping.  It is available online but also sent by e-mail to anyone who subscribes using the form in the left column of most pages on the site.  Previous newsletters are removed when a new month turns the corner.  I received a request for the one done for September 2009 as the person accidentally deleted his e-mail.  In looking at the content, I thought it might be good to make it permanently available to everybody.  I’ve pulled out the main points for you below.

Do you want to see a greater effectiveness in ministry?  Work on these six objectives:

 1)  Invest much prayer into whatever you do.

Hopefully you prayed through the planning stages.  Don’t stop praying.  Envelop the on-going efforts in prayer.  Recruit people specifically to pray for you and your ministry.  Even if you have only one or two prayer supporters, you are providing more prayer coverage than if you didn’t.  God will hear those prayers.

2)  Work at getting everybody involved.

God so designed the church that if everybody did their part, using their spiritual gifts, so much more can happen and more effectively.   It might seem easier to do everything yourself, but that is not the way God designed the Body to grow.  (Eph. 4:16)

3)  Think outside of the box.  Learn to be more creative.

One of the things that hinders ministry from being more effective is getting stuck in ruts … not just in what we do but also in how we think about the process.  “But we’ve always done it this way” is a mindset that will keep you from growing.  Yes, there are some absolutes that never change but so much of what we hold on to is simply form or process that God never commanded to be done in one set way.

4)  Make an effort to meet people where they are.

Accept them where they are and they will be more open to moving to where they should be.  This means you must take time to learn about the people in your midst.  You can start by learning more about their general developmental characteristics.  Even that will help you zero in on their basic needs and help you see how to implement ministry relevant to them.

5)  Know where to find resources that will help you be more effective.

God has blessed us with an abundance of books, Internet sites, audio recordings, film, and more to help us be more effective.  We truly are without excuse.  Nothing, however, should ever take the place of His Word.  And, any of these other resources should always be filtered through Scripture.

6)  Be good stewards of the resources you do have.

In these hard economic times, many churches and ministries have more limited funds.  We need to make the best of what we have and trust God to work with what He provides.

basic doctrine
philosophy of ministry
the overarching goal

When they are not, confusion and conflict can easily creep in and sometimes even destroy the work.  Methodology, means, or form can be variables because they are simply a way to communicate the doctrine, express the philosophy, and reach the goal.

Unfortunately, too often the methods, form, and means come under attack when the real issues are differences in doctrine, philosophy, or the overall goal.  If we do not get to the root, we will not work through our differences.  We will not understand why something that seems like a non-essential is causing so much trouble.  Churches have seemingly split because of building issues and methodology when the real issue was philosophy of ministry.  In-fighting has ensued in board meetings over continuance of programs when the real issue was that they didn’t have the same overall goal.  Teachers have complained and quit over not having freedom to do their own thing when the real issue was not wanting to support the church’s doctrinal position.

Think through what you can do to ensure everyone in ministry is on the same page in that which should be considered non-variables like basic doctrine, philosophy of ministry, and overall goal.

Here is one way Ministry Tools Resource Center can help you in this with the Christian Education Ministry of your church:

Now you can order the Christian Education Leadership Team Training Session to help the Christian Education ministry of your church get on the same page in regard to its overall goal — that of seeing changed lives — and to understand what it will take to progressively move forward toward that goal.  The session can be used with leadership who in turn can then train teachers in their sphere of influence using the Teaching for Changed Lives Workbook.