With the Spiritual Gift of Helps

to render support or assistance to others in the body so as to free them up for ministry

Servant #1:  He was always there, it seemed, to lend a helping hand.  His primary responsibility was to run the sound system during the worship service but if someone needed an errand to be run, he would do it.  If people needed help carrying in equipment or supplies from their car, he would be the first to help.  He didn’t need to be asked.  It was as though he could sense what needed to be done and did it.  Everyone appreciated him so much.

Servant #2:  She knew God called me to teach and through the years has willingly stepped in to help in various ways.  Back in the days before you could print nice transparencies directly from the computer, she would do all the printing for me since she had a nicer handwriting.  She would help with other visuals as well.  Now she volunteers her time to proof read web pages and resources.  On occasion she would accompany me to seminars and sit at the book table so I would be free to mingle with the people.  I have continually thanked God for this servant. 

Both of these servants were eager to come to the assistance of others in ministry.  Whether a teacher’s helper, administrative assistant, or someone who lends a hand in other ways to people in ministry, these servants prove to be invaluable.

Lesson to Be Learned: 

As leaders or teachers, let’s not feel like we need to do the work on our own.  God has gifted people to come alongside of us to assist in ways that can enhance our ministry, free us up to do other things, and often make us look better.  Let’s guard against taking all the credit and show our gratitude to God by extending appreciation to these servants.

With the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism:

to be a messenger of the good news of the Gospel

Servant #1:  He was a Senior Pastor with gift of evangelism.  Almost everything done in church was through grid of outreach.  Bible classes primarily focused on how to witness.  He wanted the worship service and small groups to be geared to seekers.  He expected that everyone should have as much passion toward reaching the lost as he did.  When they didn’t, he worked even harder at motivating people toward outreach.

Servant #2:  She worked with youth, in nursing homes, and in her community all with the hopes of having opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who didn’t know Him.  She was always sensitive to the fact that there might be unbelievers in her midst. 

Wherever they are, people with the gift of evangelism seem to have their spiritual radar up, eager to tell people about Jesus.

Lesson to be learned:

People tend to have more passion and invest more time into areas for which they are gifted.  We need to guard against projecting our gifts onto others who are not gifted like we are, expecting them to react the same way we do, to have the same passion and time commitment we do, to make it as much of a priority, or to do so with as much ease.

Yet, those who are not so gifted must guard against using their lack of gifting as an excuse to neglect their responsibilities as believers. 

Though not everyone has the spiritual gift of evangelism, all believers are responsible and privileged to share Jesus with others.  Timothy did not appear to have the gift of evangelism but the Apostle Paul told him to nonetheless “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). 

The same could be said for almost all of the gifts.  For example … We are all to encourage one another, yet we do not all have the gift of exhortation.  We are all to be kind and compassionate toward those in need, yet we do not all have the gift of mercy. 

You might not be gifted in these ways but you are still to “do the work of an evangelist … an encourager, a mercy-giver, etc.”  You just won’t tend to be as impassioned or spend as much time doing this kind of ministry as people who have those gifts.  You might find a greater level of difficulty doing it.  Sometimes you will simply need to step outside of your comfort zone through the power of the Lord.

Click below for help with outreach:

Online Outreach Ministry Training on MinTools.com

More Outreach Ministry Resources