With the Spiritual Gift of Pastor

to be responsible for spiritually caring for, protecting, guiding, and feeding a group of believers entrusted to one’s care

Servant #1:  He directed a ministry.  His biggest asset was not in making administrative decisions but in ministering to the staff.  Though people would get frustrated with the process of getting from point A to point B, they knew he was there for them and tended to overlook his errors in judgment.

Servant #2:  He pastored a church.  His biggest asset was not in dealing with the details of programming but in caring for its members.  Though people would get frustrated with his lack of excellence or quality, they appreciated his heart and usually would cut him some slack.

Servant #3:  He directed the church’s small group ministry.  His biggest asset was not in coordinating the various groups but rather in nurturing the small group leaders.  Though people would get frustrated with his last minute scheduling and poor planning, they kept him in this position because he knew how to build a team of leaders.

None of these servants had the gift of administration, nor a personality that lent itself to good organizational skills, but they did have the spiritual gift of pastor.  Consequently, under their leadership, things were often left undone, done poorly, or at the last moment.  Their focus was on looking after people, not administrative details.

Lessons to be Learned:

People with the spiritual gift of pastor often find themselves in positions of leadership, even when they do not possess other leadership gifts or skills.  To minimize the frustration their kind of leadership can bring, they need to surround themselves with other types of leaders to bring some quality and continued growth into the picture.

With the Spiritual Gift of Faith

to be firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction

Servant #1:  She was a missionary who wasn’t afraid to put herself in the line of fire for Christ, wholeheartedly believing in His ability to use her regardless of her circumstances.  People saw her as an example of faith. 

Servant #2:  He was a pastor who prayed fervently, never wavering or doubting God to come through.  Others turned to him when they needed a faithful prayer warrior.

Servant #3:  She was a Bible teacher who experienced many setbacks in life yet kept her eyes on the Lord.  She inspired others to trust God in their circumstances as well.

Each of these servants had other gifts but the spiritual gift of faith seemed to permeate all they did.  Not every missionary intentionally opens themselves up to persecution.  Not all pastors have a good prayer life, albeit a dynamic one.  Not all Bible teachers’ lives inspire others.

Lessons to Learn: 

Certain spiritual gifts, like faith, knowledge, and wisdom, rarely seem to be stand-alone gifts in people.  They tend to compliment or supplement or even help define how the other gifts are used.  People with the gift of faith are not afraid to live on the edge in their ministries.  They often find themselves turning to God in prayer.  And, all their life activities, not just their ministry efforts, tend to be characterized by a deep-rooted dependency  on God and expectancy in what He will do.

With the Spiritual Gift of Hospitality

to warmly welcome people, even strangers, into one’s home or church as a means of serving those in need of food or lodging

Servant #1: She enjoyed hosting a small group in her home but when asked to lead the group, became frustrated and discouraged.  When simply hosting, she eagerly focused on making sure people were comfortable and had what they needed.  When facilitating the group, she tended to be more anxious and unsure of herself.

Servant #2:  She was there watching for me every week when I was a guest speaker at her church’s Sunday School for a series of lessons.  She not only genuinely welcomed me, but offered for me to sit with her and her husband during the worship service.  She introduced me to others within the body.  And, she often invited me to lunch after the service.

Servant #3:  He was often one of the first to spot a visitor and extend a hand of welcome.  He quickly put people at ease by his warm smile and kind words.  He helped them find their way around the church and answered any questions they had.  Here’s the catch: Nobody asked him to do these things.  

All of these servants took pleasure in using their spiritual gift of hospitality.  It is what they enjoyed and did well.  They offered “hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9).

Lesson to Be Learned:

When doing what lines up with our spiritual gifting, pulling on His power, we are energized to serve.  When serving outside of our gifting, it is so much easier to grumble and complain, to get frustrated or discouraged.  When serving in accordance with His divine empowerment, we will tend to serve with enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and diligence.

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.