Being a faithful steward of the spiritual gifts God has given, begins with using them. Determining how to use them in what have long been ministries within the Church tends to be more obvious than using them in ways we’re not accustomed to, like outside the walls of the church building.
Determining How to Use Your Spiritual Gifts Outside of Church Walls
Since Romans 12 was referenced in the previous post, take time to consider how the seven gifts listed in that passage might be used to either serve the Church remotely or to serve the community. Below you’ll find the main issue to think about in looking for a way to serve. The possibilities could depend on your specific situation, passions of your heart, available resources, and the like. Take time to pray about how God would have you use the spiritual gifts He’s given you.
1) prophecy
Think of platforms that can be used to speak up about what’s biblically right, to help people know what God, in accordance with His Word, expects of them.
2) service
Think of tasks that need to be accomplished, no matter how menial they might seem.
3) teaching
Think of platforms for a more logical, systematic approach to communicating God’s Word.
4) exhortation
Think of ways to come alongside of people with words that build them up.
5) giving
Think of people or ministries in need of financial assistance or other resources.
6) leadership
Think of ministry that needs to be accomplished that can use some oversight to establish goals and develop a vision for accomplishing those goals.
7) mercy
Think of those who are the vulnerable in our churches or society (i.e., elderly, disabled, poor, sick) with needs to be met.
Get a few specific ideas of how each of the above gifts might be used outside of the church walls in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use. That resource expands the list of gift to include gifts found in other passages of Scripture. The majority of the handbook looks at gifting for 16 broad ministry areas under which most of your church ministries typically fall as well as 27 specific tasks that may need to be accomplished in most of those ministry areas.
Not sure which gift(s) you might have? – Online Spiritual Gifts Test