Ministry Focus & Equipping | Christian Ministry Training Blog

I Know Some Servants … with the Spiritual Gift of Hospitality

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 10 Comments ↓

The Spiritual Gift of Hospitality Defined

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

Examples of How It Makes a Difference When We Serve According to Our Gifting

Servant #1: She enjoyed hosting a small group in her home but when asked to lead the group, became frustrated and discouraged. When 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 God’s 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.

Get this example of the ways the spiritual gift of hospitality can be used, along with 20 other gifts, in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use. In addition, the handbook suggests spiritual gifts most typically used in 16 broad ministry areas and 27 specific tasks that may need to be accomplished in most of those areas.

Looking for Resources on Hospitality Ministry? Go to: Resources for Nuts and Bolts Ministries

Pastors & Ministry Leaders: Lead by Example

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 5 Comments ↓

I often find myself suggesting that leaders must lead the way by the example of their lives, not simply through their words or decision-making and planning efforts. Through many years of involvement in the church, I have seen both the good and bad in leaders. The power of leaders leading by example often evidenced itself in the outcome.

The effective leaders set a good example, modeling Christ-like attitudes as well as godly behavior.

The ineffective leaders had integrity breaks, telling people one thing but doing another.

Areas in Which Leaders Lead by Example

Here are some examples on the MinTools.com site of where I write of the need for pastors and leaders to lead by example:

Training, being equipped to serve: The first tip in an article providing Teacher Training Tips and Resources is “Training Begins with Leadership.” I wrote, “If leaders are not convinced of the need to personally become better equipped in ministry, they will have a harder time convincing teachers of its importance. As they exhibit a humble, teachable spirit, teachers will come to realize that everyone needs to learn and grow, including them.”

Fellowship, relating with and building up one another: In looking at causes for the declining of true fellowship in the church I wrote, “Pastors and ministry leaders must participate in fellowship with the Body as well, leading the way, if they expect others to follow suit. It is so easy for pastors and ministry leaders to engage in fellowship with fellow staff and rarely with fellow church members. People need to see both in leadership.”

Prayer Life, regularly communicating with our heavenly Father: In the Prayer Ministry section of the site I wrote that we need to “Model what it means to have a lifestyle of prayer.” “The impact of modeling an effective prayer life is seen in the life of Christ. After observing the priority and passion Jesus had in spending time with the Father, one of His disciples initiated a request to learn to pray.”

Worship, revering God as the One True God, the Sovereign Lord: In the Worship Ministry section of the site I wrote that worship leaders must “Set the example in your own life of humbling yourself before Him so as to lead the way for the congregation. (See 2 Chron. 20:18 for an example.)”

Reasons for Leading by Example

Leading by example, however, isn’t something that should happen simply because of observation of church leadership effectiveness. The concept of pastors and ministry leaders modeling the Christian life is:

biblical. – 1 Pet. 5:2-3

Leadership is not lording our authority over people but being an example to them.

a matter of accountability. – Matt. 23

Jesus had some harsh words for the religious leaders of His day who did “not practice what they preach.”

commonsense. – Matt. 7:3-5

We aren’t going to see clearly where to take people if we aren’t going there ourselves.

The Role of Curriculum in Teaching the Bible

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 6 Comments ↓

The Christian Education ministry of a church spent a lot of time researching which curriculum to choose, resulting in a choice they believed would fit their church. With this curriculum, over the course of time, people would potentially receive a well-rounded Bible education.

Teacher Reactions to the Chosen Curriculum

As they observed their teachers, they noted polar reactions to the role of the curriculum:

Some teachers wouldn’t leave home without it.

These were teachers who were overly reliant on the curriculum. They followed it to the letter, exercising little creative thought, making curriculum their all in all. Some even taught with the teacher’s manual in hand, reading word for word. If teaching didn’t go well, then they blamed the curriculum.

Other teachers would rather leave it at home.

These were teachers who used the curriculum begrudgingly, viewing curriculum as a noose around their necks. They would rather completely do their own thing but since the curriculum was required, they did just enough to make it appear like they were using the curriculum. If teaching didn’t go well, then they blamed it on being confined by the curriculum.

Training Needed about the Role of the Curriculum and How to Use It

What the Christian Education ministry skipped in the process, was training teachers on how to use the curriculum.

First, they needed to communicate why curriculum was necessary. It was a means of keeping students on track to potentially receive a well-rounded Biblical education. If teaching was not coordinated through the use of curriculum, it was possible content could be duplicated or overlapped within a short period of time and some important truths missed altogether. Curriculum was not a substitute for the Bible but rather a tool to teach the Bible.

Second, they needed to present the curriculum as a a guide. While it was important to use the curriculum, it was not expected that teachers had to teach it word for word. At the same time, it did serve to keep everyone on track and so it was important to use it.

Third, they needed to emphasize that teachers held a critical part in making sure the lesson went well. They couldn’t always blame the curriculum when teaching didn’t go well. They needed to make any adjustments necessary to insure that the lesson plan fit their students.

I Know Some Servants … with the Spiritual Gift of Helps

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center

The Spiritual Gift of Helps Defined

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

Examples of How God Gifts People to Come Alongside of Others in Ministry with Valuable Assistance

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 PowerPoint and 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.

For Help Distinguishing the Gift of Helps from Other Serving Types of Gifts, Go To: Serving Types of Spiritual Gifts

Get this example of the ways the spiritual gift of helps can be used, along with 20 other gifts, in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use. In addition, the handbook suggests spiritual gifts most typically used in 16 broad ministry areas and 27 specific tasks that may need to be accomplished in most of those areas.

I Know Some Servants … with the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 7 Comments ↓

The Spiritual Gift of Evangelism Defined

to be a messenger of the good news of the Gospel

Examples of Being Driven Due to Gifting

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.

Get this example of the spiritual gift of evangelism in use, along with 20 other gifts, in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use. In addition, the handbook suggests spiritual gifts most typically used in 16 broad ministry areas and 27 specific tasks that may need to be accomplished in most of those areas.

Looking for help with outreach? Click below:

Online Outreach Ministry Training on MinTools.com

Outreach Ministry Manual Download

More Outreach Ministry Resources

I Know Some Servants … with the Spiritual Gift of Teaching

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

The Spiritual Gift of Teaching Defined

to instruct others in the Bible in a logical, systematic way so as to communicate pertinent information for true understanding and growth

Example of How the Same Gift Can be Used Differently

Servant #1: He could almost always be found teaching somewhere … in Sunday School, men’s ministry, small groups, and even from the pulpit. He enjoyed studying the Word to prepare the lessons but came alive when he could share what he learned with others, field their questions, and take them to higher levels in their knowledge of God.

Servant #2: She rarely taught in Sunday School but she had the gift of teaching. It came out in other ways. She led worship in accordance with musical talents she had but didn’t simply lead singing. She taught people how to worship. She started homeschooling her children. She viewed it as a means of discipling them and poured everything into it. She gave homeschooling a good name.

Servant #3: She writes curriculum and training materials for others to use. When she directed children’s ministry, she would often develop the Bible lessons to fit her church’s situation as it was hard to find suitable material. She carefully designed the material to be teacher friendly and to help students understand truth in ways appropriate with their age level. When she would teach Sunday School or Bible studies, she most enjoyed when she could develop her own lessons rather than use pre-written curriculum.

Each of these servants had the spiritual gift of teaching but enjoyed using it in different ways. One thrived in the classroom where he could interact with people, the other in unconventional or less formal settings, and the third more behind the scenes in developing Bible lessons.

Lesson to be learned:

People with the same gift, even in the same measure, can look very different in the way they use that gift. Personality is a big factor but also heart passions and life experiences. Spiritual gifts are only one piece of the puzzle in forming our best fit in ministry.

Get this example of the ways the spiritual gift of teaching can be used, along with 20 other gifts, in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use. In addition, the handbook suggests spiritual gifts most typically used in 16 broad ministry areas and 27 specific tasks that may need to be accomplished in most of those areas.

Do you have the gift of teaching? Click on the links below for more:

Online Teaching Ministry Training at MinTools.com

Teaching Ministry Resources