The church grows by every part doing their share. But how do I know what my part is? This talk works through 12 areas of gifting, explaining how they function within Newlife church, and how to identify where you fit in.
Play Audio:
Goal:
To help you think about what your own gifts might be
by giving you a broad spectrum of N.T. gifts and what they might look like at Newlife church.
- Outline;
Everyone should have a copy of the gifts sheet. We are simply going to go through the 12 areas
- For those watching on video, there is a link you can click on the link at the top to get it.
- For each of the 12 areas of gifting,
- I’ll put up some Scriptures,
- and then talk about how they may look in practice.
God’s Amazing Plan for the Church in Ephesians 4
- But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
- until we all together arrive… at the measure of Christ’s full stature.
- As each part works properly according to its measure
- Newlife church is on a mission
- We need to have every single person involved
- I am going to take you through what this means practically
- This will be very different to the average sermon
1. Preaching, Teaching & Training (Eph 4)
- It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
- But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.
- Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
- On your sheet are 12 areas of gifting.
- For most people it ends up being one or two areas they are most interested in
- Plus a number you have some level of interest, or would help if there was a need.
- If you have a gift, then you will get excited about it
- not “my gift is cooking, but I hate cooking”
1. Preaching, Teaching & Training
- Speaking on Sunday (e.g. Word Team)
- Leading small group discussions
- Attending Bible courses we might run
- Helping others understand the Bible better
- Not about having to be interested in doing everything on this list, but maybe one or two
- Jesus has commanded the church to make disciples and develop them
- So this is one of our main roles as a church
- But what we are doing today is beginning the process by getting you thinking
- It is not about defining you forever
Checking the boxes
❏my main interest ❏definitely want to learn more
❏ willing to help if needed ❏ not really my thing |
2. Praise & Worship
- Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord
- Sunday praise & worship team
- Leading praise & worship in small groups
- Learning to sing or play an instrument
- Participating praise & worship events
- Story of the people you see on our worship teams—most of them were not doing this before they came to Newlife
3. Children’s Ministries
- Eph 6:4 …raise them [your children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
- Teaching kids on Sunday
- Teacher’s assistant/helping with kids activities
- Helping to run children’s events
- Story of first kids at Newlife
4. Prayer Ministry & Prophetic
- (Eph 6) With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
- Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak — that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
- (Rom 12) And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.
- Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.
4. Prayer Ministry & Prophetic
- Learning how to grow in the prophetic
- Being part of an intercessory prayer team
- Being on a prayer ministry team on Sundays
- Helping with prayer ministry in small groups
- Story of a guy who visited us. He told us later that there were three things on his heart when he first came.
He asked for prayer, and the person praying prayed for exactly those three things without knowing. Because of this he said he knew God was with us.
- I’m going to pause after #6 and we will have some interaction
5. Evangelism
- Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
- Eph 6:19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak — that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Eph 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
- Every Christian has some level of functioning in all 12. e.g. we are all urged to be hospitable
- Some people’s life’s calling is “an evangelist”
- Paul is very concerned that the body is held together,
and so although this next section might not seem on the surface to be very “spiritual”,
it is extremely important and just as empowered by the Spirit
- Ultimately this is about “strengthening community”
6. Connecting & Strengthening Community
- Eph 4:3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- Eph 4:16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament.
- Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honouring one another.
- Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
6. Connecting & Strengthening Community
Questions?
- Do you need to be in a formal team?
- Can I just try it?
- Is there a maximum capacity in each gifting?
- Paul’s media needs were very different to ours!
7. Media and Communications
- Eph 4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor
- Eph 6:20 Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
%Communication!%
- Supporting Evangelism and Connecting with excellent printed or audio-visual material
- Communicating with social media
- Sunday signs and visitor pack design
- Website and other media
- Developing new ways the church can communicate the gospel and our mission
8. Homegroups & Leadership
- Eph 4:12 …to build up the body of Christ,
- Eph 4:16 …the whole body grows …the body grows in love.
- Eph 4:25 …for we are members of one another.
- Sunday: working with Connecting to invite new people into groups
- Being trained in helping to run a group
- Making sure groups are healthy and effective
- Learning how to mentor others
- Leadership is not just homegroups, but a good place to start (true for all the gifts)
9. Practical Needs
- Helping other members with all kinds of practical assistance (e.g transport, food, items needed, budgeting, finding work)
- Impacting the practical needs of people living in Toronto: housing, addiction, desperation, accessing social services etc.
- (Most of the time this will be a quiet and spontaneous activity, but as we grow we will want to start programs)
10. Hospitality
- Rom 12:13 …pursue hospitality.
- Helping with the “food” dimension of all the activities of the church
- Being hospitable to others where possible
11. Pastoral & Discipleship
—Eph 4
- with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
- Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate…
%compassion is a key requirement%
- Responding to those who are hurting by coming alongside
- Being trained to better care for others
- Help with special-needs groups within the body
- Being part of a discipleship program for new or growing Christians
- Literally means shepherd
- If you are interested in being mentored as opposed to mentoring others, then you can just write that in the comments
- I don’t like being called “Pastor Andrew” because Jesus said in Mat 23:7–10
- [The Pharisees] love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’
- But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.
- And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
- Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ.
- The greatest among you will be your servant.
- But the big problem is that it focuses pastoral work on one man, and then people wonder why so many get burned out.
- It should be a very widespread gift
12. Administration & Planning
Rom 12
- And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us…
- If it is administering, they must administer…
- Church bookkeeping & finance
- Organizing schedules and emailing people
- Admin support for all the other groups (e.g with members lists and communications)
- Logistics planning for events
- Legal, policies & procedures
- E.g. Those gifted in evangelism are not necessarily good at administering. They might want to plan an event but need help.
- Story of of Martin
