We are made to make a difference. Not only has God given us each talents and abilities that we are born with, but He also gives us special gifts when we become Christians. These are called “spiritual gifts”, and they are given to build the unity of the Church.
Paul writes about these gifts in Ephesians 4. He starts by calling himself a prisoner, and calling people to humility and gentleness and patience – to love each other deeply for the sake of unity. Spiritual gifts are not about pride, but about serving the Body of Christ. Paul goes on to talk about leadership. The job of Christian leaders is not to do all the work but to equip God’s people to do God’s work and build up the church – growing into maturity and greater knowledge of God and His measure of love. The goal is for the whole body (each person) to do His work, be healthy and full of love.
We each have gifts from God, we each have work to do in the church, we are each made to make a difference. We are called to serve outside the church (mission, witness, impact), and we are called to serve inside the church, which is often called “ministry”. Most of us don’t know what our spiritual gifts are until we begin to use them. God equips us to the ministry He has called us to. As we discover our gifts our faith grows stronger and we can make more of a difference with Jesus. As we serve we grow to rely on Him more, know Him more, and be filled more with His love.
At Covenant Grove Church, we love to serve Jesus! Almost all of our ministry is done in teams, because connecting helps us grow even more – and it is fun to serve with others! Serving is something we encourage people to do right as they come to church – we are building this church together – grab your hammer and build with us! It is a great way to make connections, grow in your faith, and find your gifts that God has given you. We have a one year ministry commitment – which means you can change your serving area after a year and discover new gifts. As you find your gifts you will find God challenging you and calling you to grow as His servant, step into greater responsibilities, and grow into leading. Leading as a Christian means equipping others, being more humble and gentle, and working for unity. Follow the Spirit as He leads you!
You are gifted! Use your gifts to serve the Body of Christ, and watch your life grow more and more, overflowing with His love.
