SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS

FUMC Cape May Court House, NJ

SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP IN NEW JERSEY

With Simple Discipleship being used by churches across the United States and the world, I welcomed the opportunity to go to the First United Methodist Church in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. Preaching three times on Sunday morning and each evening through Wednesday, people were motivated to “get out of the pew and serve in ministry and missions using their spiritual gifts. In this article the discipleship pastor, Dr. Jesse McLain addresses a truth made by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 where he said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” He understood that it often takes more than one disciple employing his spiritual gifts to win someone to Christ. Simple Discipleship is making a difference in New Jersey! I appreciate the ministry of Dr. McLain and the precious church he serves in New Jersey. It was an honor to serve them for a discipleship revival.

SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Several years ago while working as a Minister of Lay Development, I was using Dr. Elmer Town’s “Team Gifts” resources as a guide for discovering and implementing spiritual gifts. When my current congregation began exploring the Simple Discipleship (SD) resources, many folks had questions about how their spiritual gifts fit into this process. My response to their questions goes back to Dr. Town’s teachings.

Spiritual gifts are not stand-alone manifestations exercised in isolation from other Christians. Quite the opposite, most gifts within a group or congregation can be viewed as complimentary to the task at hand. Let me illustrate this through an example from my earlier experience.

Our congregation found itself in a situation where our largest audience was made up of people with no Christian memory or background. They were in effect, totally un-churched. In order to evangelize these folks we needed more than just an evangelism gift. As it worked out, we needed three interconnected gifts: Prophets to point out sin and their lost condition; Evangelists to share the Good News that Jesus had already dealt with their sin on the cross; and Exhorters (Encouragers), who could move them forward in the faith. If any one of these three had been lacking, our outreach would have been ineffective and incomplete.

In a congregation where the ministry primarily focuses on people with a strong Christian memory, but perhaps lacking in commitment, the spiritual gifts needed might include teachers, shepherds, exhorters, and only slightly in evangelists and prophets.

According to 1 Corinthians 12:18, “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (NIV) Based on this understanding, the body of Christ, whether a small group, small congregation, or mega-church, has just the right mix of gifts to accomplish the mission and purpose God has given them. Part of our SD process should be the discovery and implementation of spiritual gifts. Some of these will be expressed under the Worship frame, others, like teaching and preaching under the Word frame. The Mission frame might include evangelists, prophets, ministers (helps), and other. The Ministry frame will likely include ministers, servanthood, and others. The key here is not to use your personal gifts either selfishly or as a way to avoid your responsibilities. As a pastor, I hate to hear someone say, “well, that is my gift!” as if this might excuse them from some function or purpose. Whether or not we are gifted as an evangelist, we are still called to witness. Even if  our gift is not ministry (helps), we are called to be compassionate in our concern for and care of others.

The key here is that all of the gifts are intended to work together for building up the body of Christ. We really do need each other and the work we do together will be far more effective than anything we might do in isolation.

Dr. Jesse S. McLain

May 12, 2012

If you would like to launch a discipleship revolution in your church, contact Tom Cocklereece at drthomreece@gmail.com

——————–

SD Blessings,

Dr. Tom Cocklereece, The Disciplist

——————–

Dr. Tom Cocklereece is CEO of RENOVA Coaching and Consulting, LLC. He is a pastor, author, professional coach, leadership specialist, and is a member Coach/Teacher/Speaker for the John Maxwell Team

Email | LinkedIn | Twitter | Web | Blog | Book | Coaching

This post has already been read 2822 times!