Andrew Fountain - Identifying your gifts

Please download & print the worksheet for this talk: gifts_worksheet.pdf

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.

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Sermon Outline - Identifying your Gifts

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 to get it.

Last time

  • Ephesians 4
  1. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
  2. until we all together arrive… at the measure of Christ’s full stature.
  3. As each part works properly according to its measure

1. Preaching, Teaching & Training

  • Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
  • Eph 4:15 But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.
  • Eph 4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members of one another.

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

Checking the boxes

my main interest   will help if needed
interested in helping   not really my thing
Comments: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

4. Prayer Ministry & Prophetic

  • Eph 6:18 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.
  • 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.
  • Rom 12:6 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.
  • Rom 12:12 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

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.

5. Evangelism

  • Developing gift in personal evangelism
    • note that everyone should be able to do this at some level
  • Helping at evangelistic meetings & events
  • Making small groups more effective for evangelism
  • Helping to create evangelistic material
  • Evangelism team available at all meetings to talk to seekers

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

  • Welcoming new people at meetings
    • But not necessarily—you might be introvert and prefer to organize things behind the scenes
  • Noticing people who are by themselves and drawing people on the fringe into the life of the church
  • Making sure people are connected with homegroups and other unity-building events
  • Helping to organize social events and gatherings to meet the social needs of members of the body living in a big and impersonal city
  • Supporting evangelism with events that include those from outside the church.

7. Media and Communications

  • Eph 4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour
  • 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

9. Practical Needs

  • Eph 4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather labour, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.
  • Rom 12:8 …if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity …if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
  • Rom 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints…
    • but mostly not financial, but practical caring
  • 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 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
  • Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
  • Eph 4:32 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

12. Administration & Planning

Rom 12:6,7 And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us… If it is administering, he must administer… (possible translation)

  • Church finance, legal and policy & procedures
  • Organizing schedules and emailing people
  • Admin support for all the other groups (e.g with members lists and communications)
  • Logistics planning for events

Updated on 2019-02-19 by Andrew Fountain