Have you ever served in an area of ministry you were not gifted or passionate about? It probably didn’t turn out very well. My guess is that you were miserable, and the people you served were miserable. Unfortunately, that is usually the outcome when we serve in places where God has not gifted us or we are not passionate about serving.
When we are not serving in places where we are gifted and passionate, it likely means we are serving because of pressure and persuasion. I’ve spent much of my life in churches that are desperately looking for people to serve in areas where they had no business serving. It usually meant the person got burned out, and the ministry struggled. There has to be a better way.
To be clear, there will always be needs that must be met regardless of giftedness or passion. Diapers need to be changed whether you feel gifted or passionate about changing diapers. Tables and chairs need to be moved regardless of how you are wired. We are called to serve, give, and care for people because we are Christians, not because a survey told us we were the right fit.
Imagine what could happen if every church lived by the value of helping connect people to areas of ministry where God had gifted them and they had a passion to be in. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Every believer has a gift that is to be used to help others. As we use our gifts and needs are met, God is honored by how we have managed the gift he gave us.
The Bible teaches us that the church is the body of Christ. That means God wants everybody working the way it is supposed to work. When a part is missing or not working, the body is limited. It becomes disabled. The same is true with the church. When a part of the church is missing or not functioning correctly, the whole body suffers and is limited in its ability to accomplish its mission.
A successful football coach understands the importance of getting his players in their sweet spot. A large lineman might not be the best at throwing or running the ball. A small wide receiver might not be the best at pass-rushing. The key to coaching is getting the right person in the right position. The same is true for a pastor. A pastor tries to help each believer find the best place to serve. Discovering that person’s giftedness and passion is the best way to help them find the right position to serve in.
Impact Discipleship Ministries seeks to help churches make disciples by helping churches and pastors learn how to manage ministry effectively. If we can help you develop a strategy for making disciples, please contact us for more information. You can reach us at impactdisciples.com.
