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A Purpose-Driven Life Campaign April 18 - May 30, 2004 Discovering my SHAPE for ministry (adapted from Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Community Church of El Toro, CA) Additional Tools
God created each of us individually with a purpose in mind - to love him. He intends for us to be fulfilled as we serve Him and the needs of others in ministry. Job 10:8 speaks of "God forming me and shaping me". Our shape is a blend of five factors that make us wonderfully complex. We can discover the way God has prepared us for specific ministries by discovering our SHAPE. Spiritual Gifts A spiritual gift is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer, to be used to minister to others and therefore build up the Body of Christ. We may have more than one spiritual gift, and they are different from natural talents. They are always used for the benefit of others to build the kingdom of God. This list of 21 gifts is by category:
A tool is available to help us see what God is doing or wanting to do through our lives. We may have a spiritual gift that is not yet developed, and need to "unwrap it" by studying, requesting responses from others, training, but especially helpful is to experiment. It is easiest to discover our gifts by doing it, not just from looking at a list. Our primary ministry commitment will hopefully be in the area where we are gifted. To learn more about your spiritual gifts and for directions to an online Spiritual Gifts Assessment form, refer to Spiritual Gifts Descriptions.
Our hearts reveals who we really are, what we love to do, our passion. Our hearts determine why we say, feel and act the way we do. Our unique emotional heartbeat races when we encounter activities, situations or circumstances that interest us. We can choose to use this internal guidance system as a tool for ministry. Effective and enthusiastic people work in their passion area and have discovered the joy of being fulfilled. One way we can explore our hearts is to review past accomplishments remembering those things we did well and enjoyed.
These are the abilities and knowledge we all have, but may not be aware of. We were born with some natural abilities that can be discovered by looking at our past accomplishments. The vocational skills we have are also usable in God's work for the benefit of the body. When God gives us a divine assignment, he equips us with his Spirit and abilities to carry it out. God places people with abilities he wants to minister in a church.
God has wired each of our temperaments in a unique way. There are many ways to look at personality, but these are five factors that show how God made us each differently:
Our personalities indicate the type of job and ministry God wants us to have. God also wants us to appreciate other people's personality differences. God likes variety!
God uses our experiences to teach us to trust him, to build our character, and to accomplish his purposes as we allow him to use our experiences to minister to others. Since our greatest life message comes out of our weakness, not our strengths, we need to take a good look at our painful experiences and what our trials have taught us. God never wastes a hurt or bad experience. Along with these tough times are other experiences to draw on: spiritual experiences (meaningful times with God), educational experiences, and ways we have ministered in the past. Maybe you are asking, "What has God designed me to be? How has he shaped me for significance? Where does God seem to be working in my life? How can I join with what God is doing and experience fruitfulness and fulfillment?"
To discover your SHAPE, complete the SHAPE Inventory form. You could really assist KIBC if you will turn in the completed form at the church office.
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