There is no more important thing to be a part of than the church – not a building but a people. Besides getting to be part of it, we get to be part of the work that God has given it. Every Christian has a unique and essential role in the church – there are no extra parts. So how can you find your particular place in the church?
Spiritual gifts tests are one way to figure out your role in the church. They’re often helpful, but today we’re just going to work through eight Bible-based statements/questions. Hopefully, these will help you wipe the slate clean and think about your function in the church from a fresh perspective.
#1: It Would Be Good for My Church if I . . .
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
– 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Each Christian has a unique gift from the Holy Spirit to be used for the common good of the church. So consider this statement: “It would be good for my church if I ____ .”
Don’t feel like you have to do a super spectacular act of service. It might be good for your church if you were the first to speak up during Bible studies. It might be good if you regularly check in on people and remember their birthdays. There are many different ways that you could do something for the common good.
#2: If I Was on a Committee Responsible for the Spiritual Wellbeing of My Church, I Would . . .
[God composed the church] that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
– 1 Corinthians 12:25
As part of the same body, we’re supposed to care for each other. A creative way to think about this is: “If I was on a committee responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of my church, I would ____ .”
What can you contribute to the spiritual wellbeing of the church? It could be just being present and listening. Perhaps you could invite people over so you can connect with them.
#3: One of the Best Contributions I Can Make to the Spiritual Progress of My Church Is . . .
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
– 1 Corinthians 14:12
Whatever spiritual gifts you may have, use them for building up the church (see “Strive for the Best Thing”). You can often discover your place once you apply yourself to building up other Christians. So ask yourself this: “One of the best contributions I can make to the spiritual progress of my church is ____ .”
Your best contribution right now could be parenting your kids. Or it might be maintaining a prayer chain email. If not that, your contribution could be teaching or mentoring. There are so many different ways to contribute!
#4: Thinking About My Church, I Realize that Some Are Burdened with . . . and I Can Help Them by . . .
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
– Galatians 6:2
There are two statements to consider here. First, “Thinking about my church, I realize that some are burdened with ____ .” And second, “I can help these people by ____ .”
You might realize someone is burdened with sin, grief, financial crises, sickness or just worn out from ministry. How can you help them? You could be someone to talk to or a financial provider. You could visit nursing homes, help people with special needs or care for children.
#5: Something I Can Do to Continually Remind My Church of the Gospel Is . . .
Ephesians 4:11-16 is a powerhouse passage that helps us think about our place in the church. We don’t just want to do nice things for each other – anyone can do that. As Christians, we want to keep the gospel central in what we do. So consider this statement: “Something I can do to continually remind my church of the gospel is ____ .”
This is how we help each other grow in our faith, and it can take many forms. It could mean pursuing more relationships in the church. It could mean learning how to use multimedia or being trained so you can teach.
#6: It Would Be in My Church’s Best Interest if I Served Them by . . .
Philippians 2:3-7 reminds us to “look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We usually figure ourselves out better when we stop thinking about ourselves and start finding ways to serve the people around us. We find our place in the church when we think, “It would be in my church’s best interest if I served them by ____ .”
There are so many ways to serve the people around you. Your answers to this prompt will probably overlap with previous answers, and that’s okay. It could be that the best way to serve the church is by overseeing a ministry program, greeting people or praying for people.
#7: One Way I Could Protect My Church from Falling Away & Being Hardened by Sin Is by . . .
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
– Hebrews 3:12-13
We are all responsible for our fellow Christians that we don’t drift away. So the question to consider is: “One way I could protect my church from falling away and being hardened by sin is by ____ .”
You could work in children’s ministry to free up parents to be part of things. You could systematically contact people – especially those who are consistently missing from fellowship.
#8: I Could Motivate My Church to Love & Good Works by . . .
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
– Hebrews 10:24-25
We’re responsible for protecting each other from falling away and also to motivate each other to love and good works. So think, “I could motivate my church to love and good works by ____ .”
This Scripture mentions just meeting together. Your presence has a positive effect, just like your absence has a negative effect. You can motivate others by intentionally trying to encourage them. It might be something official or it might not.
__________
It’s important for us to think of church in this way – to realize that we each have the Holy Spirit and a role to play. Use these eight prompts to help you think through what your particular role might be.
Discussion Starters
- Read through the Scriptures and discuss the eight prompts.
- What’s something you can do for your church to aid its spiritual wellbeing and progress, to help carry someone’s burden, remind them of the gospel, serve, protect, and motivate?
