by flaivoloka – from www.sxc.hu
This is the fourth post in this series which is examining how faith is developed and grown.
Personal Ministry
Faith begins to grow when folks get involved in the Lord’s work. Christians are to be givers, not takers. We are to be servants, not just attenders. We are commissioned by Christ for His purpose and plan. In God’s amazing design He made it such that we experience growth and development in our faith when we get involved in using our talents.
The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who felt inadequate, but were used by God to accomplish amazing things (see Moses, Gideon, Esther, Peter, etc.). Nothing really happens for God’s work until God’s people step out in faith and trust Him. That is when our faith grows. When we, despite our fears, nerves, shortcomings, and previous failures, attempt to serve God.
Andy Stanley wrote in Deep and Wide, “Ministry makes people’s faith bigger. If you want to increase someone’s confidence in God, put him in a ministry position before he feels fully equipped.” (Kindle 1431). After all who is ever fully equipped.
Some Tips for Parents
- Find ways to get your kids involved in serving others for the sake of the Lord’s work. Go visit some shut-ins, a nursing home, send cards, etc. Find a job they can do that assists the church and makes a difference. Your kids will get lots of joy from this too.
- Take your kids with you and let them see and help you in your ministry. (That means you have to have a ministry and service!)
- When your children’s talents and abilities surface discuss with them how they can use them in the Lord’s service. [important]We talk to them about using their bodies for sports, and their mind for school, what about using it all for God![/important]Teach them throughout every aspect of life that everything they do should be for the glory of God.
- Pray for them to use their talents for the kingdom of God. Let them hear this prayer.
Some Tips for Churches
- Find ways to use new people in ministry. Don’t wait for them to volunteer, you find jobs and offer it to them. Some of the most effective elders and deacons are not ones who do the work themselves, but the ones who delegate others to do the work. The leadership should constantly be seeking to empower new members to use their talents.
- Churches should consider: How easy is it for new members and youth to get involved in ministry? How many congregational ministries are offered so people can use their talents?
- Be open to starting new ministries and services to fit the diverse talents of the church. Obviously doctrinal truth should not be sacrificed, but we need to encourage people to use their unique talents for the Kingdom (Eph. 4:15-16). Matthew Morine wrote a post last week teaching that teams are successful when they focus on the individual roles and talents that each team member brings. When team members know their role and are willing to do it they function successfully. But if the team is more focused on position and glory, rather than contributing their unique talents the team will typically fail. What is your congregation more focused upon?
Personal ministry is essential to our faith growth and development. It is putting our faith in action. It is a testing of our faith and a trust in God to work through us, despite our inadequacies. When we do, we grow as a disciple of Jesus.
What tips would you offer regarding personal ministry?
