Perhaps you've heard me telling you during Sunday morning announcements, or you've read the "Save the Date" insert, or heard church members talking about it, that July is our Spiritual Gifts emphasis month! During the Sundays in July our Sunday School teachers and I will be teaching and preaching about God's gifts of the Holy Spirit, what they are, why God gives them to his children, and how they function both inside and outside the body of Christ. It is imperative that we understand who we are in Christ, and how our spiritual gifts impact our identity as the church of Jesus.
Do you know the spiritual gifts God has placed within you? Did you know that you received at least one (or even 5, 10 or 20) spiritual gifts when you received Christ by faith? Did you know that the Spirit longs to use those gifts to build up the church and bless God's Kingdom inhabitants? Do you realize that we miss out on healing and growth if we don't know our spiritual gifts and how they work within the church?
If you answered "no" to at least one of the previous questions, you're not alone. Additionally, you are in the perfect position to learn about spiritual gifts and discover what yours are in order that you might serve God more specifically, more effectively and more joyfully. Let me explain.
I imagine many of you, as children, enjoyed playing with blocks, hammering in the little wooden pieces that would fit in their appropriate spaces. Do you remember how difficult it was to try and hammer an unusual block into a round hole? For instance, did you experience frustration when you couldn't hammer a square peg through a round hole? Maybe it looked a little something like this:
"Square Peg, Round Hole"
Imagine what it's like, then, for members of Christ's body to attempt spiritual service in the church in areas/activities which they are completely unequipped to accomplish, simply because they are not specifically gifted for it. They are, indeed, functioning as "square pegs in round holes!" And the more the church remains unaware of its individual and collective spiritual gifts, the more unhealthy and ineffective the church becomes. When we attempt to serve God outside of who he has created us to be, we hinder the church's growth, its outreach, and its overall mission. Yet, when we 1) discover what our spiritual gifts are and 2) integrate them within the ministries which match those gifts, 3) the church experiences health, restoration and success in its strategies for Kingdom building both inside and outside the church walls! This, my brothers and sisters, is exciting!! When you know who you are in Christ (spiritual gifts), then you can serve others most effectively, and, you'll find that you are more joyful and less stressed because you are now a "round peg fitting into a round hole!"
So...what does all this mean for you? It means that in the month of July you will be hearing your Sunday School teachers teach you about the gifts of the Holy Spirit through passages like 1 Cor. 12, Rom. 12, 1 Peter 4 and Eph. 4. You will engage with your classmates about how God's scripture applies to you and your ministry role within UBC. Also, you will hear me preach these passages on Sunday morning, allowing the Spirit to encourage you and inspire you to know who you were created to be in Christ! Lastly, our month together will culminate in what I am calling our "Spiritual Gifts Exchange;" this will take place after worship on Sunday, July 28th in the Fellowship Hall, and we will share in a potluck lunch and then I will facilitate a church-wide spiritual gifts inventory (a written questionnaire that will help you, by the power of the Spirit, determine what your spiritual gifts are). When the inventories have been completed, they will be analyzed and summarily celebrated by everyone in attendance. The Deacons and Nominating Team will then gather the spiritual gifts data and determine how they can best encourage an exhort you to serve UBC based on your spiritual gifts (indeed, who you are in Christ!).
I hope you can see how July is a month you do NOT want to miss at UBC! I pray that you will attend, each Sunday morning in Sunday School and in worship, take notes, and ask the Spirit to speak what he wants you to hear. I hope you will make July 28th (our worship, lunch and Spiritual Gifts Exchange event) a priority and attend; after all, your presence affects all your brothers and sisters in our church. God needs every person, and their gifts, to effectively contribute to the health of our church, its ministries, and our mission to the community!
God needs YOU at UBC...and just as importantly, he desires for you to use your spiritual gifts to build up the Kingdom of God on earth! July is, for certain, a month you do not want to miss here at United Baptist. If you've never known your spiritual gifts, or learned about them in church through the years, now is the time to experience what the Spirit has always wanted you to know...now is the time to celebrate a joy that has been buried deep down in your heart. Now is the time to discover your gifts...now is the time to celebrate each and every spiritual gift within our church family!
Will you be at church in July? Will you attend SS and worship? Will you bring a meal to the potluck lunch and take your spiritual gifts inventory at our Spiritual Gifts Exchange event on Sunday, July 28th? Will you offer your gifts to God and serve his church with gladness? Will you open your heart up to the work of the Spirit?
I hope you'll say yes to all of the above. We need you, friend. We need each other. And when the Holy Spirit uses our gifts in the right place, at the right time, and for the right reasons, our community will experience Jesus in ways we never previously conceived. Believe it! Now act in faith accordingly, for Christ's glory and for his Kingdom! Amen and amen!
I'll See You--Sunday Mornings in July--dear brother and sister!
Pastor Will
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