Remember that part in the Bible where it says “You have every strength and talent and gift to do it all. Don’t feel like you have to rely on anyone. You got this!”?
No? Good. Cause it’s not in there.
In fact, a quick read through 1 Corinthians 12, and we’re reminded that no one posses all the strengths, and that God has a much bigger and beautiful plan for how the Church and its ministries should work.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (NIV)
If there are different kinds of gifts, service, and work- and different people to whom these have been distributed- then this has some serious implications for how we organize our ministry.
Here are three to start thinking about.
Let Your Elbows Be Elbows
Many parts, one body. This means we need to let people operate out of their strengths. We get it, we all need a few more “Hands” in Children’s Ministry, but making an Elbow a Hand isn’t helping anyone, and isn’t really part of God’s vision for ministry.
A Healthy Body Image
Some people have shame around their role in the church because they were told they didn’t belong anywhere. Encourage and include them, especially if their strengths are different than yours, for the same God is at work in them.
Go Back to Med School
Studying verses like 1 Corinthians 12 help reminded us how the Body is supposed to function. It even lists out specific types of gifts. Look for those gifts in others, see which gifts are missing in your ministry, then find them in your church.
Grace and Peace!
