Serving at The Grove Church is paramount! Without the whole body involved in ministry, we are simply spinning our wheels. Go to a monster truck rally and observe the driver of that big rig. Does he only function on 2 wheel drive? Of course not! He “locks em all in”. Four wheel drive. If your not already serving faithfully somewhere-You are that wheel God wants to be locked into service.
You have been created special by God himself! If you are a believer (Christian) the Holy Spirit has gifted you. Not to be unused and dormant, but to be fulfilled in the church, for the common good!
1 Cor. 12:4-11 NIV. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophesy, to another distinguishing between Spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.”
Rick Warren (Founding Pastor of Saddleback Church) writes: ” your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit, but for the benefit of others.”
This is a story introducing Chapter 2 in SHAPE (Erik Rees):
“You have been gifted for greatness.
Is there anything more fun than watching children open Christmas presents? My wife, Stacey, and I have three children. Christmas morning in our house is wild! Our children leap out of bed at the crack of dawn and race down the stairs to see what Santa has left them under the tree. When they find presents with their names on them, bows and paper fly in every direction!
As their father, I take special pleasure in watching each one enjoy the moment. My heart is filled with love as their eyes brighten with the excitement of discovery. I am delighted when they ask me to show them how to use the gifts. (“Some assembly required. Batteries not included.”) Satisfaction fills my soul as I watch them begin to actually play with these things Stacey and I picked out especially for them.
Now picture this same wonderful scene, only with spiritual gifts. When God planned the masterpiece he would make of your life, he decided to give you certain gifts that would enable you to effectively share his love and make your own unique contribution to his kingdom. He placed these spiritual abilities within you and waits eagerly for you to discover them. I’m certain it fills his heart with joy as he watches us discover and start using the spiritual gifts he has given us. We should be as excited as children on Christmas Day about unwrapping these treasures.”
Excerpt From: Erik, Rees. “S.H.A.P.E.: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life.” Zondervan
Many opportunities await us at The Grove Church in 2013. Perhaps God is calling you to find your treasure?