“Using our Spiritual Gifts”
This coming Sunday will be a big day at Shellman Bluff Baptist Church. We will welcome our first ever associate pastor, Steven Jacobs, and his family to our church. Pastor Steven will have responsibilities over our youth and children’s programs, as well as our men’s ministry and the old “line 13,” other duties as assigned.
As I mentioned earlier, he will be the first ever full-time associate pastor to serve at Shellman Bluff Baptist. I am truly excited to be able to share the work. I believe that we are following the instructions Paul gave in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Paul made it clear that Timothy was not to do all of the work. He was to train others to serve, and then give them the responsibility and the opportunity.
One of the greatest tragedies in many churches today is that the pastor is expected to do almost all of the work of ministry. Sometimes the pastor himself has this mentality, unwilling to share the responsibility, perhaps thinking he is the only one qualified for the work. At other times, the members of the church allow the pastor to do the work simply thinking, “Well, that’s why we pay him.”
Paul also wrote to the Ephesian church that the pastor’s job was, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:12). This verse is found in the midst of one of the lists of the spiritual gifts. Paul’s point was clear. God has gifted all of His children, and we all are to use our gifts to build the church. God doesn’t need us. But He has still chosen to use us for His glory.
I pray that you will find your place in your church (if you don’t have one you need one), and that you will utilize the gifts God gave you to help your church accomplish its mission. It will be a blessing to your church and your pastor. It will also be a blessing to you.
