God builds community through spiritual gifts

As the body of Christ, we must learn to understand each person’s giftedness from the Spirit of God. Each person in a community should understand the various roles, functions, and works of the body, and how every individual works within that framework, coordinated and networked within the body to accomplish the overall purposes of the community. We must remember that God has gifted His church for her own well being and growth. Sadly, many do not recognize their gifts in the body of Christ, nor do they know what their role is in the body. We might begin by studying together the purpose of the church in light of the gospel, and evaluating the various gifts of each body part within the realm of that purpose. In doing so, we learn to appreciate the unity that is inherent in the diversity of a community.

After discovering one’s gifts, and identifying their role in the community, each one must be taught how and where to administer their gifts and carry out their role within the community, again in light of the gospel’s objectives. In other words, what gifts are used in the context of healing, or serving, etc? What gifts empower someone to teach and encourage others to grow spiritually? How do we bring people to Christ-likeness with the diverse gifts found in a community? Opportunities to minister are sometimes obvious, but at other times, the leadership of the community may work together to create and develop opportunities that will encourage members in ministries utilizing their gifts. When people know who they are, what they are supposed to do, and when they are provided the opportunity to do it, community is enhanced.

Early Christians recognized that not only was community enhanced by using their spiritual gifts in fulfilling their ministries, but that this would likely take place in the context of their being together. Although Christianity evolved over three or four centuries away from the house church model, this model did create an environment for developing community. Unfortunately, quite often the church of today is together only in the context of a worship assembly, and one in which very few are able or allowed to exercise their gifts for the edification of the body. Community may be enhanced to a greater degree if congregations would develop smaller house church type groups that meet during times other than the corporate assembly. Such groups provide opportunities for fellowship that corporate assemblies do not. Such small groups could share a fellowship (common) meal together, discuss what the Lord is doing in their lives, study the word of God, pray together, and edify one another by expressing their gifts. For example, those with the gift of hospitality may affectionately serve those present, making them feel accepted and comfortable. Those with the gift of service can interact with the group to ascertain anyone’s specific needs that may be attended to. Those with the gift of encouraging may find opportunity in a context of sharing to use their gift to edify someone struggling with a problem. There are certainly more ways that sharing gifts to the edification of others might take place in small groups. Each group should be creative in developing both the gifts and opportunities to use them.