What is my purpose?
What Does It Mean to Be a Unified Church with Purpose?
In a world that seems increasingly divided, the church stands as a beacon of unity. But what does it truly mean to be a unified church? It's not just about coming together on Sunday mornings or agreeing on everything. True unity in the church means being one people with one purpose - using our unique gifts to serve God's mission together.
How Does Grace Save and Engage Us?
Grace Isn't Just for Salvation
Many Christians understand that salvation comes by grace - we receive God's gift of eternal life that we could never earn. But Ephesians 4:7 reveals something profound: "Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." This grace doesn't stop at salvation; it extends into service.
The passage paints a picture of Jesus as a conquering king who descended to earth, won the battles we couldn't win, and then ascended back to heaven. Like ancient kings who would distribute their conquered treasures to their people, Jesus shares His victory with us. But this gift isn't just about getting into heaven - it's about joining His ongoing mission on earth.
Why We Feel Unworthy to Serve
Many believers struggle with feelings of unworthiness when it comes to serving. We think, "I'm just a sinner like everyone else. How can I serve in ministry?" But this is exactly why serving is also a grace. Jesus knows we don't deserve to stand beside Him in accomplishing His work, yet He invites us anyway.
This serving grace means Jesus gives us spiritual abilities we haven't earned to join His spirit-powered work in the world. It's not about our worthiness - it's about His generosity.
What Are Spiritual Gifts and How Do I Find Mine?
Understanding Spiritual Gifts
A spiritual gift is a spiritual ability given to spirit-filled people to join Jesus in His spirit-powered work in this world. These aren't just natural talents or skills you've developed. They're supernatural abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to believers to advance God's kingdom.
The Bible mentions various spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, including faith, discernment, hospitality, generosity, administration, and leadership. Each believer receives at least one spiritual gift, and discovering yours is crucial for effective service.
Discovering Your Spiritual Gift
If you're unsure about your spiritual gift, take time to prayerfully assess where God has equipped you. Many churches offer spiritual gift assessments that can help identify your unique abilities. The key is understanding that you have been gifted for a purpose - not for personal recognition, but to serve others and advance God's kingdom.
How Does the Church Grow When Everyone Engages?
Leaders Are Gifts from Jesus
Ephesians 4:11 tells us that Jesus "gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers." Notice the language - leaders are gifts that Jesus gives to the church. Godly leadership isn't about power or control; it's about serving the body of Christ.
Faithful church leaders have four key responsibilities:
Follow Jesus first and foremost
Teach God's Word faithfully
Lead and shepherd the people
Equip others to serve and lead
Leaders who stray from these responsibilities become dangerous to the church rather than gifts to it.
Saints Are Gifts to One Another
In biblical terms, "saints" refers to all believers, not just a select few. Every Christian is called to be a gift to their church family. The early church discovered that when only leaders did all the work, growth was limited. But when every believer engaged their gifts, the church exploded with growth and influence.
The job description for saints includes:
Following Jesus
Maturing in God's Word
Serving one another
Growing in love
What Happens When Everyone Uses Their Gifts?
The Body Builds Itself Up in Love
Ephesians 4:16 describes what happens when every part of the body works properly: "the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Notice the goal isn't primarily numerical growth, though that often follows. The primary goal is growing in love - love for Jesus, love for one another, and love for the world around us.
Reimagining Church
What if church wasn't just a place you attended but a community where you actively contributed? Imagine a church where:
Every believer knows they're called and gifted
Needs are met because everyone brings their gifts to the table
Children see their parents serving and learn to serve others
The community takes notice of how believers care for one another
People don't wait for the government to solve problems but step up to meet needs
This isn't just an idealistic dream - it's the church Jesus envisioned and called us to become.
Life Application
This week, take two concrete steps toward engaging your spiritual gifts in your church community. First, if you don't know your spiritual gift, spend 20 minutes taking a spiritual gift assessment through prayer and reflection. Second, look for one specific way you can serve others in your church family, whether through an official ministry role or simply by caring for someone in need.
Ask yourself these questions:
Am I viewing my salvation as both a gift to receive and a calling to serve?
What unique abilities has God given me that I could use to serve others?
How can I move from being someone who just attends church to someone who actively builds up the body of Christ?
What would change in my church community if every believer, including me, fully engaged their spiritual gifts?
The church grows not when a few people do everything, but when every believer understands their calling and contributes their unique gifts to God's unified purpose. Your gifts matter, your service matters, and your church family needs what you have to offer.
