Here's a seminar by Gary DeLashmutt, on of the lead pastors at Xenos.
Assumptions
* Home Group multiplication is central to the healthy growth of the church.
* Spiritual gifts are an important resource for healthy church growth (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12:14; Eph 4:1; 1 Pet 4)
It is easy and costly to over-emphasize or under-emphasize spiritual gifts in our ministry philosophy.
DON’T structure the church around programs, and urge people to use their gifts primarily in these programs. The boomer mega-church model is a program model. This approach is based more on the modern corporate business model than on the New Testament.
DO structure the church around home groups, and urge people to use spiritual gifts primarily to help their home groups grow and multiply. 1 Cor 14:26 – What shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation..... Not possible to do this in a large gathering.
DON’T focus people on discovering their spiritual gifts. New Testament neither commands Christians to do this, nor does it tell us how to do this. This is a misguided focus.
DO focus people on embracing a lifestyle of serving love-and affirm spiritual gifts as one expression of this lifestyle. This is both the emphasis of the NT and the context of all NT teaching on gifts. Become others focused and you will discover your gifts.
DON’T promote spiritual gifts as an alternative to/substitute for evangelism, loving one another, and discipleship. These 3 ministries are central to the NT – and crucial for home group multiplication. People avoid living out the basic Christian life by saying things like, “I’m not gifted in evangelism, admonishing others, discipling, etc” or “I like to serve in ways that make me feel excited, confident, etc.” We think our gifts need to make us feel good. In reality, we specialize as a supplement to the basic things all Christians are commanded to do. “The biblical doctrine of gifts is being greatly abused today because it is not being considered alongside the biblical doctrine of the cross” – Ajith Fernando
DO promote spiritual gifts to supplement and enhance evangelism, loving one another, and discipleship. These gifts are special competency that give us special opportunities to build the body. Gifts are built on the baseline – over and above that required for all Christians. If we really like about 20% of the work we do, and generally find about 40% acceptable, then we can handle the 40% we do not like that might be vital in giving relevance and depth to our ministry. Look for ways people can use their gifts evangelistically – building up and growth of the church (qualitative and quantitative). Look for potential gifting in the people you disciple.
DON’T prioritize spiritual gifts over character and a servant lifestyle in home group leader requirements. Deacon requirements make no reference to gifting (1Tim 3). Don’t be deceived by results at the expense of servant character.
DO urge home group leaders to use their spiritual gifts in their leadership. (1 Tim 4:14, 2 Tim 1:6,7) Using gifts helps us overcome timidity. Step out and use them and you will have greater confidence, greater power, greater self-control and greater love. This will unleash God’s power into the home group. This will complement their other leaders. This will help leaders serve in other areas with greater energy and confidence. Gifting seems to work in teams. When we are gifted in certain areas we see needs in that area. A team helps to see what we need to do in many areas. The best leadership teams have people with different giftings.
DON’T try to fit every spiritual gift into a biblical label. The NT gift-lists are not exhaustive. Great diversity of gifts, gift mixes and degrees of gifting. Some NT gifts are ambiguous (eg. word of knowledge). And who cares!
DO draw people’s attention to where you see evidence of ministry talent and urge them to use it consistently. Don’t worry about what to call it.
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