When I look around ORBC, I see so many talented and passionate people and the ministries they pour themselves in to every week. I have to say it is an exciting time and season for our church and it is a joy to take part in what God is doing. One thing that I have been thinking over as we came out of our big ministry push this past fall was, what is the best way to discover one’s own shape for ministry and then be able to find their place to best serve? After all, we are the body of Christ and each part has a specific part in the whole so it should be obvious to just find that fit and see God work through them within that context and their unique shape. Well, here’s what is apparent and what I see as the challenge: there are some to whom that fit is so clear, but then there are also those who need to take a more in investigative look to find out where it is they need to serve.
So, one of the best ways to find out where best to serve is Class 201 where you can find your SHAPE for ministry. But wait…you may ask, “What if I can see myself doing a number of things but I really want to do ‘this’ but I’m just not good enough yet or it’s all I really want to do?" Singing or playing an instrument on stage every week is an easy example of this scenario, but there are many others. I believe that looking to Scripture is a good place to start. It is the best way to discover what your next step could be, while making sure you are in line with where God is working in your heart and within the context of being a member of the church body.
Look at 1 Corinthians 12:12-22: The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable (crucial), and the parts that we think are less honorable WE treat with special honor.
It is interesting how scripture gives special honor to those parts that seem to be weaker in verse 22.
Since we are all walking this path to better know our shape within ORBC I believe there is great wisdom in scripture to be found as you seek out what is the next step for you in serving or if you are still searching for that right "fit". As we prep for this coming week ask yourself these two questions: “What does the body of Christ look like?” and “What is my best fit as it pertains to God’s definition of the body of Christ?” We will begin to unpack some of the great principles within these verses as a part of our discussion in Thursday’s devotion as a worship ministry. See everyone Thursday evening!
