Soulbridge Retreat

“Success literature” refers to how-to-be-successful books and articles. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Think and Grow Rich! How to Win Friends and Influence People. Who Moved My Cheese? It’s a popular topic! Do a search on Amazon for books with the keyword “success” and you’ll have to plow through a list of 384,515. Yes, that’s right – six figures, and that number is going up by the day.

Some success literature is based on good psychological principles and can be helpful, so I’m not knocking the entire genre. But success literature cannot be a primary tool of transformation for the Christian. Why? Because classic success literature starts in the middle with the wrong theme.

Their primary theme is: “What you do.” What you do to make money… to be healthy… to be loved… to be respected… to be promoted… to matter.

Some character-driven success literature has a better start by beginning with character, the “Who you are” question. Steven Covey’s classic “7 Habits” material falls into this category. This literature starts with “Who you are,” positing that character informs and develops “What you do.” They’re right as far as it goes.

But for Christians, our “success literature” always start with the Bible and its central them: “Who God is.” When we know God – when we love Christ and accept Him as our savior – then we know “Who we are” and then “What we do.”

Everything good and healthy springs from our relationship to God.

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and then all of these things will be added until you.” (Mt. 6:33)

When we know Him we will grow in Him and develop His characteristics, such as faith, hope and love and the fruits of the Spirit.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13)

And when we love and serve God, and our character is changing to reflect His, that is when we can hear and do His will. We will know His purpose for our lives.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11).

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Just like everyone else in the world, Christians are busy with work, family, church, sports, hobbies, you name it. But all too often our busyness lacks a sense of God’s leading and will. We want to know God’s plan for our lives, but we secretly (or not so secretly!) think our dreams and desires don’t matter to Him.

But they do.

But God has a plan for your life. And that plan includes what you want to do. It includes the deepest desires of your heart. Sometimes we express these desires in ways that don’t help fulfill them. Just because you’re longing for a bigger house doesn’t mean that’s your deep desire. Your deep desire may be a need for inner space, for order, for beauty. That’s the desire God knows and wants to fulfill.

That’s not to say that a bigger house isn’t something you need! When we brought our new baby home to a tiny two-bedroom house, I knew what we needed! So did God, and He provided for us.

But the main focus is the deep desires, the good desires, the true desires of your heart. That’s what God works to fulfill in you, and what He wants your help to do. God’s Word has a lot to say about that kind of desire:

May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. (Psalm 20:4)

You [God] have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. (Psalm 21:2)

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16)

[God] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Ps. 103:5)

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:19)

These are the deep desires that God truly honors:

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)

Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Psalm 73:25)

They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:30)

She [wisdom] is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 3:15)

The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. (Proverbs 11:23)

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Proverbs 13:4)

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. (Isaiah 26:8)

But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. (2 Corinthians 8:10)

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1)

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. (Hebrews 13:18)

Believe me, I am a world-class procrastinator. Just as it’s important to me to work hard (and pray hard!) at stopping this behavior, it’s important that you do too. Unlike money, the time we spend can never be recovered. It’s vitally important to use and manage our time wisely.

Procrastination is a huge time waster. When we continue to procrastinate, a lot oo our purpose goes unrealized. This is a tragedy!

It can be hard to break procrastination because it is a behavior learned early in life and is hard wired into our subconscious mind. But it can be done. To break the habit of procrastination, start doing a task at hand immediately. When there is something that needs to be done, start doing it right away. Do not wait until you are “in the mood” for doing it…that time will most likely never come.

Starting to do things immediately will effectively break the old habit of procrastination. You can start with the easy tasks and finish these first. Once the easy tasks are out of the way, you will start to feel good about your accomplishments and this will spark your mood to do more.

Don’t aim for perfection when doing the task at hand. Perfection is God’s job. What matters most is getting started and then you can gain momentum to finish the bigger jobs ahead. Always pursuing perfection is a waste of your time and effort.

Write down your plan. It is very effective to have a daily plan because you can see which things are most important and which need to be addressed immediately. By writing down your plan, you can be more productive and actually save time by not doing the unnecessary and/or less important tasks.

And be sure when writing down your plan to make a schedule of what you will be doing for the entire day. This should include all the activities that you will do from the beginning to the end of the day.

Finally, set a deadline for your planned activities, making sure that you can finish the job at hand within the established time frame. Don’t let a few small failures along the way derail your plan. Put procrastination where it belongs…under your feet!

Question: What is your most important goal setting activity?

Answer: Your friendship with God!

In terms of pure goal setting, Christian goal setting shares the same techniques as secular goal setting. There is nothing wrong with that: Christians don’t operate their cars differently from non-Christians, they order off menus the same way, and they take the same medicines when they’re sick. Goal setting, like cars, restaurants and health, simply works along similar lines. But Christian goal setting is a great deal more than simply meeting objectives, because as Christians we set our goals within the context of 1) our relationship with the Risen Christ and 2) our God-given life purpose.

I am firmly in the “once saved, always saved” camp. I believe that at the moment of conversion, dramatic or not, you are a changed creature and the grace of God covers and saves you. But living out your salvation and growing in Christ take continued effort – just like any good thing does.

There are several vital practices that maintain and grow your relationship with God. I would argue that prayer, Bible study and corporate worship are the top three. Obedience is important too and so is living as righteous a life as you can muster. Other things are important depending on the individual: creativity and imagination, giving and generosity, living the spiritual gifts and cultivating the fruits of the Spirit.

I have found one method of prayer in particular to be absolutely crucial to my Christian growth. The type of prayer dates back to the early church and uses the imagination to reach deeply into our hearts and minds. This type of prayer allows Christ to touch us at our deepest levels. I call this “imaging prayer.”

We could talk about the Biblical word “plan” for goals and the planning that goes into them. Plans themselves can be blessed or not. God has plans and so do people. God blesses righteous plans and blasts away ones that aren’t so righteous! Above all, plans are subject to the will of God.

Is goal setting and planning even Biblical? You bet! God gives people plans:

[King David] gave [Solomon] the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. (1 Chronicles 28:12)

Don’t discount goal planning as being “worldly!” Not unless you want to discount God too. But there are evil plans in this world and plans that are opposite to His will and moral will. These he will frustrate.

He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. (Job 5:12)

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. (Psalms 33:10)

“Crafty” means the schemers, the no-good-doers, the plotters. The nations get into the act too. God works both on the individual and global planes of the world; He is sovereign! And he warns those who plot in the darkness and who plan apart from his known will.

Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” (Isaiah 29:15)

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin…” (Isaiah 30:1)

Did I mention not making evil plans? Goal planning for unethical means is bad. So is planning goals that take you right out of the mainstream of God’s will for your life. Now be careful here God’s river is big and wide. I don’t believe in a one-choice-or-you’re-out narrow view of God’s will for you. I believe that for the Christian, there are many paths to many good outcomes and God is there on all of them. But there is a general direction and flow to the outcomes and we can observe it if we care to.

So goals and plans can be good things!

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. (Psalms 20:4)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

And God has his sovereign plan! Planning and goal setting is a fine thing. But subject everything to the Lord’s guidance.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:11)

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

Biblical Advice about Plans

I love the book of Proverbs. Along with great advice for faith, business and life, comes this counsel about planning:

1. Don’t plan in a vacuum, but run your plans and goals past other people. You don’t want to do this with every goal and at every stage in the game, but you should with big and important plans. Especially if they impact other people.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

1. Pray, pray some more, and then pray again! Surround your goals and plans with prayer and ask the Lord to bless you in their doing.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

1. Ask God for wisdom as you plan and set goals. Involve him every step of the way as you go along and chart your progress. Don’t be afraid to make mid-course corrections as necessary.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

1. Don’t forget the action part of planning! None of your work and thought will make a smidgen of difference if you don’t actually do something.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

1. Planning isn’t only all right to do, it’s positively wonderful!

But the noble person makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands. (Isaiah 32:8)

• Is God calling me to set goals?
• How can I be sure my goals are in His will?
• Pick an important goal and break it down into dates and objectives.
• Present your plan to God – He will help you carry it out.

Don’t you want to lead a gifted life, where you know God is in control and that you’re using all your gifts and talents to the good of the kingdom and for your own great blessing? There is a way to make that happen. I call this process “Guidance, Gifts and Goals.”

Guidance

1. Seek guidance from God. God doesn’t usually send down road signs (although He can!). Finding His will is more often a matter of being in relationship with Him. That happens through prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship. The more we do these things, the more allied we are with the Holy Spirit.
2. Journal the process. You can often see road maps here, ways God has been working and lessons learned.
3. Learn to trust His timing.

Gifts

1. Learn what your values are, because they are the deepest desires of your heart. God wants to grant those.
2. Learn what your spiritual gifts are, supernatural skills that God grants us in response to specific needs in the world.
3. Learn what your natural talents are by telling your life story. Concentrate on developing them even more to God’s glory.

Goals

Once you are sensitive to God’s guidance and know your values, spiritual gifts and natural talents, put them into action by setting goals!

1. First ask God for wisdom. He’ll give it.
2. Imagine what your life would look like if you were living out of this deep place: living out your best and highest gifts, talents, skills; living out your deepest values.
3. Give these over to God. Vision your life the way it would be if your were in relationship with Him and are living out of your deepest values and giftedness.
4. Then set long-term goals (1-20 years and beyond!), mid-term goals (1 month to 1 year) and supporting short-term goals. Pray over them and watch your life change!

Helping people to identify their spiritual gifts is wonderful, but sometimes they don’t know where to go from there. Give them solid suggestions on possible avenues for operating their spiritual gifts.

Whether your church is large, small or in-between, below are some ideas on where an individual’s spiritual gifts might fit within the life of the church.

Administration

Building and maintaining the church’s structure to encourage vital ministries. From the Greek work kubernesis, it refers to a ship’s pilot, guiding the ship expertly along its course. You can also think of it as divinely-inspired project management.

• Church retreat
• Children’s ministry
• Library
• Most committees
• Office volunteer
• Special projects
• Usher
• Website
• Vacation Bible school

Apostle

A church leader, teacher and evangelizer, planting and building up multiple churches. The difference between an apostle and an evangelizer is that the apostle is planting churches in addition to bringing individuals to Christ.

• Missions, long-term or short-term
• Church planting

Creativity / Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship and related gifts. All of us are born creative, but some people are extraordinarily gifted by God to use their creative talents in the church, such as writing, music, visual arts, and dance.

• Children’s ministry
• Drama
• Flowers and church beautification
• Special events
• Vacation Bible School
• Web site
• Worship ministry teams

Discernment

Sensing the nature of a spiritual teaching, theology, doctrine or plan, understanding whether it’s from God, human or even demonic forces. Discerners help the church hear the “still, small voice of God.”

• Counseling
• Nominating Committee
• Recruitment
• Session

Evangelist

Bringing the message of God’s love and mercy, of Christ crucified and resurrected. Some evangelists work in public such as Billy Graham, but many gifted evangelists work quietly within their own families, workplaces and communities to share the good news of Christ.

• Adult education and groups
• Evangelistic small groups
• Missions
• Children’s ministries
• Visitation

Exhortation

Encouraging and uplifting others. Like some other subtle gifts, such as helps and mercy, some gifted exhorters don’t realize they’re using a spiritual gift at all; it comes so naturally to them. But they certainly are, and it is a great gift to others in a critical, competitive world.

• Adult, young adult or children’s ministries
• Discipling
• Visitation
• Music ministries
• Publicity and promotion
• Small groups
• Phoning
• Writing

Exorcism

Locating and casting out demons and spiritual forces. Some Christians exercise this gift on a steady basis, often on the mission field. Many more Christians may experience the gift only once or twice in the Italian Renaissance lives, in response to a particular situation. It’s not a pleasant experience, but it is incredible to witness the unmasked, shining power of God in the face of retreating evil.

• Deliverance ministries
• Counseling

Faith

Supernaturally strong faith response to specific situations. All Christians are called to have faith, but faith as a spiritual gift is given in response to specific situations of great need. These may include a deep need for healing, support during sorrow and crisis, and spiritual warfare.

• Lay leader
• Missions
• Prayer meetings and ministries
• Visitation

Giving

Special delight in giving generously of time, money, and talents. All Christians are called to tithe in all these ways, but those with the spiritual gift of giving are high stewards of the resources of the Kingdom.

• Helping with financial needs
• Finance committees
• Missionary support
• Special beyond-budget needs

Healing

The ability to heal the body, mind and heart through the leading of the Holy Spirit. The plural form, “healings,” is the meaning of the Greek work iamaton: not only physical healing, but spiritual, emotional, and intellectual healing as well.

• Hospital visitation
• Worship
• Intercessory prayer for healing

Helps

Gladly investing time, money, and energy in service to the church and its ministries, providing an environment where other gifts can flourish. This ability is a very important one for the life of the church.

• Church retreat
• Staff assistant
• Visitation
• Office volunteer
• Personal support of pastors

Hospitality

Welcoming friends and strangers to one’s home, and to the church. People with the gift of hospitality have an air of welcome and inclusiveness about them that make others feel instantly comfortable.

• Church retreat
• Home-based entertaining
• Funeral meals
• Greeter
• Host visiting missionaries
• New members’ class
• Small group host
• Ushers

Intercession

Very effective, regular intercession. All Christians are called to deep lives of prayer, and to hold each other up in prayer to God. But those with this gift are fervent and persistent, and keep bringing the matter before the Lord until it’s resolved in some way.

• Prayer Chain
• Prayer Meetings

Interpretation

Interpreting a message spoken in tongues. When the gift of tongues is used publicly, the person with the gift of interpretation shares its meaning with listeners.

• Worship leader
• Prayer meetings

Knowledge

Intuitive understanding of the gnosis, universal truths relating to God, His will and to His church. Those gifted with knowledge can communicate it to others, making it come alive to their listeners.

• Adult classes and groups
• Children’s ministry
• Lay leader
• Library
• Planning committees
• Small Group Leader
• Student Ministries

Leadership

One who leads, guides, or directs. A true Christian leader doesn’t always make a good follower! However, they are able to motivate others, and to help them develop their own gifts. People with the spiritual gift of leadership often have the gift of faith as well.

• Ministry coordinator
• Lay leader
• Most committees
• Organizing special projects
• Small groups leader
• Bible School coordinator
• Worship leader

Martyrdom

Losing one’s life, reputation, relationships, or livelihood for Christ, as Christians in the east can attest. Martyrdom can also take the form of voluntary self-denial including long periods of prayer, fasting, and denying certain physical pleasures for spiritual gain. Like leaders, martyrs often have the gift of faith as well.

• Missions
• Intercessory prayer
• Healing ministries

Mercies

Highly compassionate, reflecting the love of Christ for the suffering. Christians with the gift of mercy can communicate divine love to those who desperately need it. Many people with this gift also have the gift of intercessory prayer.

• Congregational care
• Funerals
• Prayer meetings and ministries
• Community action committee
• Visitation

Miracles

Miraculous events breaking through into the world through gifted individuals. Often people with the gift of miracles do not know when their gift will operate, but they stay open to the leading of God. It is important for people with this gift to separate the gift of faith, which they probably also have, from human expectations. Sometimes God chooses to work through miracles. Sometimes He does not.

• Prayer groups
• Community action groups

Music

Using the beauty of music to bring people closer to God. Musical gifts include singing, instrumentals, and the ability to lead choirs, praise teams, fellowships, and congregations in song.

• Choir
• Worship team
• Instrumental
• Music ministries
• Worship tech team

Missionary

The ability to go outside of one’s own culture and to love and adapt to a different culture for Jesus’ sake. The person with the missionary gift radiates the love of Christ in the culture to which they are called.

• Missions
• Prayer groups
• International students
• Ministry to foreign visitors

Pastor

Reflecting Jesus as the Good Shepherd, caring for and nurturing the church. The person with the gift of pastoring may or may not be ordained, since pastors not only operate as ministers and priests, but work also in small groups and Christian organizations. Pastoral elders see to the multiple spiritual needs of the congregation or group, including maintaining community, bringing peace, and encouraging the discovery and use of spiritual gifts.

• Adult education and groups
• Spiritual gifts ministries
• Young adult ministries
• Congregational care
• Small group leader
• Student ministries

Peacemaker

Peacemakers mediate between parties in conflict, bringing the “peace that passes all understanding” to warring Christians.

• Counseling
• Personnel committee

Prophecy

An extraordinary ability to instruct and guide the church in spiritual and moral matters. The person with the gift of prophecy acts as a mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit, saying to others what God is clearly commanding him or her to say. Sometimes prophecy includes foretelling.

• Lay leader
• Adult education and groups
• Music
• Community action committee
• Writing

Service

Gladly investing time, money, and energy in service to the church and its ministries, providing an environment where other gifts can flourish. This ability is a very important one for the life of the church.

• Adult education and groups
• Retreats
• Audio-visual ministries
• Children’s / young adults ministry
• Coffee time / food service
• Congregational care / visitation
• Flowers and church beautification
• Funerals
• Library
• Committees
• Office volunteer
• Publicity and promotion
• Sermon tapes/ transcripts
• Transportation
• Ushers
• Web site
• Worship ministry teams

Singleness

The gift of remaining single in order to devote their extra time to ministry. People with the gift specifically use their time and energy in serve to the church, and would rather be single and celibate than married.

• Time and energy to use additional gifts

Teaching

The ability to deeply study and understand the Bible, and to make it come alive to other Christians. Many churches with education programs ask members to teach based on their expertise or speaking ability, but neither of these things guarantees the spiritual gift of teaching.

• Adult education and groups
• Church retreats
• Children’s Sunday school
• Children’s worship
• Young adult ministries
• Drama
• Student ministries
• Church camp

Tongues

Prayer-praise language, also the ability to witness in foreign languages that one hasn’t learned. The book of Acts seems to point to both manifestations. When tongues are used in public, it should be combined with the gift of interpretation.

• Prayer groups
• Healing ministries

Voluntary poverty

A radical gift that allows Christians to live an extremely simple lifestyle to illustrate the self-emptying of Christ, to identify with the world’s poor, and to reject the evil of materialism. This gift is often combined with the gift of mission.

• Community action groups
• Intercessory prayer
• Writing
• Teaching

A practical application of God-given knowledge to concrete situations. The Christian with this gift knows how to help suffering people and situations with practical solutions modeled on the word and will of God.

• Lay leader
• Most committees
• Nominating committee

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4)

Natural talents are gifts that are born with us. They include such things as artistic, musical and mathematical talents, or talents for public speaking, dancing, construction, or athletics. Skills such as these will always come more naturally to those who are talented, though they are possible for people who lack inborn talent in a certain area to develop some basic skills in that area.

Spiritual gifts are sets of supernatural skills that God gives Christians for the sake of witnessing in the world, and strengthening each other and the church as the Body of Christ. Natural talents are not spiritual gifts, although God often integrates the two. An exciting part of being a Christian is discovering and using your spiritual gifts.

Gift Principles

Charles V. Bryant’s book Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts lists five primary principles around spiritual gifts:

• God-given. Although we may want and pray for certain gifts Paul certainly thinks we should - we can’t demand them. Every gift is chosen and tailored by God to the individual.
• Universal. All Christians are given spiritual gifts. Sometimes people don’t know their gifts, but that may be because their gift feels so natural to them they don’t recognize it for what it is!
• Service. Their gifts are used to serve God in the church and to help the church reach out to the unsaved.
• Church health. As both ministers and lay personal use their gifts, the church is reborn into health and spiritual power.
• Variety. There are many gifts, more than the ones listed in the Bible. God designs and combines gifts for each individual Christian’s talents, purpose, and values.

Gifts

There is an infinite variety of gift expressions, depending on the nature of the gift itself, the Christian’s personality and natural gifts, the environment, the needs the gift is to fulfill, and more. But we can find a number of specific gifts mentioned in the Bible.

Administration (1 Cor. 12:38)
Building and maintaining the church’s structure to encourage vital ministries. From the Greek work kubernesis, it refers to a ship’s pilot guiding the ship expertly along its course. You can also think of it as divinely-inspired project management.

Apostle (Eph. 4:11)
A church leader, teacher and evangelizer, planting and building up multiple churches. The difference between an apostle and an evangelizer is that the apostle is planting churches in addition to bringing individuals to Christ.

Creativity and the Arts (Ex. 35:30-35)
Visual and dramatic arts, writing, music, and related gifts. All of us are born creative, but some people are extraordinarily gifted by God to use their creativity in the church.

Discernment (1 Cor. 12:10)
Sensing the nature of a spiritual teaching, theology, doctrine or plan, understanding whether it’s from God, human or even demonic forces. Discerners help the church hear the “still, small voice of God.”

Evangelism (Eph. 4:11)
Bringing the message of God’s love and mercy, of Christ crucified and resurrected. Some evangelists work in public such as Billy Graham, but many gifted evangelists work quietly within their own families, workplaces and communities to share the good news of Christ.

Exhortation (Rom. 12:8)
Encouraging and uplifting others. Like other subtle gifts such as service and mercy, some gifted exhorters don’t realize they’re using a spiritual gift at all since encouragement comes so naturally to them. But they certainly are, and it is a great gift to others in a critical and competitive world.

Exorcism (Luke 9:1)
Locating and casting out demons and spiritual forces. Some Christians exercise this gift on a steady basis, particularly on the mission field in third world countries. Many more Christians may experience the gift only once or twice in their lives in response to a particular situation. It’s not a pleasant experience, but it is incredible to witness the unmasked, shining power of God in the face of cowering evil.

Faith (1 Cor. 12:9)
Supernaturally strong faith response to specific situations. All Christians are called to have faith, but faith as a spiritual gift is given in response to specific situations of great need. These may include a deep need for healing, support during sorrow and crisis, and spiritual warfare.

Giving (Rom. 12:8)
Special delight in giving generously of time, money, and talents. All Christians are called to give in all these ways, but those with the spiritual gift of giving are gifted stewards of the resources of the Kingdom.

Healing (1 Cor. 12:9)
The ability to heal the body, mind and heart through the leading of the Holy Spirit. The plural form, “healings,” is the meaning of the Greek work iamaton: not only physical healing, but spiritual, emotional, and intellectual healing as well.

Hospitality (Rom. 2:13)
Welcoming friends and strangers to one’s home and to the church. People with the gift of hospitality have an air of welcome and inclusiveness about them that make others feel instantly comfortable.

Intercessory Prayer (Heb. 7:25)
Very effective regular intercession. All Christians are called to hold each other up in prayer to God. But those with this gift are fervent and persistent, and keep bringing the matter before the Lord until it’s resolved in some way.

Interpretation (1 Cor. 12:10)
Interpreting a message spoken in tongues. When the gift of tongues is used publicly, the person with the gift of interpretation shares its meaning with listeners.

Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8)
Intuitive understanding of the gnosis, universal truths relating to God, His will and to His church. Those gifted with knowledge can communicate it to others, making it come alive to their listeners.

Leadership (Rom. 12:8)
One who leads, guides, or directs. A true Christian leader is able to motivate others and to help them develop their own gifts. People with the spiritual gift of leadership often have the gift of faith as well.

Martyrdom (1 Cor. 13:3)
Losing one’s life, reputation, relationships, or livelihood for Christ, as Christians in the east can attest. Martyrdom can also take the form of voluntary self-denial including long periods of prayer, fasting, and denying certain physical pleasures for spiritual gain. Like leaders, martyrs often have the gift of faith as well.

Mercies (Mt. 5:7)
Highly compassionate, reflecting the love of Christ for the suffering. Christians with the gift of mercy can communicate divine love to those who desperately need it. Many people with this gift also have the gift of intercessory prayer.

Miracles (1 Cor. 12:30)
Miraculous events breaking through into the world through gifted individuals. Often people with the gift of miracles do not know when their gift will operate, but they stay open to the leading of God. It is important for people with this gift to separate the gift of faith, which they probably also have, from human expectations. (Sometimes God chooses to work through miracles. Sometimes He does not.)

Missionary (Mt. 28:19)
The ability to go outside of one’s own culture and to love and adapt to a different culture for Jesus’ sake. The person with the missionary gift radiates the love of Christ in the culture to which they are called.

Pastor (Eph. 4:11)
Reflecting Jesus as the Good Shepherd, caring for and nurturing the church. The person with the gift of pastoring may or may not be ordained, since pastors not only operate as ministers and priests but also work in small groups and Christian organizations. Pastoral elders see to the multiple spiritual needs of the congregation or group, including maintaining community, bringing peace, and encouraging the discovery and use of spiritual gifts.

Prophecy (Rom. 12:6)
An extraordinary ability to instruct and guide in spiritual and moral matters. The person with the gift of prophecy acts as a mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit, saying to others what God is clearly commanding him or her to say. Sometimes prophecy includes foretelling.

Singleness (1 Cor. 7:32-33)
The gift of remaining single in order to devote extra time to ministry. People with this gift specifically use their extra time and energy for ministry and would rather be single and celibate than married. Sometimes God grants this gift for a time and a season, and withdraws it as He brings a partner into a person’s life.

Service (1 Cor. 12:28)
Gladly investing time, money, and energy in service to the church and its ministries, providing an environment where other gifts can flourish. This ability is a very important one for the life of the church.

Teaching (Rom. 12:7)
The ability to deeply study and understand the Bible and make it come alive to other Christians. Many churches with education programs ask members to teach based on their expertise or speaking ability, but neither of these skills guarantees the spiritual gift of teaching.

Tongues (1 Cor. 12:10)
Prayer-praise language, also the ability to witness in foreign languages that one does not know. The book of Acts seems to point to both manifestations. When tongues are used aloud in public, the gift should be combined with the gift of interpretation.

Voluntary Poverty
A radical gift that allows Christians to live an extremely simple lifestyle to illustrate the self-emptying of Christ, to identify with the world’s poor, and to reject the evil of materialism. This gift is often combined with the gift of mission.

Wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8)
A practical application of God-given knowledge to concrete situations. The Christian with this gift knows how to help suffering or divided people and situations with practical solutions modeled on the word and will of God.

With thanks to Fr. Luke Dysinger

How to do Individual Lectio

Reading. Prayerfully and slowly read the Bible until a word, phrase or verse speaks strongly to you. Silently repeat the word or phrase that attracts you. Don’t try to do Biblical interpretation: just quietly and peacefully repeat the passage to yourself.

Meditation. Once you have gently memorized your word or phrase, ask “How does this word touch me? How does it touch what is going on in my life?” You can also enter imaging prayer (prayerful imagination) to see where the word takes you.

Prayer. As answers or images begin to come to you, reflect on what God is telling you. Ask God to reveal to you what action you should take to honor the word.

Contemplation. Relax into God. Just be quiet and still for a few minutes and know that He is with you and surrounding you with his love.

How to Do Lectio in a Group

Lectio can also be done in a group setting. The group should not be more than eight or there will not be enough time to share. One method of doing group lectio comes from St. Andrews Abbey in Valyermo, CA, and is based on the work of Fr. Luke Dyson and Doug and Norvene Vest. In this method, one or more readers read the same text from the Scriptures three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share her or his lectio. Here is an example of how it works:

1. One person reads the Bible passage aloud and then repeats it. The passage should not be a long one; a few verses or a single parable is plenty. Group members should listen carefully to hear a word or phrase that grabs their attention.
2. Be quiet for 1-2 minutes. Each member hears and silently repeats the word or phrase that attracts them. Don’t try to do Biblical interpretation: just quietly and peacefully repeat the passage to yourself.
3. Go around the group for each member to share their word or phrase. That’s all; no elaboration at this stage.
4. Another member reads the same passage the second time.
5. Be quiet for 2-3 minutes while each member asks himself or herself, “How does my chosen word touch me? How does it touch what is going on in my life?” Alternatively, the group can use imagination to see where the word takes them.
6. Go around the group again. Each member briefly says a response to “I hear…” or “I see…” Members can also briefly share the image if they are using imaging prayer.
7. A third person reads the same passage.
8. Be quiet for 2-3 minutes. Each member reflects what they believe God is telling them to do today or this week in response to the word they were given.
9. The group shares aloud a third time, this time taking somewhat longer.
10. After full sharing, pray. Depending on the size of the group and/or the time allowed, the group members may each pray for the person on their right.

Lectio Divina on Life

Lectio divina should most often be done in the Bible, God’s Word to us. But God also speaks through the events of our lives, and as we grow more comfortable with lectio and intimate with God we can discover Him more clearly in our lives.

In lectio on life, we sit down to read and meditate on the experiences of our lives, seeing where God is working and communication with us. We can do lectio on our recent life or on past events that still affect us.

1. Pray for God to bless you and speak to you during this time.
2. Sit quietly, relax and breathe.
3. Review events, situations, things you saw and encounters you have had. These could be recent or farther in your past.
4. Choose one event or occurrence to focus on. Remember the setting and sensory details of the event. (If the event was painful, ask Jesus to help you gently approach it.)
5. Here are some questions you might ask:
6. Is there a particular part of the memory that holds the most energy? It could be a memory of a person, an object, something that was said.
7. Was there a turning point or shift?
8. Where is God present in the memory? Were you aware of his presence at the time? If you were not, be aware of his presence now.
9. Once you have relaxed and relived the memory, use a word or phrase from the Scriptures to offer it up to God. Allow God to accept and bless the memory.
10. Be quiet for a while.
11. Record your memory, the Scripture you prayed over it, and anything that you feel God has told you.