Are you watching people slowly lose interest in ministry? Are people having a hard time finding a place where they “fit” at your church? If so, its time to step back and look at how you are connecting people to ministry opportunities. Discovering the passion God placed within your people and helping them to actionize their passion may be what your ministry flow is missing.
Passion is a term too often left out of discussions about service, spiritual gifts, and calling. It matters! God has placed within each person certain passions: people or issues or ideas they truly care about and where they are motivated to make a difference. A passion is a strong emotional stirring focused on a particular target group or need related to God’s Kingdom work. Passion forms the link between giftedness and calling: gifts and passion combined together point toward a person’s calling.
Passion is a term too often left out of discussions about service, spiritual gifts, and calling. It matters! Click To TweetHow to help others find their passion
Try asking some questions like these to help another person determine their passions:
- If you could mobilize the masses where would you apply their energy?
- If you could snap your fingers and make a difference in the world, what would it be?
- What burdens your heart, keeps you up at night, or makes you angry?
- If you knew you couldn’t fail (you had any resource available that you needed), what would you do for the glory of God?
- What local or global issues cause a strong emotional stirring in you?
- What kind of people do you gravitate toward?
Listening well to a person as they process questions like these will give you a good indication of the passions God has given them. You may be surprised by how differently someone may answer these questions from the way you would.
What to look for
As you listen, look for characteristics of godly passion:
- Generates a sense of energy and motivation
- Is accentuated by the person’s spiritual gifts
- Is compatible with the person’s biblical responsibilities and life situation
- Seems to be directed by the Holy Spirit for his purposes
We all need to gain a sense of where God is leading us to serve. Your role as a ministry leader is to help people find that sense of God’s direction—his tugging at their heart. Without it, people will flounder. Helping a person discern their unique profile as part of the Body of Christ will allow them to take part in the roles and tasks that will make a significant contribution in the Kingdom of God, as well as experience in their work.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:16-17)
Resources
Becoming Barnabas– Becoming Barnabas focuses on how can you serve as a Barnabas—a son or daughter of encouragement. It will show you a simple way to disciple, develop, and support those around you. A relational coaching investment can lead to a powerful impact on the church and on the surrounding community!
Barnabas Ministry Training– Can you imagine a team of people whose purpose is to help others find their passion and take the best next step to live into it? Modeled after Barnabas and his biblical example of the power of encouragement, coaching is an invaluable tool to help your people and ministries flourish in their unique callings and functions within the church and the community. Barnabas Ministry Training is a turnkey kit for developing quality ministry coaches.
Calling: Focused Ministry Coaching Guide with Storyboard– This downloadable set will help you provide individuals with a framework that will help them discover the unique contribution they can bring to a local ministry and beyond.
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash