IF YOU ARE FACILITATING A GROUP...PLEASE READ THIS.

When you hear the word "Leader," what comes to mind? Do you see yourself as a leader?

People sometimes disqualify themselves from leadership. They have an image of it in their mind, picturing a formal role or title. They then conclude, "that's just not me!” Let’s ask this question in a different way. Who are the people in your circle of influence? Where are your strengths and gifts being used currently in the workplace, community, church and/or at home? You may not perceive yourself as a leader, but everyone has influence!

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, painted a picture of the body of Christ as a family of beautiful and diverse people. Each individual in that family was given gifts with the responsibility to bring those gifts to the wider community as a help. Bringing ourselves forward in this way requires leadership.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11-12

"There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other...It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So, it is with the body of Christ."

We are each gifted uniquely for His purpose. Our gifts, strengths, passions, personality, skills, location...our “first name” is leveraged by God in His beautiful mission. We read in Ephesian 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” He desires to engage us in his work in this world, reconciling people to Himself. When we engage in this way, our lives become fruitful and more fulfilling.

...and God uses us! We get to be ourselves. We don’t have to contort ourselves to fit into a specific mold. What great news. Our job? We need to discover our first name, acknowledge God’s deposit in us and take responsibility for the continued growth and development of our strengths and gifts. We are also to be listening for God’s leading; open to using our influence wherever we are planted.

God desires to expand our influence. Scripture is full of examples of ordinary women & men being used by God to build His kingdom for His glory. For example, Esther, whose story we read in the Old Testament, persuaded the King of Persia to retract an order for the annihilation of Jews throughout the empire. Esther was ordinary. Barnabas, an early church leader, encouraged young people in their gifts and calling as the church was being established. Barnabas was ordinary, just like you and me.

We often hear from ZOE participants. They tell us how God has taken their humble gifts, strengths and experiences and multiplied their fruitfulness beyond anything they could ask or imagine. These too are ordinary people who have courageously said yes to God. God has plans for each of us, plans to give us an abundant prosperous future. ‭‭(Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11) God wants to multiply and magnify your fruitfulness. All He requires is a willingness to say YES.