Passions & Talents - How do we find them?

Title: Passion & Talents - how do we find them?

How can we find our Passions and Talents? 

What were we created to do? 

We are so uniquely and wonderfully created; how can we maximize what God has given to us for His Glory?

Each one of us has been given abilities and gifts. It seems that many don't know what they are. Before God we will not be responsible for what talents or gifts we don't have, but we are responsible for those we do have. (There are many free 'Gift analysis' questionnaires on line...this will certainly add to the picture you can build of your passions). Our gifts and talents are locked within what we are passionate about. 

Answering these questions below will empower you and lead you towards the following:  1. You will know how you are wired up and what to do with the one life God has given you.  2. You will know what to focus on and what NOT to. You will know what to say YES to and what to say NO to. For example, if you are passionate about public speaking or hospitality, you'll be more motivated to study this subject in depth and become even more skilled. 3. You will be able to pray specifically for the talents God has given you, finding creative ways to use them.  4. Finding your passions will lead you to better understand your gifts & talents. 5. You will better understand yourself, which is always helpful. 6. Answering the questions below will enable you to become more productive. 7. If you work in your passions you will enjoy what you are doing much more. Even the difficult things will be OK for you can see the end result. 

4 easy Steps in answering these questions. 

Step 1. Begin to pray specifically about what God might be saying to you through this process. 

Step 2. Take time to think and answer the questions. This is not a one day thing...take a couple of months over it.

Step 3. It helps to write answers in a small notebook that you go to every day or two and add to what you have written. A picture will begin to form of your passions and even your talents.

Step 4. Ask respected peers and those in leadership over you "what do you see me passionate about?", and "What do you see are my talents or gifts?" Again note the answers down. Writing clarifies and un-clutters thoughts.

Here are the questions:

1. If you could mobilize the masses, what would you do?

2. If someone gave you unlimited finances and resources, what would you do?

3. What do think about all the time?

4. What do you care deeply about? (Your treasures / your values).

5. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

6. What do you believe God wants you to do?

7. If you could snap your fingers to get something done, what would happen?

8. What absorbs you and captures your attention?

9. What things are you committed to?

10. Slogans and Creeds?

11. What have you achieved with competence or success?

12. Where do you belong? (A large city, small town, medium sized City, the country...?)

13. Are there any should's that have trailed you?

14. What is ministry for you? 

15. What are the events and situations of the past that have ignited good feelings in you?  

Enjoy...remember it's a journey. God has wired you up a certain way. May this serve you so you are able to find your passions and envision His dreams for your life...so all Glory goes to Him.

Enjoy...remember it's a journey. God has wired you up a certain way. May this serve you so you are able to find your passions and envision His dreams for your life...so all Glory goes to Him.

Do we realize how much God has given us?

Flying back from London this year, I was reading the daily mail. There was sad but fascinating article about a homeless man who was found frozen to death in Wyoming. He died from hypothermia under a railway overpass. Authorites found few uncashed cheques in his wallet. The story doesn't end there. His name was Tim Gray who was an adopted son of the wider Clark family when he was five by Dr Gerald Gray. At the time of his death Tim was due to inherit 12 million pounds!!

A very sad story indeed. But maybe as disciples of Christ we live not realizing how much God has given us? Let's go back in time and look at the story Jesus told of the lost son. (They are 3 stories making the same point - but that's another story). Luke 15:1-32.
The younger son comes home ashamed & repentant and even after the Father gives him the
'finest robe' - signifing, honour,
a 'ring' - this gave the son power of attorney (authority),
'sandals' - which stands for freedom, the father gives the younger son a huge party!!

The older son enters the story and is angry and will not enter the party... 'I've slaved for you all these years never once refused to do a single thing you told me to do. You have never given me a party so I could celebrate with my friends...now this son of your's...'

The father replies, 'you are always with me & EVERYTHING I have is YOUR'S'.

Two powerful supernatural basic truths that run through the New Testiment: He is with us! And EVERYTHING I have is your's! 

Tim was adopted. Did he realize what he had? Maybe he did, but didn't walk in what was his. We are adopted. Do you realize what you have in Christ? 

The inheritance is being contested by family and friends...there's a terrible fight going on!! Our fight has already been fought & won...by JESUS!! 

Jesus Mandate... It must happen in Europe!!

Tim Keller from Redeemer presbyterian Church USA, writes a powerful article on 'Why Plant Churches?' For the full article see below...

http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/Why_Plant_Churches-Keller.pdf

Here are a few highlights for me:
In the article he more than suggests that, 'Jesus essential call was to plant churches'. That's powerful. Virtually all of the great evangelistic challenges of the New Testament are basically calls to plant churches... Matt 28:18-20. Acts 2:41-47. The only way to be truely sure you are increasing the number of Christians in a town is to increase the number of churches. 


I believe the Apostle Paul's "missionary journey's" in the book of Acts, should be more accurately called, "Church planting and church strengthening journey's".


It is a great mistake, Keller goes on to say, to choose between church planting & church renewal. Strange as it my seem, the planting of new churches in a city is one of the VERY best ways to revitalize many older churches in the vicinity and renew the whole body of Christ. WHY? 
1. New churches bring new ideas to the whole body. 
2. New churches are the best ways to surface creative, strong leaders for the whole body.
3. New churches challenge other churches to self examination.
4. The new church may be an evangelistic feeder for a whole community. 


"Church planting is still the most effective long term evangelistic method under God's Heaven!" How are you involved?

'How to start a church for dummies'. FAQ's & Info Day!

This weekend a new book in Dutch is being released at Opwekking, 'How to start a church for dummies'. If you purchase your pack at 'Opwekking' (this weekend) - it will give you free access to the FAQ's and information day.


'FAQ's & Information Day' - 25 August, 2012   Time 9:30-13:30
Register by emailing nick@visionchurches.com 
If you have your pack it's free.  Without a pack, the cost is 10 Euro's. You will receive your 'How to start a church for dummies' pack on the day. 


This will be a very exciting time of answering the questions of how to partner together and put feet to the dream of 'planting churches in Western Europe'.

How to start a Church for dummies.

Yesterday I recieved a box of my newly printed books, "How to start a church for dummies".  By the way it's in Dutch. It deals with the ABC's of church planting. It answers questions such as; what is church? It's quite facinating when the question is asked of Christians, "What is church?" The response is quite subjective. What are the componants of a Biblical Church? What do you think? How does one begin a new church? What do you do? It's all in the book...




I am believing this will be a tool to empower Europe's next generation...so they will be able to be effective in the best way to fulfill Matthew 28: the great Commission that Jesus gave to us! This is Church planting! It's still the best long term evangelistic strategy under God's Heaven. Mission leaders around the world believe this to be true. Dr Ralph Winter, Dr C.P.Wagner, Dr Jim Montgomery, Ed Stetzer, Warren Bird, Tim Keller, Rick Warren and Floyd McClung Jr, to name but a few. In the book of Acts, Paul has three so called missionary journeys, I believe, they are three church planting & church strengthening journeys! 




So if all the above is true...if it really is true, are you somehow involved? I am still absolutely convinced that if we are really serious about reaching Europe for Christ, we MUST employ the most effective means...church planting!! 

Developing Spiritually...in the Church????

I think it requires alot of love, joy, peace, forbearance - patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control to remain committed to a local church. It is much easier to go to a seminar, conference or workshop. These require little commitment and development of the above! In fact in a seminar context, I don't even have to talk to others, let alone get to know them very well. Spiritual development is never developed or tested in a conference context, or in isolation from long term commitment to a community. Spiritual development is the result of commitment long term to a local church. Spiritual development...the fruit of the spirit (as above) are never developed in a micro-wave environment. It is developed over time, as we die to self and commit to a community of faith...the church! That's not easy for me, myself and I have to die! Western Christianity doesn't handle this too well! Yip, the church is still God's plan A! It may be tough but it's the best! It's where true growth takes place. What about the place of Seminars, conferences & workshops? They are there to enhance, support, encourage & come alongside the local church, never to replace it!

How imortant is the customer? How important is the visitor?

How important is the visitor in your church? 
If you are in business, how important is your customer?


Look at what Mahatma Gandhi says: "A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependant on us, we are dependant on him. He is not an interuption in our work, he is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider to our business, He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him, he is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do".    


Healthy churches have at least 5-8 people for every 100 people in service attendance. 


So some questions are: 
How do you treat and how much value do you place on your visitors? 
How can you increase your visitor flow? 
How can you make your visitors FEEL welcome?