Spiritual Gifts Discussion
Over the last two weeks, there has been no preaching in our church gatherings. Instead, we have divided into small groups and talked about spiritual gifts. One of the things I have learned this year is the importance of having space to stop and reflect. The Baptist Association has been running a zoom seminar every fortnight where they provide updates on the latest COVID-19 restrictions. Then they also share stories of what is happening in other churches. I have found this very helpful. In fact, it was after listening to one pastor speak about how they were leading a time of reflection in their church that I became convicted; I needed to do something similar. So in the last school holidays back in July, we took two weeks to discern what God had been teaching us during the first six months of the year.
I developed a booklet for people to work through based on our values, and then I asked several people to be facilitators. I loved listening to other people share how God is at work in their lives. This pattern of reflection and discussion is something I’d like to continue with going forward. So I tried again this time around the theme of spiritual gifts. Again, there was a booklet sent out based around our values and then we listened, encouraged and prayed together. There is much debate around the value of preaching, and while I think preaching does have value, it is by no means the only way we teach and disciple people. I think there is a time to speak, and a time to listen. I have had a chance to stop and listen.