• No One Can Take Your Place

    By: Kristen L. McNulty

    Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.

    Imagine this: You step into a church on a Sunday morning. As you walk through the doors, the building feels cold and unwelcoming, with no one greeting you or offering a word of encouragement. You take a seat in the pew and soon, an old CD player clicks on, playing a prerecorded worship track. The pastor, whose gifts are many but certainly one of them is not singing, attempts to lead the time of worship and the few sparsely spread out throughout the building sing along. The service feels more like a routine, and you wonder where the vibrant community has gone.

    There’s no Sunday school, no children's program. The pews sit nearly empty, and you realize that, over time, the once-lively atmosphere has vanished. The absence of personal connections and the lack of participation are noticeable. No one is serving; no one is using their gifts. You wonder: what happened to this church? 

    Situations like these are usually the consequence of neglecting the call to serve, of sitting back and waiting for others to step in. When believers do not step up to use their spiritual gifts within the body of Christ, the church begins to die as one function after another goes unfulfilled. The church becomes a shell of what it was meant to be—an empty building without the lifeblood of God’s people moving through it.

    This situation I described is a tragedy and it’s one that way too many churches are suffering from today. When God’s people get comfortable sitting in the pews, willing to attend but rarely to serve, the church as a whole suffers. This is not the way God designed the body of Christ to function. No, God Himself not only gifted us with certain natural abilities when we were born, but he also gave us with spiritual gifts when we were brought into the family of God through Jesus Christ. And all throughout scripture we are called to not let our gifts wither and die, but instead use them to the glory of God in the body of Christ where He has placed us.

    Essential Truth


    The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, reminding them of this essential truth:

    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. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)


    The Spirit has gifted each believer in unique and powerful ways for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. You have something to offer. The talents and passions that God has placed within you are not for your own glory or enjoyment alone—they are meant to be shared with the church to the glory of God. When you withhold your gift, the church suffers. But when you offer it, the whole body thrives.

    Whatever your gift, use it


    Paul emphasizes that the gifts we receive are not for personal benefit but for the purpose of helping one another (1 Corinthians 12:7). Your involvement in the life of the church is vital. Whether you are gifted in teaching, encouraging, prophecy, mercy, giving, leadership, evangelism, discernment, administration, serving, faith, hospitality, or one of the many other gifts, your contribution is irreplaceable. The church needs your passion, your gifts, and your commitment to fulfill God’s mission on earth.

    Peter echoes this as well:

    God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)


    That said, let’s pause here for a second and ask ourselves, how am I using my spiritual gifts and natural abilities? Am I using them to the fullest and for God’s glory? Or have I gotten far too comfortable letting everyone else in the church serve me that the last thing I want to do is serve anyone else?

    We Benefit, We Need To Give Too


    The truth is, if you go to an active church, you are being blessed week in and week out because other people are using their gifts. The worship team on stage is using their musical abilities to allow you to worship God through song. The pastor or elder is using their gift of teaching to reveal the truth of God’s Word. The person who greeted you when you walked in is using their gift of encouragement and hospitality to make you feel welcomed and loved. The person who ran the computer throughout the service used their technology abilities to livestream the service for those who couldn’t attend in person. The treasurer who is gifted with numbers made sure the bills were paid so the church had electricity running and you didn’t need to wear a parka in the device secause the heating was cut off. The blessings we receive from other believers using their gifts goes on and on and on. And you too can be a part of that blessing.

    The truth is, we are not meant to be passive recipients of grace, we are meant to be active participants in the kingdom of God. And your role in the kingdom belongs to you. If you choose not to do it, it doesn’t mean someone else just picks up the slack. Even if they tried, they aren’t you and they aren’t the one God created for that role.

    Our Unique Role


    Because our roles are unique. As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12:14-27:

    Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:14-27)


    So what is your part? What is your role within the body of Christ? Here are some practical ways you can find out.

    1. Pray for Guidance and Clarity


    The most important step in discovering your spiritual gifts is to ask God for help. He is the one who has given you these gifts, and He is eager to reveal them to you. In James 1:5, we are told:

    If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5)


    Pray and ask God to help you understand the unique gifts He has placed within you. Trust that He will guide you as you seek to know your purpose in the Body of Christ.

    2. Reflect on Your Passions and Abilities


    Secondly, God often gives us gifts that align with our passions and abilities. Take some time to reflect on what excites you and where you feel led to serve. What areas of ministry stir your heart? Do you have a passion for teaching? Do you often find yourself encouraging people? Do you thrive on hosting people in your home? Do you love spending time with kids? These are often clues to the gifts God has placed within you.

    3. Take a Spiritual Gifts Assessment


    Many churches and Christian organizations offer spiritual gifts assessments. These tools help identify your strengths by asking questions about your preferences, experiences, and natural tendencies. While they are not perfect, they can be helpful in guiding you toward discovering where you might serve best.

    Remember, an assessment is only a starting point. God may surprise you with gifts that aren’t immediately apparent or that develop over time.

    4. Seek Feedback from Others


    Sometimes, we have blind spots when it comes to our gifts. The people around us—those who know us best—can often see strengths in us that we may not recognize ourselves. Ask trusted friends, family members, or church leaders how they see God working in your life. Their feedback can provide valuable insight into the gifts you may not even realize you have.

    5. Ask your Pastor Where You Can Plug In


    Our pastors know us and they also know of needs within the body of Christ. There might be ministry opportunities you weren't even aware existed, so talk to your Pastor and let them speak into your life on this. One role I have served my church in for years is with designing and running our church website, but it's not a role I thought of myself. About twenty years ago I was talking with my pastor, this was long before I even created websites as part of my job, and when my pastor heard I had put together a website for the MAD christian radio show he mentioned they wanted to put one together for our church and it's something I've been involved in ever since. So talk to your pastor and see if they can help connect you with the right role.

    At the end of the day, it's your responsibility and mine to make sure we are doing something, anything to inject life into our church body and to build God's Kingdom here on earth. Don't let your gifts go unused. The body of Christ needs you and God has uniquely equipped you with gifts for a reason, let Him use you to make a lasting difference in your church and in your community. Closing with Matthew 5:14-16:

    You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14-16)


    The body of Christ needs you, it's time to step up and shine using your gifts for the glory of God and the benefit of the body of Christ. 

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