As we continue our journey to make Grace Lutheran Ministries a church that cares in Bradford and beyond, it becomes necessary, from time to time, to re-visit just how we can best serve in God’s Kingdom.  To that end, willing members and friends of Grace will embark on a new 6 week study in April designed to strengthen our networking abilities by re-evaluating our Spiritual Gifts.  Because we grow as Christians, our skills and talents multiply and even change.  What skills and talents do you now possess that you may not have recognized three, four, or even ten years ago?  Have your Spiritual Gifts changed, remained the same, or become even more diverse?  Let’s find out!

          This new study entitled “Network” by Bruce Bugbee and Don Cousins is a “wonderful journey that will assist you in discovering your Spiritual Gifts, your style, and your passion” (Sue Mallory, Executive Director of Leadership Connection and quoted in Network 9).

          Grace Lutheran Ministries’ success in furthering God’s Kingdom is a direct result of its members and friends identifying and then utilizing their God-given Spiritual Gifts.  Network will work with any size group: one or two people studying together, small groups of 4 to 12, and even large groups of 15 to 75 or more.  Make the commitment today to get involved in this study of the “biblical nature and purpose of the church as the body of Christ” (Network, back cover).

          Our church members and friends are encouraged to devote six sessions of fifty minutes each to the study, although other configurations of time are possible and also effective.  Our hope is that those who are not currently engaged in small group study might form new groups and discover for themselves a beautiful fellowship with others who share similar Christian beliefs.  Groups will be forming and sign-up sheets will be posted in the Welcome Center before the Kick-Off event on April 6.  Materials will be made available to anyone wishing to discover for themselves just how they can best “network” to expand God’s Kingdom.

          Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 NIV).

          Shown below are some of the ways to use your spiritual gifts.