The Leadership Gift and Equipping Gifts

The Leadership Gift & Equipping Gifts

By Bruce Bugbee and Don Cousins
Experiencing Leadershift Application Guide

Last time, I talked about leading without a spiritual gift of leadership.  This time, I want to talk more about how to do that through the equipping gifts (Ephesians 4.11).

As you think about this vital distinction between (a) the spiritual gift of leadership and (b) those who have a leadership effect through an equipping gift, here are a few more important considerations:

In Romans 12:8, Paul makes it clear that some have been positioned by the Holy Spirit to lead. Leadership, of course, expresses itself in different ways. Just because someone has the gift of leadership doesn’t mean he or she is doing the work of equipping. 

Having the ability to cast a vision and draw people together to accomplish a given objective (which is leadership) doesn’t mean that you’ve equipped anyone along the way. Motivated them? Yes. Organized them? Yes. Equipped them? Not necessarily. 

Leading people on a fishing trip isn’t the same as equipping them with the skills to catch fish, or having them lead a fishing trip of their own. In the same way, leading people on a ministry team isn’t necessarily the same as equipping them for ministry. 

The gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 are given for the purpose of equipping others. Sometimes, but not always, one or more of these gifts is coupled with the gift of leadership. The result of this gift-mix is that not only are people led, but they’re also equipped for the work of service. At other times, these gifts are expressed apart from the specific gift of leadership. The result is still the same—people are equipped for the work of service. In every instance where equipping is taking place, leadership is being provided, with or without the specific spiritual gift of leadership. 

This leadership effect happens when equipping gifts are expressed as God intended. Ministry leaders (and every follower of Christ) can be faithful, fruitful, and fulfilled even when they don’t score high for the spiritual gift of leadership. 

Simply put, leaders are those who have followers. If you’re equipping others for the work of service through the gifts God has given you, you’re a leader! 

Personal Reflection:  Work through the following two assessments to help you measure both your personal and ministry success. 

Personal Success

Are You Being Faithful?

1. What has God called you to? What contribution have you been called to make to the kingdom of God? Be as specific as you can.

2. What has God equipped you with in order to be faithful? What has He given you — what gifts, passions, resources, skills, experiences, etc.?

3. To what degree do you feel faithful? Check one:

__ I feel unfaithful — I’m not using what God has given me; I’m not fulfilling God’s call.

__ I feel somewhat faithful — I’m using some of what God has given me.

__ I feel faithful — I’m using what God has given me to fulfill His calling.

__ I feel completely faithful — I’m using all God has given me for His purpose.

Are You Bearing Fruit?

4. Describe your Christlike character — the fruit that’s evident within who you are. (For this, you may want to evaluate yourself according to the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.)

5. Describe your Christlike influence — the fruit that’s being manifested through your life. (See Christ’s example in Acts 10:38.) Be specific.

Are You Experiencing Fulfillment?

6. To what degree do you feel fulfilled?

__ I feel unfulfilled — my role isn’t satisfying.

__ I feel somewhat fulfilled — some days yes, some days no.

__ I feel fulfilled — my role is very satisfactory.

__ I feel overflowing — overwhelmed with joy.

7. In what times and circumstances do you feel most fulfilled in your ministry?

Are You Making God Famous?

8. In what ways is God becoming famous through your life? Be specific.

Increasing Your Personal Success

9. Look back over your answers to the previous questions. What are the implications here regarding your success?

10. What adjustments or changes do you want to make in light of this exercise?

Now that you’ve assessed your personal success, step back and think about how you would evaluate your ministry success.

Your Ministry Success

Are You Being Faithful?

1. List the people or groups under your leadership who are being faithful in their ministry position. Who is making a unique contribution based on what God has given them?

2. Now list the people or groups under your leadership who are not currently ministering in a faithful way.

Are You Bearing Fruit?

3. What fruit do you see being manifested in and through the lives of the people under your leadership?

4. In what specific ways has God used you to equip them to bear much fruit?

Are You Experiencing Fulfillment?

5. Which of the following descriptive phrases best describes the people under your leadership, in regard to their ministry:

__ They feel unfulfilled — their role isn’t satisfying.

__ They feel somewhat fulfilled — some days yes, some days no.

__ They feel fulfilled — their role is very satisfactory.

__ They feel overflowing — overwhelmed with joy.

6. Under each of these terms, list the specific names of people under your leadership who fit that description in regard to their ministry:

Unfulfilled

Somewhat fulfilled

Fulfilled

Overflowing

Are You Making God Famous?

7. In what ways is your team serving to make God famous? Be specific.

Now that you have reflected on your personal and ministry success, consider having each of the leaders you are working with and equipping to do the same assessments to reflect on their leadership effectiveness.  Share your results together.

Further resources available at RIGHT4 Ministries – www.BruceBugbee.com