Christian Service is a function of the way we use our gifts of grace. Every church is a composition of people who have encountered the Living God. God grants each believer not only the free gift of grace through faith but also with special gifts for works of service to practice (Eph 2:6-8).
The Apostle in his epistle to the Roman church gives us a small summary of the diversity of these gifts. Each is apportioned based on the measure of faith God has given. Paul says: For as in one body, we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness (Rm 12:4-8).
Now if we stop, pause and reflect on a common reality facing many churches today: the struggle of having more people to express their God given gifts. This can be for many reasons, but the point of this pastoral letter is not to evaluate churches. So let us for one moment think of our context and how we are serving or could be serving in 2026. The Word calls for brothers and sisters to exercise their gifts when Paul says, “let us use them”. Now it should be noted that these gifts are not acquired but rather given by the grace of God above. So, what is the gift or gifts God has given you? Is there a way of utilising it this year? Which leader at CPC could you be having a conversation with, to work out how or where you could bless other members of the Body of Christ? We should acknowledge our needs and reflect on how we can meet them. I do not want to limit your reflection, as it is good to explore your capacity and prayerfully consider a course of action. But for example, and consideration. CPC needs people willing to be interpreter, AV team, choir members, kitchen ministry helpers, and graphic designers, and members to help visit our members who are no longer able to meet face-to-face with us.
The Word of God teaches we all have gifts and urges us to use them in the power of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:1-31). It is our responsibility to answer the call of God. The purpose is so that the body functions together and for the benefit of each other. One of my favourite sayings is many small sticks make a big fire. When we exercise our gifts to our God given capacity, then we are truly blessed by the work of God amongst us in a profound way. May God grant us all insight into this matter and may it be for His Glory.
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基督徒的服事體現在我們如何運用恩典的恩賜上。每一間教會都是由一群曾經遇見永生神的人所組成的。神不僅藉著信心白白地將恩典賜給每一位信徒，也同時賜下特別的恩賜，讓信徒可以實踐各樣服事的工作（弗 2:6–8）。
使徒保羅在寫給羅馬教會的書信中，為我們簡要地總結了這些恩賜的多樣性。每一種恩賜都是按著神所分給各人的信心大小而分配的。保羅說：「正如我們一個身子上有好些肢體，肢體也不都是一樣的用處；我們這許多人在基督裡成為一身，互相聯絡做肢體，也是如此。按我們所得的恩賜，各有不同。或說預言，就當照著信心的程度說預言；或做執事，就當專一執事；或做教導的，就當專一教導；或做勸化的，就當專一勸化；施捨的，就當誠實；治理的，就當殷勤；憐憫人的，就當甘心。」（羅 12:4–8）。
現在，讓我們停下來，思想並反省許多教會今日所面對的一個共同現實：就是有更多的人尚未表達或運用他們神所賜的恩賜。這背後可能有許多原因，但這封牧聲的目的並不是要評估教會。因此，讓我們暫時專注於我們自己的處境，思想在 2026 年我們是如何服事，或是可以如何服事。當保羅說「就當照著恩賜去用」時，神的話呼召弟兄姊妹要操練並運用自己的恩賜。需要留意的是，這些恩賜不是靠後天學習得來的，而是完全出於神的恩典所賜。那麼，神賜給你的恩賜是什麼呢？今年是否有機會將它運用出來？在 教會，你可以與哪一位領袖對話，一同商討你可以如何或在哪裡祝福基督身體中的其他肢體呢？我們應當認清需要，並反思自己可以如何回應這些需要。我不想限制你的思考，因為探索自己的能力，並在禱告中尋求行動的方向，是十分寶貴的。不過，舉例來說，教會目前需要願意參與的弟兄姊妹，包括：口譯員、影音（AV）團隊成員、詩班成員、廚房事工的助手、平面／視覺設計人員，以及探訪那些無法再親身與我們一同聚會的弟兄姊妹。
神的話教導我們，每個人都有恩賜，並勸勉我們要靠著聖靈的能力來運用這些恩賜（林前 12:1–31）。回應神的呼召是我們的責任，其目的乃是使整個身體能彼此配搭、共同運作，並彼此得益。我很喜歡的一句話是：「許多小木柴能燃起一把大火。」當我們按著神所賜的能力運用自己的恩賜時，我們就能在神奇妙的工作中，真實而深刻地蒙福。願神賜給我們眾人智慧與洞察力，在這件事上引導我們，並願一切都歸榮耀給祂。
Rev. Adam Breasley
