The Gift of Exhortation
When I hear the word “exhortation,” I think of the gift of preaching and I suppose that can pretty much be true. However according to Spiritualgiftstest.com “The gift exhortation gives an individual the ability to provide strength and comfort to others. A person with the gift of exhortation should help others lay the foundation that they need to sustain a viable life. Through the Biblical truth, individuals with this gift can use their faith as a tool to instill strength within others.”
That definition paints a very different picture than that of a booming voice behind a pulpit waxing eloquently about scripture. This spiritual gift, according to the definition above seems to paint a picture of someone who delves into the scripture to strengthen their faith so they can teach others and therefore strengthen them. This picture is a humbler one and one that puts the emphasis on God and what God is saying through that person rather than who is saying it and even how well they express themselves. I have known times when I was sure my sermon was not heard and yet a simple comment from a parishioner told me that God’s message was heard. You’ve got to love the Holy Spirit!
For those who don’t have the spiritual gift of exhortation, we are still called to exercise this gift with the possibility of gaining skills in this area. So here are four tips that may help you lay the foundation for someone to sustain a viable life.
1. Reading Through the Bible
Start a structured program of reading the Bible through in a year. There are many such programs out there. Just google some. This will start you off in delving deeper into the Bible and perhaps show you things that you didn’t know where there. If you don’t think you can commit to the whole Bible at once, try reading your favorite book of the Bible.
Offer Yourself to the Church
2. Offer Yourself to the Church
Many churches do not like to give their pastor a Sunday off from preaching. And many preachers are sure that their church cannot survive if they are not there to preach. The first is probably true and the second is not. Ask your worship committee for a chance to preach one Sunday on a subject or experience that you have had and are comfortable with such as a mission trip or prayer or maybe even one of your spiritual gifts. As Cumberland Presbyterians, we believe in the priesthood of all believers—that we are all called to tell the Good News. This can be your chance to exercise those exhortation muscles.
3. Start a Study
Ask your church to begin a Bible study and offer to have it at your house to give it a more house church feel and allow people to feel comfortable in coming. Offer the study and talk with those who would like to join to discuss things that would make it easier to get there each week—someone to watch their kids, having a shared or catered meal that make it easy for people to come after work, having it on a weekend and maybe varying the place to a park or outdoor setting. This could be important especially in this time of social distancing. Some people may want to come simply because they need to see other people and that is ok.
4. Public Speaking
Enroll or audit a public speaking class at your local college, university, community college or even online. So many people say that speaking in public is their worst nightmare and yet all of us must do it at some point in our lives. So, prepare yourself with some tools that can help you help others.