SUMMARY: What You do Best in the Body of Christ

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Book Summary: What You do Best in the Body of Christ
by Bruce Bugbee

What You do Best in the Body of Christ
By Bruce Bugbee
Zondervan, 1995
Book Summary by Saddleback Volunteer

This book has been really inspiring and energizing for me. The author puts into some pretty simple terms how to find one’s purpose in life.

The author emphasizes giving people permission to be who God has made them to be - not who their family or church has told them to be. Author Bugbee states many times that being in the right place of ministry will be both energizing and fulfilling.

As I thought about the different positions I've served in, I realized how true that was. If I had had the knowledge about my own gifts, passions and personal style, I perhaps would have done things differently.

Reading this book helped me see that I had often been in the wrong area of ministry and had thought that I had failed at serving, rather than seeing that I was in the wrong place trying to do someone else’s ministry. I now have a better grasp on where I should and should not be in ministry.

The book is practical, useful and an easy read. It is probably the most succinct, quick ministry discovery plan that I have encountered. It cut to the chase and allowed me to come up with answers I had been looking for.

Chapter 1 - Does God have a Purpose for My Life - Really?
Many people get discouraged doing ‘work’ in the local church. Is it because they are in the wrong place, doing a ministry they really weren’t made for?

The author uses the example of having bought the same plant two different times for his yard - each time with the same outcome. They died! Why? They were planted in a very shady, wet spot, but were plants that required direct sunlight and dry soil.

He concludes many people in ministry have had similar experiences. They have been misplaced and feel like the poorly planted plants that eventually died.

The author presents three different things to look at in a person to help them find a ministry they can be both fruitful and fulfilled. He calls this a person's servant profile. It’s not hidden away, rather it is waiting to be discovered.

Chapter 2 - Who does God say that I Am?
We all have paradigms, perspectives or thoughts on what or who a minister is and what and who we are. Does that perspective limit you and those around you?

God “thoughtfully designed you and me to fulfill a meaningful purpose that will ultimately glorify him and edify others. If we will listen to his voice he will give us his perspective of who he is and of who we are to be.” (p. 25)

We will probably have to get out of our old comfort zone and move forward to truly accomplish what God has for us. When God calls us to ministry he provides the power to accomplish it if we stay focused on him.

Chapter 3 - Where is My Passion?
People are designed by God to meet many different needs. Each of us has been given a passion for ministry and service. We often don’t know how to define passion and/or search out and identify our own passion.

The author defines passion as: "The God-given desire of the heart to make a difference somewhere.”

In this chapter he leads readers through a seven-step process of identiyfing their passion. He also identifies three categories of passion: people, roles/functions, and cause. Whoever we are, we have a responsibility to find out what our passion is and then work in that area. Avoiding our passion doesn’t make it go away. It will continue to "pop up" through out our life.

Chapter 4 - What’s the Big Deal about Spiritual Gifts?
Why the current emphasis on spiritual gifts? Is it a fad? A trend? Or something we should pay attention to?

“Today’s focus on the gifts is a spiritual recalibration.” (p. 48)

The author defines a spiritual gift as “divine abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to every believer according to God’s design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ.”

Three benefits of having gift-based ministries are presented in this chapter: Personal, Church and Kingdom benefits.

Chapter 5 - What are My Spiritual Gifts?
In this chapter spiritual gifts are compared to and differeniated from natural talents, fruit of the Spirit and spiritual disciplines and ministry positions. There needs to be clarity about what spiritual gifts are and how God intends them to be used. This requires study, prayer, life experiences and personal reflection.

Chapter 6 - How do I Relate with My Personal Style?
Personal preferences and style are reviewed in this chapter along with a short test to see how you are energized - by people or tasks. By finding ministry opportunities that match your personal style, the author suggests that people would experience far more energy for ministry.

The home we grew up in, how our parents looked at things and the way our church functions has real impact on how we’ve "learned" to function. This can often be outside of the person God made us to be. However, while our personal style may explain our behavior; it does not excuse it.

“A significant part of your design is revealed through your personal style. It is another way God has put his divine fingerprint upon you. As a part of your servant profile, your style complements your passion and indicates the unique way your spiritual gift will be expressed.” (p. 80)

Chapter 7 - How do the Pieces Fit Together?
In this chapter the author asks you to outline your passions, spiritual gifts and personal style. He brings together all of the previous chapters and lets you put together some opportunities for ministry based on who you have discovered yourself to be.

Chapter 8 - What does God Want from Me?
Once the reader has identified their own profile for ministry, the author shows that it is very important to check our motivation and heart attitude about servanthood. He compares “servility” and “servant hood” - one is serving self, the other is serving others and God.

“Do you see how important love is? You can know your spiritual gift and be using it, but if it is not expressed in love, you will not make a kingdom difference.” (p. 92-93)

What do your actions say about your love for God?

Chapter 9 - So What’s My Next Step?
Finding a ministry to fit your personal style is often complicated by those around you and by not listening to ourselves. God made us individuals with his stamp on us, and we need to find the place of service he prepared for us.

The author presents three spheres for service where a person can look for ministry opportunities: Organizational (structured, on-going); projects (periodic/short term); and promptings (spontaneous, personal).

Being involved in ministry takes time. We all make choices about how we’ll spend our time. We go through seasons of life where our time availability changes, but we should never think that God doesn’t really need us. We all manage to make time for the things that are important to us. The author suggests that we take the time to check how we use our time.

The author included a test on ministry effectiveness in this chapter which allows you to see if you are properly serving. When our ministry is ineffective, we are less likely to spend time doing it.

“Whenever you are evaluating your ministry effectiveness, remember: You are not the wrong person, but may be in the wrong position.” (p. 117)

“You are a 10 ... somewhere!” (p. 117)

Chapter 10 - Pull up Stakes and Follow Him
The author asks this question, “Why are you doing what others can do, when you are leaving undone what only you can do?” God made us each unique and with a purpose. He also has committed to never leave us. As a fully devoted follower of God, we are able to discover who we were designed to be, then be that person.