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Every believer has something meaningful to contribute to the body of Christ. Scripture teaches that God gives His people different gifts so that together they can serve one another and participate in His work. Yet many Christians attend church for years without clearly understanding how God has equipped them. Helping people discover and use their gifts is an important part of church health because healthy churches do not simply gather people—they equip people for ministry.

One of the best places to begin is by teaching what the Bible says about spiritual gifts. Passages such as Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 describe believers receiving different gifts for the benefit of others. These passages remind us that no single person possesses every gift and no gift makes one believer more important than another. God intentionally created the church as a body whose members depend upon one another.

Churches can also help people recognize that discovering their gifts is often a process rather than a single moment. Spiritual gift assessments can be helpful starting points, but people frequently discover their gifts through serving. Someone may not realize they have the gift of teaching until they lead a Bible study. Another person may discover a gift of encouragement while walking alongside someone through a difficult season. Gifts often become clearer as believers begin participating in ministry.

This means churches should provide accessible opportunities for people to serve. New volunteers may be hesitant to make a long-term commitment, so creating simple entry points can be helpful. Someone might assist with a community outreach, help welcome guests, participate in a prayer team, serve children, visit someone who is homebound, or work alongside an experienced ministry leader. These experiences allow people to explore different areas of service while discovering where they are most effective and fulfilled.

Other believers also play an important role in helping people recognize their gifts. Sometimes others see God’s work in us before we recognize it ourselves. A pastor might tell someone, “You have an unusual ability to explain Scripture clearly.” A small group leader might notice that a particular person consistently brings encouragement to others. Churches can cultivate a culture where people intentionally affirm the gifts they see developing in one another.

Mentoring can take this process even further. Once a potential gift has been identified, pairing someone with an experienced leader provides opportunities for growth. Emerging teachers can learn from experienced teachers. Future ministry leaders can serve alongside current leaders. Those with gifts of mercy or encouragement can learn from believers who have faithfully practiced those ministries for years. This kind of intentional development strengthens individuals while also contributing to long-term church health.

Churches should also remind people that spiritual gifts are given for service, not status. Discovering a gift is not about receiving a title or finding a position of recognition. Peter instructed believers, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others” (1 Peter 4:10). The purpose of our gifts is to glorify God and build up His people.

Ultimately, helping people discover their gifts changes the way they understand church. Instead of seeing themselves primarily as attendees receiving ministry from others, they begin recognizing that God has invited them to participate in His work. A congregation filled with people who understand their gifts and joyfully use them becomes a community where ministry is shared, leaders are developed, needs are met, and people experience the joy of serving Christ together.

Bible Institute Network exists to help students at every stage of their spiritual journey discover trusted Bible study resources, ministry training, and educational opportunities from a growing network of Bible institutes and seminaries.

Bible Institute Network was founded by Steve Lawes, who is also the founder of Church Encourager and Christian Practices, ministries dedicated to helping individuals and churches grow in biblical understanding, spiritual formation, and Christ-centered ministry.

Christianity includes centuries of theological study, countless books, and many different traditions. For someone beginning to study theology, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Where should we begin? While Christians may disagree about some secondary issues, there are foundational doctrines that help us understand who God is, what He has done, and what it means to follow Jesus Christ. These essential doctrines provide a framework for understanding the message of the Bible.

The first is the doctrine of God. Christians believe there is one God who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is commonly called the Trinity. The Bible does not present three gods, but one God revealed in three distinct persons. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Understanding the Trinity helps us recognize that relationship and love are central to God’s very nature.

Christians must also understand the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully human. He entered human history, lived without sin, died on the cross for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the Father, and will return. Christianity is not primarily a philosophy or moral system. It is centered on the person of Jesus Christ and what God has accomplished through Him.

Another essential doctrine is salvation by grace. Scripture teaches that humanity has been separated from God through sin and cannot restore that relationship through good works or religious effort. Salvation is God’s gift, made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). Good works matter, but they are the fruit of salvation rather than the means by which we earn it.

The doctrine of Scripture is also foundational. Christians believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word and provides trustworthy instruction for faith and life. Understanding Scripture requires careful interpretation, attention to context, and recognition that the Bible tells one unified story centered on Christ. This is one reason biblical study is such an important part of ministry training. Sound ministry should grow from a faithful understanding of God’s Word.

Christians should also understand the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is not something we accomplish through determination alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within believers, produces spiritual fruit, gives gifts for ministry, guides us into truth, and forms the character of Christ within us. Christian formation is ultimately a work of God’s grace as we learn to depend upon Him.

The Church and the Kingdom of God are important doctrines as well. Through Christ, God is forming a people who worship Him, love one another, make disciples, and participate in His mission. The Kingdom of God describes God’s loving reign and His work of restoring what sin has broken. The Church is called to demonstrate the reality of that Kingdom as God’s people live faithfully together in the world.

Finally, Christians live with the hope of resurrection and restoration. Jesus will return, the dead will be raised, evil will ultimately be defeated, and God will renew His creation. The biblical story that begins with creation in Genesis ends with renewed creation in Revelation. Our hope is not simply that we will escape this world but that God will complete His redemptive work and dwell with His people forever.

Learning these doctrines is not merely an academic exercise. Good theology should lead to worship, faithful living, and deeper love for God and others. Quality ministry training helps believers understand these foundational truths and recognize how they fit together. The more clearly we understand what God has revealed, the better equipped we are to follow Jesus faithfully and help others do the same.

Bible Institute Network exists to help students at every stage of their spiritual journey discover trusted Bible study resources, ministry training, and educational opportunities from a growing network of Bible institutes and seminaries.

Bible Institute Network was founded by Steve Lawes, who is also the founder of Church Encourager and Christian Practices, ministries dedicated to helping individuals and churches grow in biblical understanding, spiritual formation, and Christ-centered ministry.

Fasting is one of the spiritual practices Christians sometimes find difficult to understand. Prayer and Bible reading may seem like obvious parts of following Jesus, but intentionally going without food can feel unfamiliar. Yet fasting appears throughout Scripture, and Jesus clearly expected it to have a place in the lives of His followers.

So why should Christians fast?

At its heart, biblical fasting is about turning our attention toward God. It is voluntarily setting aside food, or sometimes another legitimate desire, for a period of time so that we can intentionally seek the Lord through prayer and dependence upon Him. Fasting is not about earning God’s favor or proving our spiritual maturity. Instead, it helps reveal how deeply we need God and reminds us that He is the true source of our life.

Jesus practiced fasting Himself. Before beginning His public ministry, He spent forty days fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–2). Later, when teaching His disciples, Jesus said, “When you fast” rather than “if you fast” (Matthew 6:16). He assumed fasting would be part of their relationship with God.

One of the most important benefits of fasting is that it helps us recognize our dependence upon the Father. Hunger is a powerful reminder that we are creatures with needs. Each time we feel hungry during a fast, we can allow that physical desire to turn our attention toward God. Instead of immediately satisfying the hunger, we pray, remembering Jesus’ words that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Fasting can also reveal what has gained too much influence over our hearts. We often do not realize how dependent we have become upon comfort, food, entertainment, technology, or other things until we intentionally set them aside. Fasting creates space for us to ask, What am I looking to for comfort, satisfaction, or security that I should ultimately be receiving from God?

That makes fasting an important practice for spiritual growth. It helps expose our desires and gives us an opportunity to bring those desires before God.

Fasting is also frequently connected with prayer in Scripture. God’s people fasted when seeking His guidance, grieving, repenting, preparing for ministry, or facing significant decisions. In Acts 13, the believers in Antioch were worshiping and fasting when the Holy Spirit directed them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work. Their fasting did not force God to speak; rather, it expressed their attentiveness and dependence upon Him.

If you have never fasted, begin simply. You might skip one meal and use the time you normally spend eating to pray and read Scripture. As hunger comes, allow it to become a reminder to turn your thoughts toward God. Over time, you may choose to fast for longer periods as appropriate.

Fasting should also be practiced wisely. People with medical conditions, dietary requirements, or other health concerns should seek appropriate medical guidance before fasting from food. The purpose is never to harm the body but to intentionally direct our desires toward God.

Jesus also warned against fasting to impress others. Biblical fasting is not a spiritual performance. It is an act of humility before our Father, who sees what is done in secret.

Ultimately, fasting teaches us something essential about the Christian life: **life is received, not achieved**. We do not sustain ourselves spiritually through our own strength. We receive life from Christ. As fasting exposes our hunger, weakness, and desires, it invites us to depend more fully upon Him.

Practiced with prayer, humility, and biblical wisdom, fasting can become a powerful rhythm of spiritual growth—not because going without food makes us more spiritual, but because it reminds us that our deepest hunger can only be satisfied by God.

Bible Institute Network exists to help students at every stage of their spiritual journey discover trusted Bible study resources, ministry training, and educational opportunities from a growing network of Bible institutes and seminaries.

Bible Institute Network was founded by Steve Lawes, who is also the founder of Church Encourager and Christian Practices, ministries dedicated to helping individuals and churches grow in biblical understanding, spiritual formation, and Christ-centered ministry.

Every Christian eventually encounters passages in the Bible that are difficult to understand. Some contain unfamiliar customs, unusual imagery, complicated theology, or events that raise challenging questions. When this happens, don’t become discouraged. Learning to wrestle patiently with Scripture is an important part of spiritual growth. A thoughtful approach to Bible Study can help us understand even difficult passages more clearly.

A good first step is to read the passage in context. One of the easiest mistakes to make is taking a single verse and trying to understand it by itself. Read the verses before and after it. Better yet, read the entire chapter or section. Ask what the author has been discussing and how the difficult passage fits into the larger argument or story. Context often answers questions that seem confusing when a verse is read alone.

It is also important to consider the kind of biblical literature you are reading. The Bible contains history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, letters, parables, and apocalyptic writings. We should not read a Psalm exactly the same way we read one of Paul’s letters. Poetry frequently uses figurative language, while historical books describe actual events. Revelation contains powerful symbols and images. Recognizing the type of literature helps us understand what the biblical writer intended to communicate.

Historical and cultural context can also make a significant difference. The Bible was written in cultures very different from our own. Understanding ancient customs, geography, political circumstances, and religious practices can illuminate passages that otherwise seem mysterious. A good study Bible, Bible dictionary, commentary, or other trusted resource can be extremely helpful.

Another valuable principle is to allow Scripture to help interpret Scripture. The Bible tells one unified story centered on Jesus Christ. When one passage seems unclear, look for other passages that address the same subject more directly. Clear teachings can often provide a framework for understanding more difficult ones. This is one of the great benefits of developing a broad and consistent Bible Study habit rather than focusing only on isolated verses.

We should also approach difficult passages with humility. Sometimes our difficulty comes from expecting the Bible to agree with assumptions we already hold. Scripture occasionally challenges our culture, our preferences, and even long-held beliefs. Rather than immediately asking, “How can I make this passage fit what I believe?” a better question is, “What was the biblical author communicating, and what might God want me to learn?”

Prayer is an important part of this process. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide His followers into truth. Before studying a difficult passage, ask God for wisdom, patience, and understanding. The Holy Spirit does not eliminate the need for careful study, but He works through Scripture to help us know God and recognize His truth.

Finally, remember that you do not have to understand everything immediately. Christians have been studying Scripture for centuries, and faithful believers sometimes reach different conclusions about difficult passages. Make notes, consult trusted teachers and resources, and continue reading. As your knowledge of Scripture grows, passages that once seemed confusing often become much clearer.

The goal is not simply to solve every biblical puzzle. The goal of Bible Study is to know God more deeply, understand His story, and learn to faithfully follow Jesus. Difficult passages can become invitations to slow down, ask better questions, and discover treasures in Scripture we might otherwise have missed.

Bible Institute Network exists to help potential students at every level find trusted Bible study resources, ministry training, and educational opportunities that can help them grow in their understanding of Scripture and prepare for faithful Christian service.

Bible Institute Network was founded by Steve Lawes, who is also the founder of Church Encourager and Christian Practices.