Well, last week our cell group met again. After a quick recap on some common opinions held about the gifts of the Holy Spirit we swiftly moved on to get to what I’ve been looking forward to for a while – an exercise to help explore/discover how God may have gifted us, by his Holy Spirit.

An online survey was used…it was one of many available, so by no means the only, the best or even the most accurate help in determining how God may have gifted us.  But, nonetheless very interesting…

Mobile devices in hand, everyone logged in and set off answering the direct, personal questions. By the way – technology is super when harnessed effectively.  5 years ago I’d have had to hand out about 10 sheets of paper per person!

Slowly but surely each person finished up and waited for the ‘results’. After taking time to read and digest what came through people started to share what had been identified as their primary spiritual gifts. Discussion began on what had discovered. Overall I believe there was an atmosphere of affirmation as God was affirming in us how he has gifted us. Yes, there were a couple of pleasant surprises but many discovered things that they perhaps already recognised somewhere deep within.  But certainly there was a sense that God was using this to ‘connect some dots’.  I felt a positive atmosphere in the room.  The Holy Spirit at work…

From here? Well, I hope that this group of already dynamic young adults is able to reflect on what God has revealed, that they grow in confidence in the Holy Spirit and go on to become even more dynamic in him.

My question is this? Is the church all too often operating under power, sometimes even appearing to be ineffective in this world? I believe it is. Could this be, for this particularly group of Jesus followers, an awakening within? In anticipation, I really hope so.

OK.  I turned on my computer this morning to do some work and stumbled across a youth ministry website that provides the names of literally thousands of youth groups.  The following is just  a small sample of those under the letter ‘A’.  Hilarious.

A.C.T.S Anointed Christians Terrorising Satan

A.L.I.E.N. Adolescents Living In Eternal Newness

A.N.T.S. Arise N Triumph Soldier(of Christ)

A.R.M.O.R. APOSTOLICS RADICALLY MAKING OTHER REPENT

A.R.M.Y OF THE L.I.G.H.T. Armed Ready Ministering Youth / Living In Gods Holy Truth

A.R.M.Y. of God Always Recruiting More Youth

A.T.L.Youth Ministries Adolescence Transparent to the Lost

A.T.O.M.I.C youth All Together On Missions In Christ

A.T.T.I.C. Associated Teens Together In Christ

A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Assembly of Wesleyan Eternal Sons Of Methodist Evangelicals (talk about trying to make it fit!)

A.W.E.S.O.M.E. youth Anoited.Warriors.Enjoying.Shareing.Overcoming.Ministerying. Eternity (and again…their spelling, not mine!)

A2J Youth Group Addicted 2 Jesus: coz u cant OD on JC…IT’S A NATURAL HIGH! (what an inspiring strapline!)

ASYLUM C_4_C Crazy for Christ

I reckon Radiant Youth sounds incredibly good now…

Would anyone be keen to hear some of the B’s – Z’s??!