God’s Best Dance Crew

Average User Rating:

By Lane Palmer
1/26/2009

Join the Conversation
Related Resources
Email

Print
Larger Text
Text Size
Smaller Text

How are these incredible peeps able to do it? Breaks, head spins, and deep backwards bending all synchronized and perfectly timed.

You probably have guessed that I'm talking about America's Best Dance Crew - described as an 'infectious dance reality show that delivers the goods with tight, athletic teams who each bring their flavor to the round stage.'*

East Coast and West Coast alike bring amazingly talented groups like Jabbawockeez and Extreme Dance Force.

Even if you're not that into dance, once you turn this show on and see the performances, it's really hard to look away. It's incredible to see each member of the crew bring a unique style - yet also stay in sync with all the others.

I can tell you without a doubt that I could never make it on a dance crew. It would be the single most worst tryout in the history of 'white boys can't dance'...with the exception of Zac Effron of course.

However - I am in another 'crew' of sorts. One that needs me to bring my individual gifts - yet also synchronize with those around me. When this crew comes together and works in harmony, the world finds it hard to look away.

The crew I'm talking about is called 'Ecclesia'...you would know it as what the Bible calls 'church' - but that is not the meaning of the word. The word 'church' means 'belonging to the Lord' - which we do. But Ecclesia literally means 'called out ones' - in other words - this crew is made up of people who are called out of a boring, everyday, meaningless, purposeless life to use their gifts and transform the world.

If you are a Christ follower, you have a unique set of gifts and talents, and the Ecclesia crew needs you. Here's how the choreography is laid out:

God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all

How are these incredible peeps able to do it? Breaks, head spins, and deep backwards bending all synchronized and perfectly timed. You probably have guessed that I'm talking about America's Best Dance Crew - described as an 'infectious dance reality show that delivers the goods with tight, athletic teams who each bring their flavor to the round stage.'*

Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance (1 Corinthians 12:4-11;25-26, The Message).

God is telling us that we all have spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit that need to get used in the world around us. The church - or Ecclesia - that you attend is not meant to be an audience that belongs to the Lord and just sits around and talks about it. It is supposed to be a unified crew where everyone brings their gifts and works together to blow the minds of the world around us.

Think about it. When the Ecclesia has worked together in the past, entire cultures have been changed. Slavery abolished - hospitals built -homeless fed - addictions broken - and eternal souls saved.

When we don't work together, we become a ridiculous and irrelevant comic relief like a crew that comes on stage and trips all over each other. That's why so many people don't take the church seriously - because we're satisfied with a holy huddle on Sunday and staying hidden Monday through Saturday.

So what's your gift? Do you love to help people? Are you a prayer warrior? Can you teach from God's word? Do you have faith that could move a mountain? Whatever it is - bust out your skills and put together a 'dance' performance worthy of an approval from the most powerful Judge in the Universe - Jesus Christ.

*www.monstersandcritics.com

Head: Every Christian has spiritual gifts that we need to put to use with others so we can transform the world for Christ.

Heart: Feel excited about being a part of one of the most amazing 'crews' of all time - the Ecclesia.

Hands: Get together with your pastor, youth leader, parent, or mature Christian adult and fill out the sheet below. Make a copy for the adult and put yours in a place where it will remind you of your responsibility to use your spiritual gifts.
Name _________________________________
Date __________________________________
Adult Leader's Name _____________________
Look up the following passages:

Romans 12:3-8
I Corinthians 12:1-31
Ephesians 4:4-8,11-16
I Peter 4:10-11

What observations do you have about each passage?
Why is it important to use your gifts?
What gifts do you think you might have? Do others think you have?
What is your plan to try out your possible gifts?
What might you have to sacrifice in order to be faithful in using your gifts?
Today I commit myself to discovering and using my spiritual gifts in the context of my youth group/church. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will be a faithful and obedient servant who will continue to develop my unique spiritual abilities as long as I live.
Signed ___________________________________
Witness __________________________________

Lane Palmer serves as a writer for Dare 2 Share Ministries International (D2S) in Arvada, Colorado, a ministry committed to energizing and equipping teenagers to know, live, share and own their faith in Jesus. For more information about D2S, please visit www.dare2share.org.

YouthMinistry.com | One Place. Infinite Ideas.

God’s Best Dance Crew

Conversation