categories: encouragement
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Who I’ll Never Be
I’ll never be as a great a leader as Bill Hybels.
I’ll never be as deep as John Piper.
I’ll never be as smart as Mark Driscoll.
I’ll never be as creative as Ed Young.
I’ll never be as passionate as Steven Furtick.
I’ll never be as funny as Perry Noble.
I’ll never write like Erwin McManus.
I’ll never preach on one point as amazingly as Andy Stanley.
I’ll never have as big of arms as Bishop Eddie Long.
I’ll never be as Purpose Driven as Rick Warren.
I’ll never be as positive as Joel Osteen.
Thankfully, I’m not called by God to be any of those people!
And neither are you!
Although I can’t be them, God has created me with the ability to:
- Cast a compelling vision and move people radically toward Christ.
- Recognize talent and gifts in people most overlook.
- Reach people for Christ who are far from God.
What are the top three gifts/talents/abilities God has given you?
Visit 
1. genuinely love people
2. think and communicate creatively
3. endurance
1. teaching
2. creativity
3. funny
1. Endurance
2. Creativity
3. Discipline
Great blog. I think there are two key points from this blog post:
1. Just because you are competent in a gift does not mean that it is your passion (i.e., I think Craig has many traits from above)
2. Focusing your gifts delivers amazing results.
Cheers,
Adam Root
http://www.twitter.com/adamroot
ridiculously intuitive.
ridiculously empathetic.
i can write til the cows come home.
#1… challenging people to push closer to Christ who are comfortable where they are…
#2… boldness to share Christ with strangers
#3… leading others to come out of the “christian” closet…
These are also my weaknesses at times..
great blog. and the comments are just as challenging.
i don’t know if it is me wanting to be humble or a low sense of self. but i read these talents and gifts and i think (as a student pastor) ‘what about me?’
i know i have gifts and talents - but for me it is much easier to point out the things that i suck at.
this is challenging and encouraging.
Great question. I’m almost afraid to answer…
1) I am extrememly sensitive - to others and to God - in worship, every day situations, etc. I sense God at work and can invite others to join us. Perhaps there is another word for this.
2) I simply love people and enjoy them and care about them.
3) I am able to see the big picture and help move people towards it.
4) I am able to teach and lead using creative, hands on things.
I don’t know if those are my top ones. I’m still figuring that out.
@blake - I know how you feel. For many years I was admonished “lead from your strengths”. I actually had no idea what I was good at though! I struggled to id my strengths because I only looked at others and could see I was not good at what they were good at. For instance, I am a worship pastor. But I am not a BRILLIANT vocalists and I don’t really play an instrument. So I thought one of my strengths could not be leading worship, even though that’s what I do. I had to realize that leading worship is not necessarily all about the music. The gifting is much deeper. I am a better communicator/teacher/facilitator than a musician. I just see God, worship Him and say, “come join me”. I had to quit comparing myself.
I suck at many things. For instance, I am really bad with conflict. I want us all to sing and pray together. Pray with a close, trusted friend and ask God to help you see yourself as He does. (I asked a few people to help me id - that helped)
This is a great blog question.
1. Develop and maximize a concept that leads to growth
2. See a vision and energize people to follow it
3. Communicate through speaking and writing
1. people person/communicator
2. passion to follow vision
3. music/worship leading
1. STAND IN ADVERSITY AND NOT COMPROMISE
2. ENCOURAGE
3. CREATIVE
1) Creative
2) Passion
3) Loyalty
Wow. Great question. I’m going to have to really meditate on that, but thanks, Craig, for bringing it up!
Exhort
Share wisdom learned from life events
Write
1. relationships/communication
2. passion for nations
3. desire to see transformation
I am so glad to see you all commenting. I believe this is a valuable exercise.
Blake, I used to feel exactly the same way you do. I don’t know how old you are, but I do know it took awhile before I started to recognize the gifts God had given me. (It takes time for some of the gifts to develop and mature.)
Started to write three things but I don’t feel confident about any of them. 1. It’s much easier for me to find the good in others and give them a chance. (I guess in writing I figured out one.) 2. I am passionate. 3. I am committed.
1. Self-Assurance and quick decision maker.
2. Life-Long Learner with passion for leadership development
3. Hunger for excellence
CRAIG!
Thanks for this, not exactly sure what mine are yet.
Craig, just wanted you to know that I think you’re a phenomenal leader and really obedient to God’s heart. love what you have to say, and I’m praying, praying, praying that your message at Catalyst this year will really hit HARD! (even more than last year).
Actually, that it will be God’s message thru you (of course, right) - so please be listening to God extra much these next 2 months, Catalyst is a big platform and opportunity to reach The Church.
1. Patience
2. Wisdom
3. Common sense
1) Communication
2) Empathy/Encouragement
3) Passion (for God, for life, for laughter, for people)
Great post Craig. Just one question: I found as I thought through what I would write I also found a “downside” to the gifts. For example, on #1 I can rely too much on my own ability than on the Spirit. On #2 I take people at face value and often have trouble discerning correctly. On #3 I have been seen as shallow because I am not a “deep thinker” in the classic sense. Does anyone else see this? Or am I wrong?
Bill, I think you are right on.
Jesse, Man… thanks for the prayers! I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.
Amazing post! Great to hear humility from a leader, that’s for sure!
I’d say my three are:
1. Disecting ideas
2. Honesty
3. Service
1. My heart truly aches for the outcasts
2. I am an active listener
3. I have an extreme passion to embrace this one life of mine!
It is so refreshing to see people point out their own positive qualities in such a healthy format!
Craig, Thanks for being so honest and transparent. I think we are often trying to work so hard at our weaknesses, that it is nice to remind ourselves of our strengths. Mine are:
1. Connections: Bringing others together with each other
2. Passion: For technology (used in unique ways to glorify God)
3. Visionary: Imagining the possibilities of God moving in amazing ways
1 & 2. Awesomeness & Attractiveness (Thank You Kung Fu Panda)
3. Humility.
Just kidding…about the humility…again, just kidding.
* 1. Creativity 2. Teaching 3.Desire to learn.
#1. I’m a grate speler!
#2. I’m the most humble person I know!
#3. The gift of knowing it’s okay to be me!
I’ll never be as cool as Craig Groeschel
This is a great reminder for me as a pastor of a small church. I read all the articles, books that are currently big in the church world and I face the temptation to think that if I did what they did I would achieve the same success. My experience tells me that when I focus on what God has gifted me in and I apply those gifts in the context of my unique situation I am more likely find myself working within the will of God for my life and the kingdom of God is grown. I have been greatly blessed by all of the people that you listed but I am glad I am not them.
1. Strategic
2. Learner
3. Futuristic
All according to Strengthsfinder…and I would agree. Thanks for the reminder about being who you are and not who you think you should be. I appreciate that.
prophecy, administration and perceiving human actions for their true intent
Hey Craig -
Loving this exercise bro! As a former leader at Long’s church, don’t feel bad Craig. I don’t know of anyone who will have bigger arms! I believe my three are…
// to think creatively
// to lead strategically
++++++++++++++++++++++++
// and help erase a few color lines.
1. I’m great at communicating complex things in simple ways, so that people around me often smack their foreheads and say, “Duh! Why didn’t I see that before?”
2. I’m great at BEING inspired by things that both move the heart of God AND are within my giftedness to do something significant about. And doing that inspires others. Which is a whole lot of fun.
3. I’m particularly good at seeing latent giftedness and dragging it out of people whether they like it or not (and they usually thank me in the end).
1) creating environments for community
2) leadership (of both people and projects)
3) encouraging others to reach their potential
1.Make Kids Smile!
2.Teach with a passion
3.Energy, Energy, Energy!
Thanks so much for having content on the web where youngins’ like me can learn from great ones like you! Thanks so much!
Bill:
All of our strengths have a potential to have a weakness if we lean to far that way. That is why we have the Holy Spirit and his fruit to balance us out. He gives us wisdom, peace, patience, love, understanding, conviction and the list goes on!!! I should work on being led by the Holy Spirit as being a top 3 strength.
Thanks Matt for the contribution. Glad that I am not alone.
This has been a great post Craig!
Teaching
Counseling
Relating
Here’s one for those of us that are not Craig Groeschel, but who have heard him speak in person:
“I’ll never be as blunt as Craig Groeschel.”
thanks for the blog and the encouragement
Encourager
Visionary
Writer
lead. teach. equip. I am a worship leader and these are the desires God has put in me.
-talk with tough, rough types
-relate to people under 30
-ask “why” and then listen
-talking to tough, rough types
-relating to people under 30
-asking “why” and then listening
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Thanks for this! This is something I’m REALLY struggling with these days… I’ve only been in ministry 2 years (after 15 years in the computer industry). With computer consulting, I knew exactly who I was… but, man, in ministry, I’m expected to read this, read that, go to this conference and that seminar and everything else in between.
It’s pretty exhausting trying to live up to the expectation of being someone else… I’ll stop trying
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Right now I am reading your (Craig) book Confessions of a Pastor and I am loving it. Thanks for being so open and honest. You said you would never write like Erwin McManus. I think that is okay. Not to give you big head but I like your writing better. Maybe it has something to do with us both being Okies? Keep up the great work.
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