Pastor's Circle - Gil McKee

Gil McKee, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, joined the Pastor's Circle today to discuss giving at Christmas. Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his segment.

How important is service?

Absolutely important. Until we're serving, until we're using our gifts, I think we're actually robbing ourselves in the Christian life. 

I think it's important that we build up our brothers and sisters, but I think it's also important for ourselves. 

It's when we begin to serve them that we begin to benefit and have fulfillment in the Christian life. 

I think it's about living the way God has designed us. He has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives, and he has gifted us according to that design. 

When we serve, we are doing what we have been made to do, and I don't think there's any greater satisfaction.

Is serving inside the church the whole nine yards?

If we don't get outside of the church, if we don't go where people are, how are we ever going to reach them with the Gospel? 

Until we realize that the people we're called to touch are outside of our walls, we're never going to get out there and reach them.

Have we lost the service component of discipleship?

I'm afraid we have. There's nothing wrong with small groups; I think we need those. But Jesus used the small group to huddle up and then go out and serve. 

It's a little bit like football. I think we've forgotten that the huddle is for the purpose of running the play. We've gotten so comfortable with the huddle that we've just decided to stay there.

How should we be talking about spiritual gifts?

I think the bottom line is to get people in God's Word, to help them get an idea of what the gifts are, and even to help them realize they have gifts. For a lot of people, it's just a matter of recognition.