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There are so many tools available these days to try to help answer that question. If you’ve ever explored the plethora of personality quizzes, online surveys, preference questionnaires, or even spiritual gift assessments, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Whether the tool is based on the APEST gifts of Ephesians 4, or personality groupings like that of Myers Briggs or Enneagram – they’re all generally aiming to help people recognize who they were created to be. Some of these perspectives are biblical, while some – not so much. Some are comprehendible, while some – not so much. Some are easy to recall or deploy, while some – not so much.

At the risk of adding another bus to an already busy highway, I want to introduce you to one other approach to understanding who you are, who God has made you to be, and how you relate to others in the life of the church. 

HEADS. HEARTS. HANDS. 

As I give a brief explanation of these three groupings, examine yourself. Who are you? Which do you gravitate towards? Which best describes the type of conversations or relationships that get you going or energize you? But then also – perhaps consider (if you’re married) which best fits your spouse? Which best fits your family or friends? These will be pretty basic summaries, and I encourage you to keep them basic. Don’t read into them too far for now.

HEADS PEOPLE.
  • Emphasis >> Truth. Thoughts. Knowledge. Learning. Study. Discover. Teaching.
  • Possible strengths >> Love of the Word. The ability to glean and communicate Truth in a way that can build others up. Discernment to spot error or false teaching. 
  • Possible challenges >> Taking head-knowledge too far. Getting stuck in the mode of the eternal-student never graduating out to the world of real life. Knowing much, but caring or doing very little.
HEARTS PEOPLE.
  • Emphasis >> Love. Passion. Caring. Relationships. Storytelling. Connecting. 
  • Possible strengths >> Ability to sense deeper burdens of others. Communication of lived experience. Expressions of mercy towards those in need. 
  • Possible challenges >> Taking emotional significance too far. Reliance on approval, the drive to ‘be liked’. Taking on the responsibility for other people’s actions. 
HANDS PEOPLE.
  • Emphasis >> Service. Doing. Living it out. Taking action. 
  • Possible strengths >> Shows the gospel in action, not just in word. Meets needs. Goes where others might not be willing to go. Hospitality and generosity abound.
  • Possible challenges >> Taking busyness too far. Turning life into a never ending ‘to-do’ list. Being spread too thin. Frequent burnout. Overcommitment. 

HOW THIS FITS TOGETHER – SMALL GROUPS.

This season of Small Groups at Bridges has been structured to recognize the heads / hands / hearts reality of our people. For those that have been attending one of the five different groups… think about it. The introduction and sharing of testimony stories - you could say leans ‘hearts’. The discussion about the sermon, the Scripture passages, meaning, and interpretation - you could say leans ‘heads’. And the concluding effort to make “I will…” statements by each individual, of what they will do that week as a result of what they’ve experienced - you could say leans ‘hands’. 

We wanted to acknowledge that the Church is made up of all three types of spiritual motivations. We wanted to make sure that all people could not only participate together, but live out the gospel together, and see much fruit together. Those who are dominant in one area, but lack sensitivity in other areas, can be blessed and equipped by the other people that surround them. If you ever hear me use the phrase “grow together” in a sentence, please know, this exactly the concept I’m referring to. Much fruit... grows best... together. 

Small Groups at Bridges are not classes, lectures, or social clubs. They are expressions of the full body as heads, hearts, and hands… that exist to stir one another up to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25)… as we all work together to develop as disciples of Jesus Christ.

If you aren’t plugged into a Small Group, or want to but can’t make it to any of the scheduled group times, please reach out to us. You can email us at info@bridgeschurch.net or come ask around for Patrick or Brandon on Sunday mornings. We’d love to connect you with a community that cares about your path of finding or following Jesus. 

PS – for bonus points, how would you classify this blog post? Was it more in tune with a heads, hearts, or hands approach? Come find me on Sunday with your answer and what you think that reveals about who God made me to be. But be ready to tell me about who God made YOU to be. :)