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Share. The Newsletter

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by Joel Barnes SHAREing

72 episodes

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Testimonies of Faith and the beautiful truth of being Trusted, Accepted and Known! <a href="https://wehavetoshare.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">wehavetoshare.substack.com</a>

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11/7/2021

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August 18, 2026

Share. A Piece: What Are Spiritual Gifts Actually For?

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about spiritual gifts.Partly because we’re beginning to explore them in my 2:42 discipleship group, and partly because I think a lot of us have been taught to approach spiritual gifts by immediately asking one question:What’s mine?What is my gift?Am I a teacher?An encourager?A leader?Do I have mercy? Faith? Discernment? Administration?And listen, I think discovering how God has uniquely gifted you matters. I think there is something beautiful about becoming more aware of how the Holy Spirit works through you.But the more I sit with the major New Testament passages about spiritual gifts, the more I wonder if we sometimes start with the wrong question.Maybe the first question isn’t:What gift did God give me?Maybe it’s:What did God give spiritual gifts for?Because when you read Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4, something becomes pretty clear.God gives different gifts to different people.Nobody gets everything.Nobody is unnecessary.And what God gives you was never intended to stop with you.Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that:“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”That phrase has been sitting with me.For the common good.Not merely for personal fulfillment.Not so I can build an identity around being “the prophetic one” or “the teacher” or “the leader.”Not so I can rank my gift against yours.Not even primarily so I can understand myself better.God gives something to me that He intends to do something through me.That changes the conversation.Your Gift Is Not Just About YouThere’s a subtle temptation in conversations about spiritual gifts to turn them into a Christian personality test.Tell me who I am.And again, self-awareness can be good.But Scripture seems much more interested in telling us how we belong to one another.Paul uses the picture of a body in 1 Corinthians 12.A body has different parts with different functions. An eye does something a hand cannot do. A foot contributes something an ear cannot contribute.The differences aren’t a problem to solve.The differences are the design.Imagine if every part of your physical body suddenly decided it wanted the same job.That wouldn’t be unity.That would be dysfunction.In the same way, the Church doesn’t become healthy when everybody discovers how to do the exact same thing.It becomes healthy when different people faithfully offer what God has entrusted to them.Romans 12 says:“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”I love how practical that is.You have been given something.It may be different from what somebody else has been given.Use it.Somebody Else May Need What God Put in YouHere’s the thought I can’t shake:A spiritual gift is not primarily evidence that you are special. It is evidence that somebody else needs what God placed in you.Maybe someone needs encouragement.Maybe someone needs wisdom.Maybe a room needs leadership.Maybe someone is hurting and needs mercy.Maybe something chaotic needs administration.Maybe somebody’s faith is weak and God uses your faith to help them believe again.Maybe a truth needs to be taught clearly.Maybe somebody needs to be served quietly without anyone ever knowing your name.The gift may be yours.But the benefit often belongs to somebody else.That means spiritual gifts aren’t simply about discovering our individual identity.They are about discovering our responsibility to one another.The Gifts Build SomethingEphesians 4 gives us another important clue.Paul describes Christ giving different kinds of leaders and ministers to the Church for the purpose of:“equipping the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”There it is again.Building up.The goal isn’t simply that gifted people exercise their gifts.The goal is that people become stronger.More mature.More equipped.More unified.More like Christ.That gives us a pretty good way to evaluate our understanding of spiritual gifts.If my gift only makes me feel significant, but consistently leaves everybody else smaller, dependent on me, impressed by me, or invisible beside me…I might need to reconsider how I’m using it.Because gifts from the Spirit should ultimately contribute to the health of the Body.Maybe Community Helps Us Discover Our GiftsThis is also why I’m increasingly convinced that spiritual gifts are difficult to fully understand in isolation.There are assessments we can take.Books we can read.Lists we can study.And those things can be useful.But sometimes the people around you can recognize what God repeatedly does through you before you have language for it yourself.They are the ones who say:“When you explain Scripture, I finally understand it.”“You always seem to know when somebody is hurting.”“When everybody else panics, your faith settles the room.”“You bring order to things that feel impossible.”“You make people feel seen.”“You challenge me in exactly the way I need.”Maybe part of discovering your spiritual gifts is paying attention to the places where God consistently seems to bless other people through your presence.Not because every strength is necessarily a spiritual gift.And not because every compliment is divine confirmation.But because spiritual gifts were designed to function in relationship with other people.Which means community may be one of the places where they become most visible.So Maybe We Ask a Different QuestionOver the next few weeks, I’m going to keep studying spiritual gifts with my 2:42 community.We’ll talk about what the gifts are.Who receives them.How they differ from talents.How they differ from responsibilities Scripture gives to every Christian.And yes, eventually we’ll ask:What might my spiritual gifts be?But I don’t want us to rush there.Because before asking What did God give me?, I want us to understand why He gives at all.So maybe start here:Who gets stronger when you show up?What seems to happen consistently in the lives of other people when you faithfully follow God?Where does your presence seem to bring clarity, encouragement, faith, mercy, wisdom, service, leadership, generosity, or growth?And perhaps most importantly:Who might God intend to bless through what He placed in you?Because maybe your spiritual gift was never meant to end with you.Maybe God gave it to you because somewhere in His Body…somebody else needs it.Thank you for Liking, SHAREing and <a target="_blank" href="http://buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes">Supporting</a>! 🫶🏽<a target="_blank" href="http://buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes">buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes</a>Joel’s GoFundMe Page → <a target="_blank" href="https://gofund.me/58b8a14d1">https://gofund.me/58b8a14d1</a> This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://wehavetoshare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">wehavetoshare.substack.com/subscribe</a>

August 9, 2026

Wanna know why my faith is strong?

Wanna know why my faith is strong?First of all, it is unmistakable to me that God has given me the gift of faith as something He wants me to share.I can tell you for certain that there’s a supernatural gift…and responsibility…on my life regarding faith. There’s a whole rabbit hole I could go down there, and I will be doing a deeper dive into spiritual gifts in the next couple weeks.Today, though, I wanna get extremely practical about my faith.So many people comment on it, and I want to talk about it while I’m in the valley, instead of from the mountaintop.Wanna know why my faith is strong?Because I don’t force it.It’s not something I can try to achieve or aspire to. It’s not by my own strength. It’s consistent work with God.It’s getting punched in the gut, having the wind taken outta your body, and resisting the urge to say…“Nope. I’m fine. God is good. I’m blessed and highly favored.”I committed to mySELF a couple years ago to stop lying about how I was on a given day.Y’all.I get my ass kicked.A lot.Especially in this current life season.It just happened to me the other day. I had a doctor tell me that he believes I’ll be disabled for life. He said the pain I feel will probably get worse. He told me that the surgery I have upcoming has the potential to do two things: no real change…meaning I’d continue to feel as badly as I have…or it could make me significantly worse.THAT is what this doctor told me about my future.And listen…It’s hard for that kinda stuff not to make you feel weird. Or badly. Or cause you to question.Everything.But here’s the difference:When I hear the things that humans say, I ask God what HE has to say.That’s the difference in how my faith GETS to grow.Because no matter what the circumstance, the most important part is what God says, or has already said…about ME.This doctor doesn’t know that God has continuously shown me visions and dreams of me walking. Riding my bike long distances. Standing on stages teaching people about HIM with no cane. No limp. No pain on my face.All this guy knows is what he can see with his physical eyes.My faith gets stronger every time I’m devastated and get back up praising the One who made me.Not because it’s all figured out.Not because I understand any of it.But because of my confidence in Him.My confidence that He can use everything for my good.The Bible says:“For we live by faith, not by sight.”— 2 Corinthians 5:7THIS means we have to let God be the One who figures it out… not us.All we have to do is attempt to believe what HE says.About us.About our circumstances.About our lives.My faith isn’t strong because I did anything.It’s stronger because I let HIM do everything.I believe what He says about me. I allow Him to lead me. My hands are literally OFF the wheel.Is that easier?No.But it’s better.And that’s how my faith gets stronger.Because I do less…so He can do more.Thank you for Liking, SHAREing and <a target="_blank" href="http://buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes">Supporting</a>! 🫶🏽<a target="_blank" href="http://buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes">buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes</a>Joel’s GoFundMe Page → <a target="_blank" href="https://gofund.me/58b8a14d1">https://gofund.me/58b8a14d1</a> This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://wehavetoshare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">wehavetoshare.substack.com/subscribe</a>

August 4, 2026

Introducing The 2:42 Report

The 2:42 ReportJuly 2026A monthly praise report celebrating what God is doing through Scripture, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.July marked the beginning of something deeply meaningful.On July 6, the 2:42 Discipleship Community officially gathered for the first time. Since then, we have met consistently, opened God’s Word, shared honestly, eaten well, prayed for one another, and grown together.This report follows the pattern of Acts 2:42:“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”Each report includes two reflections of gratitude, four ministry updates centered on Acts 2:42, and two prayers for what comes next.This is the July report.Two Reflections of Gratitude1. God Did Not Let Me Walk Through This AloneOne of my greatest praise reports from this summer is the community God has gathered around me during this season of waiting, healing, and uncertainty.A few months ago, a GoFundMe was created as I prepared for what was expected to be a June 1 knee replacement surgery. The financial generosity has meant more than I can fully express. It has helped create space for me to focus on healing and continue doing the ministry work God has placed before me.But the support has extended far beyond finances.People have sent messages, prayed faithfully, checked in, offered encouragement, and continued showing up in “Joel’s Care and Prayer Group” on WhatsApp.Most people joined expecting to support me through an immediate surgery and recovery. When the surgery was canceled, the group did not disappear. It became an ongoing community of prayer warriors and supporters who have remained present through the delay.That has revealed something deeply meaningful to me:God did not want me to walk through this next knee replacement surgery alone.The surgery has not happened yet, but the community God knew I would need is already here.To everyone who has supported me financially, spiritually, and relationally: thank you. Your generosity has sustained me, but your presence has reminded me that I am not alone.2. Strength for the AssignmentJuly 6 marked the first official gathering of the 2:42 Discipleship Community.Since then, we have continued meeting and growing together through Scripture, fellowship, shared meals, and prayer.What I love most is that God is not only using me to help others grow. He is growing all of us, including me.I have sometimes hesitated to step fully into this position because of questions about my own qualifications. Yet God continues to affirm that He has equipped me for the assignment while also revealing the areas where He still intends to develop me.I am learning that being called does not mean being finished.God can confirm that we are qualified for what He has asked us to do while continuing to shape us into the people the assignment requires.Four Movements of Acts 2:42The Apostles’ TeachingWe Opened the BibleOne of the simplest and most meaningful praise reports from July is this:We opened the Bible together.For some members of the 2:42 community, this was one of their first opportunities to truly study Scripture in a group.That has made this work an incredible honor and joy. It has also been difficult, stretching, and deeply rewarding.Throughout the month, we wrestled with sin, repentance, grace, confession, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration.We did not approach these subjects pretending to have every answer. We opened God’s Word, asked honest questions, listened carefully, and allowed Scripture to challenge and shape us.The greatest praise is not simply what we studied.It is that we are becoming people who study the Bible together.FellowshipA Community Worth ProtectingThree things have stood out about the fellowship developing within 2:42.First, it is safe.Every member has identified this as a place where they can share honestly, be vulnerable, and ask the pressing questions of their faith without fear of judgment.Meaningful discipleship requires more than correct answers. It requires an environment where people feel safe enough to reveal the questions they are actually carrying.Second, there has been remarkable intentionality.People have scheduled, rescheduled, communicated, adjusted, and made sacrifices to prioritize being together in person. In a season when calendars are full and isolation is easy, that willingness has been deeply encouraging.Third, people are already imagining a future together.Members are discussing ways they hope to serve, classes they may attend at church, and what the fall season could look like.Most meaningfully, one person recently said that no matter what else gets added to the calendar this year, they want to protect this group.That word felt deeply holy to me.What God is forming among us is not merely another appointment to attend. It is a community worth tending, prioritizing, and protecting.Breaking BreadThe Power of ConsiderationWe have never had a shortage of good food around the table.But what has made breaking bread so meaningful is not only the food itself. It is the communication required to plan it, the intentionality involved in preparing it, and the growing desire to make each gathering more thoughtful and generous.There is something powerful about considering what another person enjoys, remembering what they like to eat, and then making the effort to provide it.That kind of consideration has become part of the glue holding us together.Around the table, care becomes tangible. Hospitality becomes personal. People are reminded that they were thought about before they ever arrived.I believe God delights in teaching us to love one another this way—not only through what we say, but through the attention, preparation, and generosity we offer each other.PrayerTaking One Another to GodPrayer is one of the movements I continue asking God to deepen within our community.There can be a real stigma around asking for prayer. Admitting that we need help can feel vulnerable, and people sometimes hesitate to share because they fear becoming a burden.My prayer is that God will continue removing that stigma and invite us into deeper connection by teaching us to carry one another’s needs to Him.A prayer request is not automatically an invitation for us to fix the situation. At its simplest, it is a request to take the need to God.That does not mean God will never ask us to act.Recently, during an intense pain flare, I was in tears and desperate for prayer. I chose to communicate that need in a way I may not have in the past.One member of 2:42 reached out privately and asked whether there was anything she could do. I had not eaten, which meant I could not take the medication I needed to help manage the pain. I asked whether she could help me get something to eat, and she did.She did not assume she was responsible for solving everything.She prayed, listened, asked, and responded to the need God placed before her.That is the powerful movement of prayer: we take one another’s needs to God, release the pressure to control the outcome, and remain available when He invites us to participate in the answer.Beyond the 2:42 TableSHAREapy and One-on-One Faith CoachingThe ministry happening in this season extends beyond our group gatherings.Through SHAREapy and one-on-one faith coaching, I have continued walking with people through questions of faith, pain, relationships, purpose, isolation, and important life decisions.Some of these conversations happen by phone. Some happen while I am working from bed because of pain. But the work continues.I remain deeply grateful that God allows me to create intentional spaces where people can be heard, encouraged, prayed for, and helped toward their next faithful step.Whether around the 2:42 table or in a private conversation, the heart of the ministry remains the same:Biblically grounded formation delivered through intentional relationship.Two Prayers for What Comes NextFor nearly two years, my prayer requests have consistently been distilled down to two words:Pain and provision.ProvisionThe need for provision remains real and straightforward.Because I am still unable to work in a traditional capacity, continued financial support is essential as I wait for surgery and prepare for the recovery that will follow.The generosity of those who have prayed, given, shared, and supported me has allowed me to focus on healing while continuing to do the work God has placed before me.And that is where something has shifted.Every available day and every available moment, I am trying to do what God has asked me to do—even when that work has to happen from my bed.I take calls. I walk with people through difficult seasons. I study, teach, pray, write, build community, and make myself available as my body allows.Provision is still necessary for life. That is simply the truth.But I am no longer viewing this season only as time I must survive before the “real work” can begin. God is already allowing meaningful ministry to happen here.My prayer is that He will continue providing in the ways only He can so that I can remain faithful to the work He has entrusted to me before surgery, through recovery, and beyond.PainFor a long time, my primary prayer was that God would deliver me from pain so that I could eventually tell the story of His goodness.I have never lost faith that He will bring me through this season. As long and difficult as it has been, God has somehow preserved that faith in me. Some days, I do not even understand how that is possible—but it is true.I still believe healing and restoration will be part of the story arc of my life.But I am no longer focused only on the end of the story.I am beginning to understand that the hardest part of the story may also be one of its most important parts.While I continue to move between pain and possibility, my prayer is that God will use me exactly where I am.I used to pray almost exclusively against the pain.Now, I am also praying that God will use the pain while I am still here.May He use it to deepen my compassion, help me recognize the suffering of others, and make my ministry more honest, tender, and dependent upon Him.May He allow my pain to preach before my healing ever does.So, as this month’s 2:42 Report closes, I ask you to continue praying for these two things:That God would provide the resources necessary for me to live, heal, serve, and recover.And that while I wait for relief, He would continue using every part of this story—even the painful parts—for His glory and the good of others.In Jesus’ name, amen.Thank You for Being Part of the StoryTo everyone who has prayed, encouraged, given, checked in, shared a meal, sent a message, or made space for this ministry to continue:Thank you.Your support is helping create opportunities for people to open the Bible, ask honest questions, experience meaningful fellowship, receive care, share meals, and grow in faith through intentional relationship.Thank you for praying.Thank you for giving.Thank you for SHAREing.Thank you for Liking, SHAREing and <a target="_blank" href="http://buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes">Supporting</a>! 🫶🏽<a target="_blank" href="http://buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes">buymeacoffee.com/joeldavidbarnes</a>Joel’s GoFundMe Page → <a target="_blank" href="https://gofund.me/58b8a14d1">https://gofund.me/58b8a14d1</a> This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://wehavetoshare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">wehavetoshare.substack.com/subscribe</a>

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What is Share. The Newsletter?: Testimonies of Faith and the beautiful truth of being Trusted, Accepted and Known! <a href="https://wehavetoshare.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">wehavetoshare.substack.com</a>
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