As we transition from one presidential administration to the other, we’re hearing a lot these days about cabinet picks and other selections as the President-elect chooses his team. This might be a good time to think about your team in that it’s no accident that you are where you are, and you are with whom you are to be with. But first, do this: Suppose that cabinet nominees were to be selected from Bible people. It’s a fun thought exercise, and a chance to refresh your Bible people repertoire. Below is a list of presidential Cabinet posts (along with administration positions of Communications Director and Press Secretary). Take a minute to think about which Bible person might be a viable candidate for each Cabinet position. You may want to print out or copy the chart write/type your selections. This is also a fun exercise you can do with students or any Bible study group. We’ve supplied suggestions at the bottom of this post, but do your own first!
| Cabinet Position | Bible Person Nominee |
| Communications Director | |
| Press Secretary | |
| Secretary of Defense | |
| Secretary of the Treasury | |
| Attorney General | |
| Secretary of Commerce | |
| Secretary of Labor | |
| Secretary of Education | |
| Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
| Secretary of State | |
| Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| Director of National Intelligence | |
| Secretary of Energy | |
| Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | |
| Secretary of Transportation | |
| Secretary of Interior | |
| Secretary of Agriculture | |
| UN Ambassador |
Now that you’ve had some fun creating your own hypothetical Bible-people cabinet, take a minute to note how God goes about selecting His team, people who work with Him to help accomplish His mission.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 17-18 (ESV)
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Not only does God give each of us a gift, but He also arranges us He chooses, undoubtedly in a way that guarantees optimal ministry production. So, look around at the people in your church and student ministry. This is your administrative team, members that have been hand-picked and hand-gifted by God for a unique mission.
This, then, brings up a few questions. Take a minute to reflect on each question, maybe even journaling your thoughts. This is your record of how God has put you where you are with whom you are with.
How did you come to be a part of your faith community? What events transpired?
If you are on staff, what steps fell into place that led to the church’s call and your acceptance?
If you are a member/ attender of the church, what sequence of events led to you becoming a part of your faith community?
What’s your ministry charge? Do you teach a Sunday school class? Lead a youth ministry? Disciple a small group of students?
What types of events happened in the lives of your charges that coalesced this particular group? Did most grow up in your church? Were several invited by friends?
Your answers to these questions represent testimony of how God arranged your ministry. You may be part of something bigger than you have imagined. Think about 1 Corinthians 12:18 for a minute. Ponder what it means that God “arranges” the members as He chooses.
God has not only arranged each member of the body, He has also gifted each one. Reflect for a minute on the giftedness of each student in your ministry charge. What does the aggregate of your giftedness indicate about ministry projects you might consider? Often we start with the project and try to make our group fit into the project. So let’s try this: after you’ve thoughtfully reflected on your group’s giftedness (you may even want to asses it through more robust efforts like a spiritual gifts inventory or a study on spiritual gifts) make a list of ministry projects that would be in the wheelhouse of your group’s giftedness.
Download HERE a small-group exercise of this blog post.
And here are my Bible-people picks for Cabinet positions:
| Cabinet Position | Bible Person Nominee |
| Communications Director | Holy Spirit: constantly communicating what’s going on |
| Press Secretary | Gabriel: proclaimer of Good News |
| Secretary of Defense | Joshua: winner of many military campaigns |
| Secretary of the Treasury | Matthew: a tax collector (definitely not Judas, though he may apply for the job) |
| Attorney General | Moses: He knows the rules |
| Secretary of Commerce | Either Peter, James or John: experts in the fishing trade |
| Secretary of Labor | Mary: mother of Jesus, most famous labor of all-time |
| Secretary of Education | Solomon: brings unprecedented wisdom |
| Secretary of Health and Human Services | Luke: a physician with attention to orderly accounts |
| Secretary of State | Esther: A master at dealing with foreign heads of state |
| Secretary of Homeland Security | Samson: say no more |
| Director of National Intelligence | Any of The Twelve Spies |
| Secretary of Energy | Either Shadrach, Meshach or Abednego: much knowledge about hot furnaces |
| Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | Eleazar: brings great experience as priest in charge of the travelling Tabernacle |
| Secretary of Transportation | Noah: knows how to get around, especially when catastrophe strikes |
| Secretary of Interior | John the Baptist: has special insight on locusts and wilderness |
| Secretary of Agriculture | Adam: knows how to work a Garden or hard-toil with land |
| UN Ambassador | Apostle Paul: well-traveled and knows the value of citizenship |