Growing Christian Resources

Saturday, September 21, 2013

P5 Discovering your spiritual gifts - the results

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Discovering your spiritual gifts
Whenever a Christian wants to discover what spiritual graces or gifts God has given them, it is sometimes helpful to take a spiritual gifts test. As you study the Bible's teaching on spiritual gifts, three areas are used by God in developing every Christian: their calling, burdens and opportunities. In yesterday's post I gave the reader the second part of the spiritual gifts test that evaluates a Christian's gifts in the realm of their abilities. In this third part of the test, you will be answering questions pertaining to the area of your God-given opportunities. Think of a spiritual gift test as a compass to point you in the right direction. I would encourage the reader to read the next several days of blogs, since today's post is the third and final leg of the spiritual gift's test before moving into the part where you begin to discover what gifts you may have.

AN IMPORTANT THOUGHT BEFORE YOU MOVE TO THE LAST SECTION!!

Now that you are done answering the questions, go onto the last section of this test and tally up your answers. Remember that the results of this test are just suggestions of gifts or areas of ministry for you to look at in discerning your spiritual gifts. Getting involved in the ministries of the church and serving others is vital in having a true accurate picture of what the Lord has gifted you to do.

Discerning what your gifts might be

Directions: Place the answers you circled in the appropriate box under each set of responses. Then add each column and write the answer below. Note the highest numbers and second highest totals to discern your own personal gift combinations.

PART ONE: ADD UP THE NUMBERS OF YOUR RESPONSES

Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Calling

Abilities

Opportunities

TOTAL NUMBERS

PART TWO: LOOK TO SEE THE GIFT BELOW EACH TOTAL NUMBER

PART THREE: DISCERN WHICH GIFTS YOU MIGHT HAVE

What gift (s) did you rank highest?

_______________________

What gift(s) did you rank second highest?

________________________

Note: It is up to you whether you want to share your findings with your Pastor or other Mature Believer, or whether you keep the results to yourself. The important thing is that you begin serving God and further explore just how He has designed you with His calling, your abilities, and opportunities.

Friday, September 20, 2013

P4 Discovering your Spiritual Gifts in the areas of your Opportunities

Directions: At the end of each question circle the numbered response that best reflects how you really feel: 1=Never; 2= Once in a while; 3=Many times; 4= Always.

The Gifts looked for in this test (Look back at the day before yesterday's post for definitions): Missionary, Reformer, Soul winner, Shepherd, Teacher, Leader, Communicator, Exhorter, Hospitality, Helps/Service, Administrator, Encourager, Giver, Mercy, Wisdom, Knowledge, Discerner, Intercessor

OPPORTUNITIES = “What I desire God to bring, has brought or is bringing into my life”

Please circle 1 answer

1. I desire to be involved or look to be involved in some type of missions trip 1 2 3 4

2. I desire to or have served in aiding a person or a group as to where God is leading them 1 2 3 4

3. The Holy Spirit has given successful attempts in reaching my unsaved loved ones/friends 1 2 3 4

4. I desire to or have shared a message from a pulpit or went on visits with the pastor 1 2 3 4

5. I desire to learn how to teach God’s word or have led a Sunday School class/Bible Study 1 2 3 4

6. I want to lead a ministry, am being asked to lead or have led in an area of the church 1 2 3 4

7. I have been or am being asked to present an idea to a group or the church 1 2 3 4

8. I want to reach out to or have made efforts in strengthening other believers in their faith 1 2 3 4

9. I desire to, have or will be opening up my home to people that I just met 1 2 3 4

10. I desire, have or will be getting involved in a service project for the church 1 2 3 4

11. I desire, have or will be coordinating an event or ministry in our church 1 2 3 4

12. I want to, have or will be visiting or sending encouragement to people I know are in need 1 2 3 4

13. I am willing, have or will be giving a sizeable gift to a missions project or church ministry 1 2 3 4

14. I desire, have or will be reaching out to unfortunate or hard to reach people 1 2 3 4

15. I am open to, have or will be giving counsel to people on making godly and wise choices 1 2 3 4

16. I’m compelled, have or will share insight from God’s word that addresses specific needs 1 2 3 4

17. I desire, have or will be prayerfully observing the spiritual nature of a situation or person 1 2 3 4

18. I desire to grow deeper in prayer, learn from others how to pray, and minister by prayer 1 2 3 4

Thursday, September 19, 2013

P3 Discovering your spiritual gifts in the area of your abilities

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Discovering your spiritual gifts
Whenever a Christian wants to discover what spiritual graces or gifts God has given them, it is sometimes helpful to take a spiritual gifts test. As you study the Bible's teaching on spiritual gifts, three areas are used by God in developing every Christian: their calling, burdens and opportunities. In yesterday's post I gave the reader the first part of the spiritual gifts test that evaluates a Christian's gifts in the realm of their calling. In this particular part of the test, you will be answering questions pertaining to the area of your God-given abilities. Think of a spiritual gift test as a compass to point you in the right direction. I would encourage the reader to read the next several days of blogs, since today's post is the second leg of the spiritual gift's test - namely the area of your abilities.

Directions: At the end of each question circle the numbered response that best reflects how you really feel: 1=Never; 2= Once in a while; 3=Many times; 4= Always.

YOUR ABILITIES = “What I am capable of doing by God’s strength” Please circle 1 answer

1. I can adapt quickly to new people or cultures in order to openly share Christ 1 2 3 4

2. I can point out to people a possible direction that God might be leading them 1 2 3 4

3. I have no problem sharing the gospel in different ways with my friends/family 1 2 3 4

4. People tend to confide in me when looking for practical biblical solutions to life 1 2 3 4

5. I can spend hours studying commentaries that uncover the Bible’s deeper meaning 1 2 3 4

6. I can get a group of people excited about aiming at and accomplishing God’s goals 1 2 3 4

7. People have told me that I have a knack for explaining things in a simple way 1 2 3 4

8. I can cut away the “fluff” and get to the true root of what’s causing spiritual imbalance 1 2 3 4

9. I can make my home a very welcome place where you’d want to come and fellowship 1 2 3 4

10. I serve best and get results when I’m working behind the scenes or under someone 1 2 3 4

11. If people are needed to be given tasks to accomplish a goal, I can help out 1 2 3 4

12. I make phone-calls, send cards and say words to help people cope through issues 1 2 3 4

13. I have been blessed with the resources and willingness to give whatever it takes to God 1 2 3 4

14. I can love the un-loveable, and I find it hard to say “no” 1 2 3 4

15. I can counsel people whenever the need arises to be asked for biblical advice 1 2 3 4

16. I can recall scripture or biblical examples that have met specific problems or situations 1 2 3 4

17. I can sense when something or someone is either for or against God 1 2 3 4

18. I can tell what needs to be prayed for and persevere in prayer until the need is met 1 2 3 4

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

P2 Discovering your Spiritual Gifts in the area of your calling

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Discovering your spiritual gifts
Whenever a Christian wants to discover what spiritual graces or gifts God has given them, it is sometimes helpful to take a spiritual gifts test. As you study the Bible's teaching on spiritual gifts, three areas are used by God in developing every Christian: their calling, burdens and opportunities. In this particular test, you will be answering questions pertaining to God's area of your calling. Think of a spiritual gift test as a compass to point you in the right direction. I would encourage the reader to read the next several days of blogs, since today's post is the first leg of the spiritual gift's test - namely the area of your calling.

Directions: At the end of each question circle the numbered response that best reflects how you really feel: 1=Never; 2= Once in a while; 3=Many times; 4= Always.

The Gifts looked for in this test (Look back at yesterday's post for definitions): Missionary, Reformer, Soul winner, Shepherd, Teacher, Leader, Communicator, Exhorter, Hospitality, Helps/Service, Administrator, Encourager, Giver, Mercy, Wisdom, Knowledge, Discerner, Intercessor

YOUR CALLING = “What I’m led or burdened to do” Please circle 1 answer

1. I am burdened to represent Christ to those who have never heard the gospel 1 2 3 4

2. I feel compelled to speak of where God is wanting to move in today’s church and culture 1 2 3 4

3. I am burdened to think of different ways in sharing the gospel 1 2 3 4

4. I am burdened to direct people to God’s word for answers to life’s issues 1 2 3 4

5. I find it a thrill to unpack God’s word for others to explore 1 2 3 4

6. Motivating people towards a set of God’s goals excites me 1 2 3 4

7. I am comfortable explaining complex ideas in simple ways for people to understand 1 2 3 4

8. I am burdened to motivate others to focus on God and not their problems 1 2 3 4

9. I enjoy opening my home up to Bible studies or get-togethers. 1 2 3 4

10. I serve better behind the scenes than out in the public eye 1 2 3 4

11. I enjoy analyzing situations and figuring out who needs to go where 1 2 3 4

12. I desire to pour my soul out to people who need strengthening 1 2 3 4

13. I endeavor to give all I can without hesitation to further the work of the gospel 1 2 3 4

14. Its my mission to befriend those who are in emotional or physical need 1 2 3 4

15. I believe in practical and systematic problem solving before rushing to conclusions 1 2 3 4

16. I desire to use God’s word to give insight into a specific situation or need 1 2 3 4

17. I make it a priority to pray and proceed cautiously before acting in any situation 1 2 3 4

18. I usually will sense the need to pray-for others and to pray for long stretches of time 1 2 3 4

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

P1 Defining The New Testament spiritual gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

In the next several posts I want to introduce the reader to the concept of spiritual gifts. The Bible teaches that every child of God is given specific "graces" or "giftings" by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and to bless others. Below is a list of the ones that seem to be the most clearly defined and spoken of gifts (or gracings) in the New Testament.

Defining the spiritual gifts in the New Testament

A spiritual gift is an ability from God to do His will in the area He has called me to serve as a believer. 1 Corinthians 12:1-6

1. Missionary = Plants churches or shares the Gospel with the unevangelized. 2 Cor 8:23 Translated in other versions as “representative or apostle of the churches”. Different from “Apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 12:12), or the twelve disciples and Paul that ended in the1st century.

2. Visionary = Alerts the church about what direction its heading for God. 1 Cor 14:3

Understood also as “the gift of prophecy”. As time advanced in the New Testament, prophecy became more of a gift to challenge the church to refocus on living out God’s directions for it through His word. Some highly visible preachers have the ability to “prophetically” speak to the church and culture from God’s word. This is to be distinguished from the predictive elements of the O.T office of “prophet”.

3. Soul winner = Has the burden and effectiveness to reach unbelievers. Eph 4:11; 2 Tim 4:5

Also called an evangelist or termed as having the “gift of evangelism”.

4. Shepherd= Loves to feed and nurture people with God’s word. Eph 4:11; 1 Tim 3; Titus 1

5. Teacher = Unpacks God’s word and makes complex ideas easy to understand Eph 4:11; Ro 12:7

6. Leader = Can manage believers effectively in maintaining God’s goals. Rom 12:8

7 7. Communicator = Clearly verbalizing complex ideas in simple ways. 1 Peter 4:11

8. Exhorter=Persuade others of the need to do God’s will. Also translated “encourager” Ro 12:8

9. Hospitality = Loves to share with God’s people who are in need. Romans 12:13

10. Helps/service= Works behind the scenes to make the ministry work smoothly. Rom 12:7

11. Administrator = Loves to organize people and events. Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28

12. Encourager = Ability to get people to joyfully look to God amidst difficulty. Rom 12:8

Same Greek word for “encourager” can also be translated “exhorter” (see above definition).

13. Giver = Displays incredible willingness and faith to give generously to God’s work. 1 Cor 12:8

14. Mercy = Can gently and calmly minister effectively to difficult people or situations. Rom 12:8

15. Wisdom = Can personalize the scriptures for other people in practical ways. 1 Cor 12:8

Most who advise other believers or who do Biblical counseling have this gift

16. Knowledge= Can personalize the Bible for people to better grasp God’s will. 1 Cor 12:8

Influencial Bible teachers have this gift.

17. Discernment = Can tell whether a teacher, ministry or movement is of God or Satan. 1 Cor 12:10

18. Intercessor = A great desire to pray fervently for others that yields dramatic results. Col 4:12