This post contains a series of questions for you to consider about areas of Christian service that may or may not be of interest to you. The point of this exercise is to help you identify which areas of service are areas for which you have passion or enthusiasm, because this will help you come to recognize where your spiritual gifts may be and where they might not be; this exercise is a tool, in other words.
OK, here goes… I would suggest that you jot down your answers.
- The area I most like (would like) working in is: (tasks, projects, direct people contact, information management, creative idea…?)
- The people I most like to work with are: (homeless, women, elderly, children…?)
- In which areas do you have the strongest feelings and desire for improvement or change? (This might be a social or community issue or family or parenting issue that you would like to help make a difference in)
- Which of these general ministry areas appeals most to you?
World Missions Stewardship (finance)
Discipleship (spiritual growth) Business/Administration
Evangelism (personal witnessing) Caring/Nurturing
Communication/Marketing Worship/Music
- Would you prefer serving up front, behind the scenes or in a team?
- If you could do anything and not fail (money and time were not issues), what would you do for God? (Go ahead, dream big!)
- What ministries do you know you don’t want to participate in?
- If you were receiving the Humanitarian of the Year on national TV, what specifically would you like to be recognized/honored for?
- How would you like your tombstone to read?
What is your personal ministry passion assessment?
From the information you have listed for the above questions, write out a brief sketch of what you believe your ministry passion to be. Don’t worry about “getting it right” or writing it perfectly. Just write a simple phrase or sentence about your ministry passion. (A helpful hint of how to do this is to “connect” some of the dominant themes in the answers you have given in this ministry passion statement.)
If you already know what ministry you want to serve in, this ministry passion assessment should affirm your ministry selection.
AFTER YOU COMPLETE THIS EXERCISE, and not before (for best results) you are ready to take the spiritual gifts “test”. The link below will take you to a very good free test that you can take on your computer; I use this test when I teach spiritual gifts in churches and have found it to be excellent.
Note: This test is produced by Team Ministries. I am in no way associated with them; there isn’t any “monkey business” going on here; there are no tricks and you will not be asked for a credit card or anything like that. However, you will need to provide a name and email and you’ll receive a report on your results. As you might expect, they will send newsletters and so forth after that, but I have found that if you “unsubscribe” they will stop.
So, if you are cool with that, then go take the test now and we’ll continue your self-assessment later today.
Take the Test
If you wouldn’t care to give an email and name, then maybe you will attend a spiritual gifts class that I teach in person… those are always a hoot, and I have a session coming up after the first of the year that I’ll post some details about soon. Who knows, maybe your church would like to host something like one day.
In any case, I’ll see you back here and we will continue the process of identifying your spiritual gifts!
Life Project Blog 
Very interesting things to think about! I’m way behind on reading your blog posts the last week because I am on vacation but will be soon able to catch up! I’ve been missing reading the blogs but having a wonderful time on vacation! Have a wonderful weekend Don!
I’m glad you’re having a great vacation!
Reblogged this on Poetry of an eccentric sheep and commented:
This is cool. If you’re interested in what your spiritual gift is you should check this out.
That was cool! I got what I thought I would get too.
Excellent!
I’ve used an asses,ent like this in my young adult Sunday school test. They were eager participants and a joy to work with. I wish I had had you’re questions to introduce the test. But most of these young people didn’t have a clue where to start. I still keep in touch with them and they are advancing in their spiritual life and service. I thank God for them.
They were very lucky to have you!
1. I’ve been leaning more towards Biblical studies lately but not sure if that’s what God would have me do.
2. I tend see myself interacting with young adults, 20s-30s, from all walks of life.
3. Biblical understanding (for myself as much as others).
4. Discipleship would be my strongest desire from these listed. Evangelism maybe.
5. Definitely a “behind the scenes” type though if I know what to say, I don’t mind being upfront.
6. I’ve developed more of a love of Bible study lately but also desire to present my findings to others.
7. I don’t like things that are overly regimented and restricting. To me, when something becomes too routine or dogmatic, it tends to lose its’ spiritual fervor.
8. I tend to shy away from rewards. I don’t like recognition like that especially in such a public setting.
9. Just my name and dates (birth/death). Hopefully my life will speak for itself but mostly I don’t care enough of what others think, not to sound harsh, but just desire to follow God and maybe others will love/hate me based on that.
At the moment, I’ve just been doing more of Biblical studies and practical application. I’m not sure if this is what I should do permanently.
Test results: Teaching (20), Prophecy (13), Exhortation (10), Evangelism (9), Pastor/Shepard (8), Administration (6), Showing Mercy (5), Serving (4), Giving (3)
The irony is that I was a Sunday school teacher but was told that I wasn’t teaching “right” because I brought up many deep questions about scripture. I was instructed that I could only use denomination approved material and teach the way I was told to (the word indoctrinate was used a few times). I was also doing skits with another guy (who is now the associate pastor at that church) but leaned more towards teaching types of skits instead of entertainment based ones. Eventually I was encouraged away from that also. I think teaching would be a good fit for me but finding the appropriate environment and path to get there is something I have to follow God to.
We need to talk
Okay, I sent you an email.
OK
Those questions are too hard 😦
1. Maybe projects
2. I just don’t like working with people. They are mostly a pain in the butt. However I am a driving Instructor and enjoy watching my students grow in ability and confidence and it is a pleasure to see them pass their driving test.
3. NA
4. None of them actually appeal to me.
5. Probably more behind the scenes. A toughie really. I used to be on a music team twice but only because I have a little musical ability. I also used to clean up the church. I didn’t mind either. I have preached a couple of times. That was tough but work wise I have given presentations which I was ok with.
6. I would like to be a Paul or Jesus without the hassles. The physical hassles I am ok with but I am a lousy debater. Being verbally attacked is tough since I never seem to have the answers at hand.
7. Anything to do with listening to people whinge and whine.
8. Doesn’t interest me. I would rather hear Jesus say, “Good and faithful servant.”
9. “He did his best”
I have been a Christian for like 33 years now and I spent the first 15 years as a boring baptist in Australia. (Baptists may be different in America). I fell away for various reasons and made a comeback in 2004. I am battered and bruised – I can confidently say that Satan has given me a thorough working over so unfortunately I have lost the zeal somewhat. Maybe like Samson I can make a last second comeback. 🙂
Sounds to me that you are a gifted brother who needs a little time to “develop” Blogging is a great way to do that!
Don
I thought that test was very cool! And the results did not really shock me. I showed the greatest propensity for teaching and evangelism. Which just happen to be the two things I enjoy most.
Because of my background, that of being a raging heathen for 45 years, I am pretty sure God has gifted me with the ability to willingly and in a very up front way, share the gospel with just about anybody I can pin down for a minute or two. He seems to really use me with skeptics, as I know them as well as they know themselves. You know the saying, “It takes one to know one,” I am sure.
Fairly early on in my new life as a saved person, a situation occurred which really lead to me becoming a teacher. This was about four years ago, and I had been saved for about three years at the time. To say I was a novice would be an understatement. The Bible I received as a gift when I was saved was the first Bible I had ever actually owned. But, I did love to study; I always have.
I am in the Young Adult class in my church(Even though I am 52; we are pretty liberal with the definition of Young Adult, as I am not the oldest!). One that particular day, the assigned teacher had something come up literally minutes before class started, and had to leave. Normally, that was not an issue, as some man would just step up and teach. I might add, the thought that I would do that never entered my mind.
Well, one that particular day, things didn’t work according to plan, because all the sudden I noticed there were ten women staring at me! I stared back, and said “What?” It was then that my wife looked at me and said words that almost caused me to have a stroke, “You have to teach us.”
Well, God is great and the Holy Spirit can empower us to to whatever He wants us to accomplish. Class went fairly well, and we all learned some things that day, both teacher and students.
A few men in that class rotate among themselves with teaching duties; about two weeks after that, the fellow we all consider the finest teacher among us approached me and said I should become part of the rotation. We went back and forth, as I still didn’t really think I was ready. I mean, what right does some guy with only a few years of development have to teach students who have been Christians for several decades? He just said, “Pray and do what The Holy Spirit leads you to do.” The rest, as they say, “Is History.”
I know that all we do is for the honor and glory of God, But, I also am pretty sure God graciously gives us things which make us happy, as long as our motives are His glory and not our own. Two things bring me more joy than any two things on Earth: seeing a lost soul come to salvation, then seeing that same person learn and grow over time. I think its pretty awesome that we have a God who can work things to His glory and our joy at the same time!
Wally, thanks for sharing an awesome story! Yes sir, it looks just like that!