What are your spiritual gifts?

[Maid Marie]

What are some of your spiritual gifts? I didn't have enough options for all of them so feel free to list them all if you wish. The poll is multiple choice, too.

Other choices are:
Evangelism
Discerning various spirits
Speaking in tongues
Interpretation of tongues
Faith
Working of miracles
Healing
Apostolic
Ministry
Exhortation
Leading

 

[Mr Dave]

I've put down what I feel fro myself from the options above - knowledge, teaching and pastoral.

 

[Maid Marie]

I've put down what I feel fro myself from the options above - knowledge, teaching and pastoral.

I put down those three plus mercy and giving. From the other list I would add exhortation and maybe discernment.

 

[djsterf]

No Evangelism?

 

[Maid Marie]

No Evangelism?

Massive oops! I meant to, thought I did but guess I didn't. I'll correct that now in my post [too late for the poll].

 

[djsterf]

 

[Biker Angel]

Don't know what spiritual gifts I have if any. How do I find out?

 

[mark46]

You might try this test and site. There are many others. Also, many churches have a one-day program to assess spiritual gifts.

Spiritual Gifts - UMC.org

Don't know what spiritual gifts I have if any. How do I find out?

 

[djsterf]

Some options:
(1) Go through 'gifts' passages (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4) and prayerfully consider where your passions and skills are
(2) Take an assessment (see above). Those aren't perfect, but they can often get at some general idea of where you might be best gifted. I prefer a longer, more comprehensive guide. I wrote a program for two churches up in IL regarding spiritual gifts, and one of the most helpful ones was about 130 evaluative questions.
(3) When you serve God, oftentimes these gifts surface very clearly as the Lord empowers you.

 

[jacks]

You might try this test and site. There are many others. Also, many churches have a one-day program to assess spiritual gifts.

Spiritual Gifts - UMC.org

Thank you for the link. It was very helpful, I don't know what my gift is, but I'm working on Compassion. I often pray for compassion when I'm going to face a difficult situation, I find it very helpful in assisting people rather than judging them.

By the way I noticed a cross in the video, that has like an anchor shape on the end. Anyone know what that represents?

 

[mark46]

1 Corinthians 12

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
=================================================

This the book we use in our church twice a year in our Connections program. It is certainly sueful for individual use. We found the book after looking around the country. The book is used by the megachurch Willow Creek. Many have found it useful.

http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_prod.asp?invtid=PR26037&f=x

Amazon.com: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way (9780310257462): Bruce L. Bugbee: Books

 

[djsterf]

^ Doubling that recommendation -- that's the assessment we found most useful and comprehensive, as well.

 

[Maid Marie]

I've used Network book, too, and liked it. No inventory is perfect but it does give you some good ideas. Network was useful in that it also asked you to have your friends fill out the inventory about you. That would give you a better idea of your giftings.

 

[djsterf]

Also SHAPE curriculum is OK, but less preferred personally.

 

[Maid Marie]

Also SHAPE curriculum is OK, but less preferred personally.

I liked SHAPE better, but then that is because it went beyond spiritual gifts and explained why my pastor at that time drove me insane.

 

[mark46]

I have used SHAPE before and I agree with your assessment. I found Bugbee's more useful (mentioned previously) and also Wager's mentioned below. I have also included the link to SHAPE for those who might be interested.

http://www.summerbrookchurch.com/SHAPE.pdf

Another that I used years ago was Peter Wagner's. As I recall the book and inventory worked well for the church. The inventory is avilable online.
Gifted2Serve - Online Spiritual Gifts Inventory - Welcome

Amazon.com: Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (9780830736973): Mr. C. Peter Wagner Ph.D: Books

Just BTW, I consider this ministry to be of crucial importance for any church (helping folks identify their spiritual gifts). The inventory process is also useful in finding out what ministries we are really NOT alled to perform. Obviuosly, many of us sometimes find ourselves in the "wrong" ministries.

Also SHAPE curriculum is OK, but less preferred personally.

 

[Mr Dave]

About a year ago over in GT there was a link here to see what people had

Spiritual Gifts Test

Obviously it's not perfect, but it is a bit of fun


At the top of my list I get;


1. Music
2. Knowledge
3. Teaching

 

[Maid Marie]

About a year ago over in GT there was a link here to see what people had

Spiritual Gifts Test

Obviously it's not perfect, but it is a bit of fun


At the top of my list I get;


1. Music
2. Knowledge
3. Teaching

My top ones are: intercession, pastoring, prophecy, teaching and discernment.

Discernment has risen to the top - usually it is lower but I can see that one rising because it explains why I am so easily bugged over theology that is off in a sermon or songs sung in church.

Prophecy has risen too, but that may be due in part to how things are worded on this inventory vs others.

I am strong in encouragement which did not make the top 5, but it is just a few points away so I guess I'll survive it not being in the TOP.

But, my other top ones [knowledge and mercy] are down in the middle which confuses me. I am extremely well known in any church I've attended for the gift of knowledge. In fact, in a bible study I am attending the leader has actually told me not to answer the questions . I couldn't help myself from blurting out all the answers for the previous 5 questions. I guess this is where the disclaimer about it being written by humans and not the Holy Spirit applies.

And teaching killed my soul because I couldn't be merciful as much as I'd like. Other teachers hated it when I showed mercy.

But, the low ones are the right ones - evangelism, missionary, apostle, tongues/interpretation and administration.

 

[mark46]

Perhaps you are teasing us, but perhaps you are defining the spiritual gift of word of knowledge differently for yourself that the tests do. I think it is rare for folks to have more than three strong extraordinary spiritual gifts.

I think that we may have many spiritual gifts. For example, we should all have some of the gifts of faith, giving and encouragement. However, having these as extraordinary spiritual gifts is another matter.

BTW, your insight with regard to your growing gift of discernment seems spot on.

just my 2 cents

My top ones are: intercession, pastoring, prophecy, teaching and discernment.

Discernment has risen to the top - usually it is lower but I can see that one rising because it explains why I am so easily bugged over theology that is off in a sermon or songs sung in church.

Prophecy has risen too, but that may be due in part to how things are worded on this inventory vs others.

I am strong in encouragement which did not make the top 5, but it is just a few points away so I guess I'll survive it not being in the TOP.

But, my other top ones [knowledge and mercy] are down in the middle which confuses me. I am extremely well known in any church I've attended for the gift of knowledge. In fact, in a bible study I am attending the leader has actually told me not to answer the questions . I couldn't help myself from blurting out all the answers for the previous 5 questions. I guess this is where the disclaimer about it being written by humans and not the Holy Spirit applies.

And teaching killed my soul because I couldn't be merciful as much as I'd like. Other teachers hated it when I showed mercy.

But, the low ones are the right ones - evangelism, missionary, apostle, tongues/interpretation and administration.

 

[Maid Marie]

Perhaps you are teasing us, but perhaps you are defining the spiritual gift of word of knowledge differently for yourself that the tests do. I think it is rare for folks to have more than three strong extraordinary spiritual gifts.

I think that we may have many spiritual gifts. For example, we should all have some of the gifts of faith, giving and encouragement. However, having these as extraordinary spiritual gifts is another matter.

BTW, your insight with regard to your growing gift of discernment seems spot on.

just my 2 cents

I have seen several definitions for the gift of knowledge. I tend to go with the first one I learned and that is the ability to grasp biblical knowlege quickly. But the more charismatic defintion [for lack of better term] can apply to me as well but maybe not as strongly as my originl definition is. So that would explain why on this test I came up lower - hadn't thought about that. So how do you define it? And I think I know what you mean by "extraordinary" but just to make sure, could you tell me how you mean that?