SPIRITUAL GIFT SURVEY This questionnaire will NOT tell you what spiritual gifts you have or do not have, but it may give indication of where you likely have gifts, and where you may have growth needs. It is best utilized in a context where persons who are familiar with your Christian life and experience can augment these finds with honest feedback. It is important that you answer the following questions how you honestly feel, and not how you would like to feel. Each statement below needs to refer to this critical phrase: TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THIS STATEMENT REPRESENT A SATISFYING PART OF MY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE? Then answer: 4 for much, 3 for some, 2 for little, and 1 for not at all. 1. I find that I move into positions of influence quickly and that others are at ease with this. 2. When someone is really hurting, I find that they seek me out, and seem genuinely helped after our encounter. 3. My residence is a hub of activity and it is usually my friends. 4. I tend to be the kind of person who will be quick to tell a reluctant person to "go for it!" and this frequently gives them confidence. 5. I tend to define trouble spots before others and am frequently the first to confront those situations with biblical truth. 6. I enjoy giving people items that meet their needs, even when its costly. 7. It is not unusual for me to consider that God does extraordinary things in my life and others. Others frequently are shocked, but I am getting less shocked at the extraordinary. 8. I have prayed with intensity and found that groaning, or other verbal emotional sounds are the only thing I can articulate because of the strength of conviction I have about the topic of prayer. 9. Frequently I am frustrated by the lack of vision others seem to have. I long for us to get out of the safe places, and believe that God will most assuredly assist us when we take risks. 10. Sometimes I find that something I say, share, or read REALLY ministers to people in ways that surprise me. It`s like God met a need I had no way of knowing to meet myself. 11. When others pray, or speak in foreign languages, I often know what they are saying though I have not technically understood a word of it. 12. I have seen headaches, stomach troubles, and other discomforts disappear in answer to my prayers and so I usually want to pray for someone and with someone as soon as I know they aren't feeling well. 13. Others tell me that I explain scripture in ways that they formerly had difficulty understanding. 14. I frequently find myself enjoying investing time assisting friends with repairs, school work, hobbies, and I derive pleasure from it too. 15. I am extremely grateful to God for saving me and it really burdens me for those who do not know Him, yet while I pray, my highest joy is talking to people who are not understanding the gospel yet. 16. People are so different, and I enjoy networking them into teams that really complement each other. They enjoy seeing it work together when I explain how it fits a given task. 17. Folks often make a fuss about cleaning stuff up. I like to do these kinds of things because I do them well and it helps us get down to what is important. So I find this "behind the scenes" work worthwhile. 18. Frequently I can tell either when someone is confused, or in error about God, before others see it. 19. Conflicts and the "will of God" are areas where my counsel often helps people, not so much because of my availability but rather how I sometimes integrate important truths and insight about situations and the persons' responses. This genuinely helps folks. 20. I have a strong desire to make Christ known wherever other people think it is impossible or even unwise. 21. Prayer is my passion. I promote it, I do it, and I do not understand why people do not realize it's extreme importance. 22. It breaks my heart to see groups of people, even small groups of people, who are not being cared for and given godly leadership. I find that I can combine leadership and caring, in ways people really respond favorably toward. 23. God has used me to spearhead ideas, mission, or discussion groups where people grow. 24. When people are extremely foolish, and suffer for their deeds, I find myself engrossed with their suffering and wanting to minister relief to them. 25. I see my living unit as a place of strategic human interaction and enjoy having people drop in even unexpectedly. I like people to feel my place is a safe place for them. 26. Likely if someone is embarrassed, or has failed in some way, I find that I verbally bolster them up, and give them hope to go on. 27. I am often strongly ready to speak Truth into situations that are difficult for others, because I see the broader socio- personal and structural consequences of allowing things to go un-confronted. 28. I am very glad to be given opportunities to use my material resources to further the spreading of the gospel, or the cause of Christ. I seek such opportunities. 29. After my prayers or when being in the presence of God, I find that I can ask God to do things and He does them, and other Christians find it amazing. 30. I have spoken in a language I did not comprehend, and felt I was either worshipping God in a new way, or was speaking a message to someone(s) about God, that they either understood (while I did not), or was interpreted to them by someone else. 31. I find myself in situations where people are stressed about some aspect of the work and reputation of God, and I'm feeling a real assurance that God is working in ways they may not perceive. My confidence in God is frequently seen as comfort to them though they often do not rationally understand it. 32. People have said to me, "How did you know" when I have consciously or "accidentally" shared a concern for them or asked a question of them, or shared a biblical truth with them that specifically addressed a need in their life. Sometimes I do it intentionally and sometimes not intentionally, but God uses it significantly to address someone's need. 33. In christian meetings, where a message is given in an unknown language, I have had a strong sense of what the message content is and have spoken what I believe that message "from the Lord" was to His people. 34. I have been used of God to bring a binding up of wounded hearts in people, either through giving them release from memories that paralyze their service, or worship, or relationships, or in the removal of a bitter, contentious, or unforgiving spirit. People have sensed that they were "restored" through their interaction with my prayers in this context. 35. I find that in conversations and in groups, that I integrate scriptural truth in ways that people profoundly understand. I enjoy having people get into the scriptures, and I regularly bring them to light for people. 36. I seem to find myself in situations where I am strategically needed to render service that is commonplace, yet extremely helpful to the persons who required it, and this sometimes makes me sense that they are "divine appointments". 37. I have been used of God to lead others to faith in Christ, and others noticeably closer to faith in Christ. This is a significant motivator in my christian experience. 38. A mind for details seems to lead me into spheres of influence that enable teams of people to BE and DO all they are called to BE and DO. 39. If someone spills food, I find that I am usually the first person to begin preparations for the necessary clean-up. Others may talk and encourage, but I try to alleviate the obstacles to the fellowship, often behind the scenes. 40. Sometimes I have been able to sense that an individual is involved in a cult or the occult, before others sense that the person is anyone other than just an ordinary "Joe". It's like "something is just not right" and it's something that registers "in my spirit" so to speak. 41. Sometimes people are concerned about mercy and others with justice and truth, and situations are complicated. In those times I have given counsel in a way that seemed to integrate the various contexts. I am sought out for this kind of insight. 42. I have a strong sense that I am "sent" into many ministry situations by God, and I strongly desire to be sent anywhere in His service. The main point being not gifts, or stances; but "Sent-ness" from God. 43. I know there are people who will say "I'll pray for you." And they will pray. I get a lot of satisfaction in praying regularly for folks. This time of prayer for people is something I believe in. It won't be just a quicky thing from the head, but taken seriously. 44. I care about people pretty deeply. I want to come alongside of them and help them through situations with the love of Jesus, and with the words of Jesus, shared thoughtfully. Total the horizontal pairs, (ie, 1+23=, 2+24=, etc.) **************************************************** 1 23 Total Leadership 2 24 .. Mercy . .. .. . .. .. 22 44 .. Pastor When you finish the arithmetic, put the names of the gifts that would characterize those horizontal lines to the RH side of your totals. Follow the order from the list below. (See also the column to the right of "Total" above.) 1. Leadership, 2. Mercy, 3. Hospitality, 4. Encouragement, 5. Prophecy, 6. Giving, 7. Miracles, 8. Tongues, 9. Faith, 10. Knowledge, 11. Interpretation of Tongues, 12. Healing, 13. Teaching, 14. Helps, 15. Evangelism, 16. Administration, 17. Serving, 18. Discernment, 19. Wisdom, 20. Missionary, 21. Intercession, 22. Pastoral. After taking your top 3 "scores", see if you feel this corresponds with spiritual gifts that you may think you have. After reflection on the gift areas where you seemed strongest, bounce the following questions off a friend(s) who know you well, and are honest with you: 1. Are there areas where I came in relatively strong in gifts that perhaps I need more information in understanding what that means for me personally? 2. Are there areas where they feel I may have been under- estimated, that God has enabled me to exercise gifts in, that perhaps I am not aware of? 3. What are the implications of this within the leadership roles I will have next year? 4. What are the gifts that I need to be in relationship with, to make my roles most effective? 5. In what ways might I want to ask God to help "fan up" these gifts to meet the challenges of the future? Questionnaire by Joe Whitchurch, Cedar Campus SLT 1993.