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Spiritual Gift Sorter

This is a Spiritual Gift Sorter which I designed for use at NewSong Church in San Dimas. I put this together after realizing almost all other surveys of this type assume a good deal of church experience. This is difficult because, of course, those who are most in need of determining their spiritual gifts are those who have not had a great deal of experience or opportunity within a church setting. Thus, such tests become discouraging to those taking it. This is not a test to determine what you have done in the Church, and scores may trend higher as it seeks to look beyond simple ministry experience.

As with all Spiritual Gift Sorters this one has its own peculiarities and weaknesses. All of these must first break down the manifold work of the Spirit into distinctive categories. The following has twenty categories, with the Gift of Speaking and Interpreting Tongues combined. Other “popular” gifts such as prayer have been left out, and some controversial gifts such as music and creative arts have been included. This is a theological and Scriptural decision on my part, though I understand there might be disagreements.

My hope is for this to be a Spiritual Gift Sorter which can be given to new Christians or those without distinctive ministry experience or who have not found a distinctive “fitting” within the life of a local community.

Ideally this is to be taken within the context of a community, where those experienced in this topic can assist in determining both the specifics and the use of the results of this sorter.

Sorters such as these are inherently incomplete.

The discovery of Spiritual Gifts is a fluid activity, dependent on maturity, opportunity, and discipline. It is also a topic which is best found in the context of others who are committed to each other. We cannot always see in ourselves what others see, and sometimes we see in ourselves our hopes rather than our realities. Others can both point out what we do not see, and give us guidance if we are not quite on the right path of discovery.


The following online Sorter is a more convenient but less thorough format.  For the gift of Tongues questions there is an “a” and “b” part. The first part relates to speaking in tongues, the second interpretation. Answer each half.  Doing it this way seemed nicer than having overly similar questions in different numbers (plus there's something even about having 100 questions).

At the very bottom of this page is a .pdf file of this Spiritual Gifts Sorter which you can download and print out for your convenience. 

I encourage you to take this as part of a community or within a context of discussion. You are also encouraged to email for more information, guidance, or questions.


What is Your Part in the Body of Christ?

-A Guide to the Anatomy of the Body-

Rate each of the statements in regard to yourself. Be honest, not hopeful.  This is not a test and is not a way to prove yourself.  Your very honest assesment of yourself is the key to the results.

-Make sure to answer all the questions-

1.  I am very resourceful in finishing tasks.
2.  I wisely manage my finances and lifestyle so as to be able to commit my resources to others.
3.  I find great satisfaction in helping people feel comfortable and welcome.
4.  Without training I find myself (a) speaking in a language I do not understand, or (b) I find myself understanding a language I do not “know”.

a.
b.

5.  Others often tell me I am a  very kind person and have a great love for all people.
6.  I am very good at developing strategies or plans to reach identified goal.
7.  I am very good at meeting new people and have an instant rapport with them.
8.  I have a clear sense of receiving messages from God.
9.  I have an extraordinary confidence in God and an ability to embolden others.
10.  I see people’s physical needs as being just as important as their spiritual needs.
11.  I find myself more able than others to apply Truth in practical ways.
12.  I sing or play an instrument in a way which others have told me is edifying.
13.  I am good at motivating people to a level of higher commitment.
14.  I am very good at starting new things, but get bored doing routine work.
15.  I am very good at taking responsibility for direction and decisions.
16.  I find myself often communicating through creative means.
17.  I often find myself proclaiming timely and urgent messages to the leaders and the community.
18.  I sometimes get the sense that what I am reading or hearing is divinely inspired or not.
19.  People tell me I am trustworthy and often confide in me.
20.  I am great at communicating in such a way that people are changed.
21.  I find myself enjoying doing tasks which others may find difficult or thankless.
22.  I love to give, but do not like getting attention for it.
23.  I love helping those who are new to a group feel ‘connected’.
24.  My soul is sometimes (a) overwhelmed with expressions language cannot express or (b) I find myself being able to express someone else’s inexpressible words.
a.
b.
25.  I find great joy in comforting those who are sick, suffering, or grieving.
26.  I often find myself assisting in making things run more efficient and effective.
27.  Nothing thrills me more than sharing with as many people as possible something which will change their lives.
28.  I often find myself understanding truths about people, situation, or Scripture which may not be “naturally” acquired. 
29.  I am not moved from my personal belief in the truth by ridicule, apparent failure, or pain.
30. The Good News means for me really bringing someone practical help.
31.  I often find myself clearly understanding God’s perspective in various situations, in a way which is confirmed by Scripture and others.
32.  I often express emotions or spiritual expressions through music.
33.  I enjoy encouraging those who are discouraged become encouraged and those who are inactive become active participants.
34.  I do not like to work where others are doing the same thing.
35.  I love to provide vision and direction for a group of people.
36.  I love to creatively organize different mediums for the uplifting of the soul.
37.  I often am the one who brings a forceful challenge to the community to act in a way which best reflects God.
38.  I often confidently and quickly know something or someone is wrong or right, even if it goes against popular opinion or clear evidence.
39.  I find myself drawn to helping people find answers to their spiritual problems
40.  I love to study and share the fruits of that study.
41.  Practical acts are, for me, a spiritual act of worship.
42.  I often find myself drawn to help meet tangible needs which can enable spiritual  growth.
43.  I often find myself putting aside my own preferences and comfort for the sake of others.
44.  I have (a) spoken in a language I do not know that has been interpreted as having a great Spiritual truth, or (b) I have found myself interpreting a language I do not know for the purpose of expressing a great Spiritual truth.
a.
b.
45.  I often find myself coming alongside those who are in a bad situation to help them find comfort and relief.
46.  I am great at organizing people, tasks, and events.
47.  I am great at recruiting people.
48.  I have distinct words, messages, visions, etc. which are timely and clearly expressed for a particular situation.
49.  I am totally convinced God will fulfill his promise no matter how long it may take.
50.  I see my ministry as mostly being outside the typical church, in the midst of those who are desperate and needy.
51.  I generally go beyond the surface and appearances and jump right to the heart of a matter.
52.  My music lifts up the souls of  others.
53.  I have a special gift of helping others get ‘reset’ emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
54.  If I know I am right, other’s opinions do not sway my work.
55.  I often find myself rising to a position of leadership, even when I do not necessarily desire that position.
56.  I feel bored by established patterns or styles of expression.
57.  I can understand and proclaim Truth with an authority that is not inherent to my general personality.
58.  I find myself in positions of helping to discover possible spiritual sources of a problem.
59.  I derive a great deal of strength from encouraging, supporting, and exhorting others.
60. I find joy in instructing and training others, and have been told I am good at it.
61.  I see things needing to be done around the house, work, etc. and I just do them.
62.  Money for me is simply a gift from God to be given back whenever asked.
63.  I love to help create an environment in which people’s basic needs are met and which can create the best possible atmosphere.
64.  I have had (a) the opportunity to speak in tongues or (b) I have been in a situation in which others were speaking in tongues and I somehow knew exactly what they were saying.
a.
b.
65.  I help people consistently because I care not because I want thanks or recognition.
66.  I find fulfillment in managing or coordinating a variety of tasks in order to accomplish a task.
67.  People are convinced when I share with them truths.
68.  Responses or understanding rise out during times of prayer.
69.  I completely trust that God is doing great things, and am bewildered that others do not share this trust.
70.  I find myself often being an advocate for social causes and reform, and continue to be so even in opposition.
71.  I see clearly the results and consequences of a given action, good or bad, and am able to clearly articulate these to others.
72.  I love to play an instrument or sing for its own sake, not for recognition or acclaim.
73.  I can challenge others without making them feel condemned
74.  The thought of building something from the ground up thrills me.
75.  I love to be a model which others can follow.
76.  I love to express creatively verbally inexpressible concepts.
77.  I see God’s lessons in good and bad circumstances and feel urged to share these with others.
78.  I feel a profound sense of the spiritual realm, sensing things good and bad, that others often do not.
79.  People are, to me, much more important than tasks.
80.  I like leading a group of people in discovering deeper truths.
81.  I love to help fix, maintain, or set up.
82.  I often see financial needs and give above and beyond expectations without even being asked.
83.  I often have a clear understanding of what needs to be done in order to create an inviting atmosphere and energetically go about doing it. 
84.  Tongues, for me, is a vital aspect of my worship and prayer life. Either (a) speaking in tongues or (b) interpreting what others speak for the community
a.
b.
85.  I am very patient in comforting others.
86.  It is thrilling to create order out of organizational chaos.
87.  When I find something I like or value I want everyone to know about it or experience it.
88.  I am regularly in a position in which I have an unusual understanding or depth of insight which edifies the community.
89.  I am willing to trust God will work even when circumstances demand otherwise.
90.  I get great spiritual satisfaction from helping people find relief from their physical needs.
91.  I seem to know the ‘right’ thing to do in very difficult situations.
92.  When I play an instrument or sing it amplifies the Spiritual focus of the community.
93.  I am good at seeing “the best” in people and encouraging them to pursue it.
94.  I am great at formulating a vision and getting people around me to share that vision.
95.  People often look to me to make key decisions.
96.  I consider myself very artistic.
97.  I regularly find myself speaking about a present situation or even a future situation in a way which urges people to come closer to God
98.  Spiritual inconsistencies to me are very evident.
99.  I love to pursue spiritual truth, and love even more guiding a group of people following me in this pursuit.
100.  I highly value discovering different styles, resources, or methods which would best help communicate a specific topic to a group of people.
 

 

This is a downloadable PDF file of the Spiritual Gifts Sorter and associated questions.  I encourage you to print this out and consider the questions in more detail and with others in your community.

Click the link, save the file on your computer, then print it out.

© 2003 Patrick Oden

Dualravens

 

 

   
 
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