Many of us feel called to serve the church in some capacity but struggle to understand where we would best “fit in.” Discerning our spiritual gifts is a great way to help us figure out the types of service to which we are suited.

When more people discern and report their spiritual gifts to the church, it is easier for us to determine what types of programming we can initiate.

On the following pages you will find what is called the “Interview Model” for determining spiritual gifts. This model was taken from “Equipped for Every Good Work” by Dan Dick and Barbara Miller.

Simply read each of the following paragraphs. Think about how the entire statement applies to your life. Respond to the entire paragraph, not just sentences within the paragraph. When you are done reading all the paragraphs choose the one that you most strongly agree with. Note any additional paragraphs that resound with you. 

1.People are often surprised at how well I understand what they are going through.  Many people seek my advice and know that they can count on me to tell the truth and not just try to tell them what they want to hear.  Other people have told me that I am perceptive and insightful.

2.I am an intuitive person and a good problem solver. When logic fails, I can still figure out solutions to difficult problems.  I can look at a situation and understand how it happened, and I usually have a good idea about how to deal with it. If there is a project to do, I am good at laying out exactly what will be needed to complete the task. I am always learning new ways to deal with new situations. Others often seek from me answers to questions they cannot figure out.

3.I am good at getting things done. I am organized, can delegate responsibility to others, and have a clear sense of what needs to get done. I am skilled at running a meeting.  I am perceptive about the skills and abilities people bring to a task, and I am able to bring the right people together to get a job done. When there is paperwork to be done, I will be sure that it is done properly.  I try to make sure that instructions are clear and understood, and jobs are done on time.

4.I want to serve God by serving the needs of others, especially when the people are of a different race or culture. It is exciting to talk about Jesus and the Christian faith to people who have never heard about them before. Mission projects and missionary work excites me. 

5.I believe in building strong community within the church. I especially like working in small groups, and I like talking to other people one-on-one. I enjoy mentoring young people, and I feel called to talk to people who are struggling with their faith. I want to get to know people well and to help them in their faith development.  I believe I can do the greatest good one person at a time.

6.I trust God no matter what is happening in my life. When things are difficult, I spend much time in prayer. I believe that no matter what things look like, God is still in charge. I often give comfort and hope to other people. I believe that the Bible speaks as strongly to issues of our day as it has in the past.  Other people have told me that I have a strong faith.

7.I have seen God work miracles in my own life and the lives of other people.  I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.  I don't believe there are hopeless cases as long as God is involved.  There have been times when I was able to say or do the right thing that helped heal someone emotionally.

8.I believe that God stills speaks new messages through men and women today. I think that God wants me to speak out against things that are wrong in the world. The Bible is relevant to life today and people need to stand up for biblical truths. Peace and justice issues are among the most important obligations for Christians.

9.I am an excellent organizer. I have good people skills and am able to bring out the best in people. I encourage people to develop and use their skills, and I am glad to offer tasks to other people who can do them as well as, if not better than I can.  I am as interested in the success of others as I am in my own success. I am more effective working in a group than I am on my own. One of my greatest desires is to help other people realize their full potential.

10.I believe that God blesses us with money so we might bless others.  I am a cheerful giver.  I never resent the church for asking me to give.  I talk freely about money and giving with others. I encourage others to give as they are able.

11.I am sensitive to the needs of others. The Bible instructs us to make serving the needs of others as our primary function, and I believe that God wants us to respond to human need wherever we find it. Visitation to the sick, the homebound, the elderly, and the outcast is the most important ministry of the church.  It doesn’t matter whether a person deserves help or not; if the person is needy, I want to help.  I am known for my kindness.

12.I believe people can be healed through prayer.  Faith is an important part of healing. I will pray for people who are sick or afflicted, and I know my prayers help the situation.  Emotional and physical illness is no match for the power of God.  It is important for a church to have a group that prays for the healing and comfort of the afflicted, though it is important to understand that sometimes the healing God sends is not the healing we asked for.

13.I have a good sense of people.  I often see the potential in other people that they cannot see themselves. Many times when people express a viewpoint, I can provide a different angle that they may not have considered.  People sometimes tell me that they are impressed that I have caught something that no one else saw or thought about.

14.I enjoy talking about what the Bible means. I like preparing a lesson plan for a Sunday school class or organizing my thoughts into a carefully planned presentation.  I want to know what the Bible has to do with my life today. I want to help other people understand what the Bible says to them.  I enjoy unlocking the mysteries of our faith so that others grow spiritually.

15.While I am not an especially good leader, I am a hard worker and I can follow instructions well. I am organized and pride myself on making things easier for other people.  I am an excellent assistant, and I work well with others. I don't seek praise or attention for what I do, as long as the job gets done well. I am perfectly content to stay behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. I have a gift for making preparations and focusing on detail.

16.Sharing my faith with other people is important to me, and I find it easy to do. When I talk about my faith, I want others to talk about theirs. I feel comfortable challenging someone to make a commitment to Christ. I like talking to Christians and non-Christians alike. I am not threatened by talking with someone of another faith, and I respect their differences. I feel that my call is to go and make disciples in the world. 

17.I am a doer rather than a thinker/planner. I would rather serve someone's physical needs and leave other people to address their spiritual needs. I have a difficult time talking about my faith, but I am motivated by my faith to help others in need. I will gladly work on a project or a job, but I would rather not serve in planning the work.

18.I am a cheerleader in the church, but I am also very honest.  I try to encourage people when they are down, but I also challenge them to do better. I have been told that I am a good counselor and that I can be trusted. People respect my opinion because they know that I am both honest and concerned for their well-being. People seek out my opinion, and they often open up to me with their deepest concerns. I try to speak the truth in love.

19.I find foreign languages easy to learn.  I communicate very well with members of different cultures and across generations.  I like to explain Western religious practices to other ethnic groups.  I do not find language a barrier to communicating with other people.

20.I can follow the conversations of people speaking a foreign language, even though I haven't studied their language. I have an intuitive understanding of foreign words and phrases.  I can interpret foreign languages for others. I have an intuitive grasp of foreign rituals and practices. I feel a close kinship with members of other cultures and traditions. I feel God leading me to involvement with people of other races, cultures, and generations.

21.I am the first to notice a new person in the room. I feel responsible for making sure strangers are welcomed. I often imagine what people who are unfamiliar with the church think about it. I am regularly concerned about the comfort level of the people around me and go out of my way to make them feel more comfortable. Others say I am easy to talk to. I understand God’s children come in many shapes and sizes but are each precious in their own way.

Spiritual Gifts Key

1. Wisdom: translating life experiences into spiritual terms

2. Knowledge: knowing God’s truth through faithful study of Scripture and the human situation

3. Administration: organizing human and material resources

4. Apostleship: spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to other cultures and to foreign lands

5. Shepherding: nurturing and mentoring others in the Christian faith

6. Faith: the exceptional ability to hold fast to God’s will in spite of pressures and problems

7. Miracles: an ability to operate at a spiritual level that recognizes the miraculous work of God in the world

8. Prophecy: speaking the word of God clearly and faithfully

9. Leadership: orchestrating the gifts and resources of others

10. Giving: the ability to manage money to the honor and glory of God

11. Compassion: exceptional empathy with those in need that moves us to action

12. Healing: being a conduit for introducing or God’s healing powers into the lives of people

13. Discernment: relying on spiritual intuition, the ability to help others determine God’s intent 

14. Teaching: bringing scriptural messages and spiritual truths to others

15. Helping: making sure that everything is ready for the work of Christ to occur

16. Evangelism: the ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who have not yet made a decision for Christ

17. Servanthood: serving the spiritual and material needs of others

18. Exhortation: exceptional encouragement

19. Tongues: being able to communicate across a wide variety of cultural barriers and spiritualities

20. Interpretation of Tongues: the ability to understand cultural and spiritual differences

21. Hospitality: the ability to empathize with newcomers and invite them into participation