Understanding Our Giftedness Set

A Way To Look At Spiritual Giftedness To Call Out Others

Adapted From A Self Study Manual By Dr. J. Robert Clinton Barnabas Publishers (818 -584-5393)

Worksheets Prepared By Randall K. Knutson How Do You Connect To God? The Enthusiast - Loving God through Mystery and Celebration - loves God with gusto - is called the "cheerleader of the faith" Instructions: Myra Perrine has developed the following material to - is often closest to God when gathered with others, singing and worshiping the Lord in the congregation (for them, worship is “party time”) show each of us connect to God in different ways. Read through the - is inspired by joyful celebration, and is usually comfortable expressing emotion during following nine categories and choose only two that show your primary worship and secondary ways you feel closest to God. - is at home with spiritual mystery and living a life of expectancy, prayer, and creativity - gives merit to dreams as a way of receiving direction from God, and feels the freedom to explore the supernatural The Activist - loving God through confrontation with evil - has a tenacious desire to see evil confronted and good prevail, no matter what the personal cost The Intellectual - Loving God through the Mind - is wired to courageously fight for righteousness in the face of evil - loves God best through using their intellects - is a prophetic voice in their generation, speaking out against wrong and sometimes - sees faith as something to be understood as much as experienced-for them, right causing discomfort thinking is essential - may go on prayer walks or attend marches - loves to learn new things about God and gets bored when their mind is not stimulated - tends to see issues as “black and white” - reads challenging books and gravitates toward taking classes and seminars - can be unpopular, even in Christian circles - may enjoy discussing church history, the Bible, systematic theology, apologetics, or - revels in highly challenging environments that push them to the edge of their potential debating doctrine - can come across adversely to those who emphasize spiritual experiences or express their feelings readily, The Ascetic - loving God through solitude and simplicity - because-to the intellectual-that sort of Christianity may seem “mindless and - is usually a hard worker-the word literally means to labor or work irresponsible” - requires extended times of silence and solitude to recharge their spiritual batteries - needs quiet places to usher in God's presence more profoundly - needs a regular "sense of aptness" to be alone with God The Naturalist - Loving God through Experiencing Him Out-of-Doors - feels closest to God when surrounded by nature - appreciates a low level of sensory input, simple living conditions and environments, as ¬ well as simplicity in dress and lifestyle - has a soul that comes alive when out in God's nat ural splendor-be it the mountains, - may see food as purely “fuel for the body,” and values practicing the spiritual deserts, plains, woods, oceans, or beaches disciplines - experiences a dramatic increase in their awareness of God when outside in God's beauty - can draw spiritual meaning from all facets of creation The Caregiver - loving God through serving others - moves toward meeting practical needs-almost before being asked - is known as a "doer of the word" The Sensate - loving God through the senses - catches their spiritual stride and feels closest to God when quietly laboring in His - loves being lost in the awe, beauty and the splendor of God kingdom - is drawn to the God of the majestic - might volunteer to work at a pregnancy crisis clinic, tutoring kids, running errands, or - loves grand, intricate architecture or paintings with spiritual themes taking a meal to a neighbor in need - may experience God in clssical music, formal language, high church, incense, icons, - readily shoulders the burdens of others as a form of worship or stained glass - serves Jesus as they serve others and is often content to be in the background working - sees truth embodied in image, vision, and sacrament, and is moved closer to God without notice through the comeliness of observable beauty-His sounds, fragrance, or sweet savor - is often tactile, visual, and/or kinesthetic

The Contemplative - Loving God through Adoration - considers their first work that of adoring God The Traditionalist - loving God through ritual and symbol - needs to spend extended time in God's presence and/or gazing lovingly into God's face - feels more connected to the Lord when worshiping or observing an occasion in the - talks openly about intimacy with God, using the language of lovers same way they have before - tends to be at home with their more mystical side - enjoys worship, prayer, communion, Bible reading, and other faith practices used in - can be an extravagant lover of God who appears to “march to a different drummer” conjunction with the saints of old - experiences rituals, symbols, and sacraments as a way of entering into God's glory, giving them a sense of timelessness and a significant connection with the faith of the past - sees rituals as bringing continuity, support, heritage, lineage, and accountability What’s Your Spiritual Bent? INSTRUCTIONS: Using the four bents rank your answers below from the most to least. Be prepared to explain which INTRODUCTION: It’s important to look at your spiritual bent before two bents dominates your life experiences. your look at your giftedness set. Determine which of the following is your natural propensity? They are: 1.

1. THE HARVEST BENT: 2. Applies to leaders who focus on the expansion of the Kingdom of God. They mobilize the Church to preach the gospel’s message and to gather new believers into intimacy with Christ. This type of leader will focus on the outward aspect of the Great Commission -- Go into 3. all the world and make disciples of all people. (Mt. 28:19-20) 4. 2. THE SHEPHERD BENT: Applies to leaders with a concern for the welfare of Christ’s followers. They use their energy to manage believers so they develop in the Definitions: The Giftedness Set refers to the threefold collection of Kingdom. This type of leader will focus on the inward aspects of the giftedness elements: natural abilities, acquired skills, and spiritual Great Commission -- to teach to obey all that I commanded you. (Mt. 28:19-20) gifts. Natural abilities refer to those capacities, skills, talents or aptitudes which 3. THE SERVANT BENT: are innate in a person and allow them to accomplish things. Examples: Applies to sacrificial leaders who serve God by serving others. This analytical bent, intuition, and relational aptitude. type of leader leads by what they do. They model an incarnational style of service to the poor and oppressed. They set the pace and Acquired skills refer to those capacities, skills, talents or aptitudes which expectation for other believers by how they love and minister to have been learned by a person in order to allow them to accomplish others. They teach others to know God’s rule in their lives and hence something. Example: writing, motivational skills, piano, and any skills bring God’s righteousness to society.This type of leader focuses upon learned over time. the Great Commandment and being good news. (Mk. 16:15-18) A Spiritual gift is a God-given unique capacity imparted to each believer for the purpose of releasing Holy Spirit empowered acts upon the Body of 4. THE STEWARDSHIP BENT: Christ. Example: Discerning spirits, Healings, teaching as word gifts, love Applies to leaders who are accountable for launching specific visions, gifts, power gifts, and leadership gifts. resources, and new ministries into uncharted waters. These leaders focus upon unleashing faith upon the Church and motivating it to apply God’s truth. This type of leader directs people into gospel neglected places to be witnesses to the unreached people groups. (Acts 1:8) INSTRUCTIONS: On the next four pages you will find a definition, and a list of characteristics under each gift. Check any characteristic you know to be a part of your regular ministry behavior. Then record your results on the back pages and finish the questions provided. Developing Leadership Gifts

A B C D E APOSTOLIC PROPHECY EVANGELIST PASTOR TEACHING

The gift of apostleship The capacity to deliver The gift of evangelism The capacity to exercise A person who has the refers to special leader- truth publicly, either of a refers to the capacity to concern and care for gift of teaching is one ship capacity to move predictive nature or as a preach the gospel to the members of a group so as who has the ability to with authority from God situational word from lost and to challenge them to encourage them in their instruct, explain, or to create new ministry God. This gift is used in to respond by taking the growth in Christ. This expose biblical truth for structures, churches and order to correct by next initial steps in involves modeling clear understanding. para-church, to meet exhorting, edifying, Christian discipleship. maturity, protecting them needs and to develop and and to convince others from error and appoint leadership in of God's truth. disseminating truth. these structures.

Central Thrust - Creating New Central Thrust - To Provide Central Thrust - Introducing Central Thrust - Caring For Central Thrust - To Clarify and Leaders For Ministry Truth And Direction Others To The Gospel The Growth Of Followers. Research Truth _____ You have a call by God _____ You are not afraid to _____ You have the ability to _____ People usually look to _____ You study to understand to send pastors out speak out publicly or preach the gospel to you to make decisions truth in the original pioneering new take strong stands on strangers languages for accuracy churches issues _____ People feel you have _____ You introduce people to authority in things _____ You have a drive within _____ You have a reputation _____ You tend to see the Christ in both small or concerning spiritual you to research and for being an influence to needs of the group as a large groups matters explain truth the influencers whole and are willing to take stands on biblical _____ You have an intense _____ You are usually picked _____ You discipline yourself _____ You have a forceful standards sense of unrest with the as the leader in to study related subjects personality which can thought of people being committees, groups, or of various topics trust God to do what is _____ When you speak lost for eternity meetings necessary in unusual publicly, people are _____ You find yourself ways so that the convicted by the truth _____ You have freedom and _____ You seem to influence concerned about the Kingdom of God is that you give joy in talking about the action of groups by meaning of issues and expanded Christian themes in a what you preach will not be satisfied with _____ You recieve direct words bold way unclear explanations _____ You teach with a clear for others from the _____ You have the ability to understanding about the Spirit in prayer _____ People actually make maintain order and _____ You are considered nature of church and its discipleship commit- discipline among people more of a teacher than a purpose to multiply _____ You are often impressed ments as a direct result preacher that God has by His of your influence _____ You sturcture your _____ You can sense what Spirit given you a ministry so people grow _____ You feel called to help God wants to do and message to deliver to _____ You pray for the lost in relationship building others learn how to you are not afraid to others and see them come to experiences of unity study and find truth on appoint new leaders Christ on a regular basis their own _____ You’re often used to _____ You see the problems _____ Strong leaders follow correct by exhorting _____ You have the ability to of a group that you are _____ People know God in you and relocate to be others of God’s truth insert truth into normal relating to and accept ever increasing depth with you conversations with the responsibility to help because of your ability _____ You edify others with unsaved them through it to explain biblical truth _____ You have influenced God’s perspective upon area senior pastors to issues they face follow your vision Word Gifts F G H I J RULING EXHORTATION WORD/WISDOM DISCERN SPIRITS KNOWLEDGE

One who demonstrates The capacity to encourage The word of wisdom The ability given by God The capacity or influence and direction others towards biblical refers to the capacity to to know with assurance sensitivity of a person over a group so as to lead truth, and to comfort know the mind of the whether certain behavior to supernaturally perceive it toward a purpose. They people through the Spirit in a given situation purported to be of God is knowledge from God lead with a particular application of God’s and to communicate in reality divine, human, which otherwise could emphasis to make Word to their needs. clearly the application of or Satanic. not or would not decisions and keep truth to it. be known, and to apply it moving forward. to a given situation.

Central Thrust - Influencing Central Thrust - To Apply Central Thrust - Applying Central Thrust - A Sensitivity Central Thrust - Getting Others Toward Vision Biblical Truth Revelatory Information To Truth And It’s Source Revelatory Information _____ You have an ability to _____ People react strongly for _____ You have sensitivity to _____ You have a keen sense _____ You’re sensitive to the create direction and or against what you say the prompting of the for recognizing evil and Spirit’s prompting. This vision from God for Spirit which allows you have prayed to expell allows you to recognize churches to grow _____ You frequently find to recognize that God is demons from others certain impressions yourself giving advise speaking into a situation from God _____ You’re a leader of to guide others through _____ You have supernatural leaders who sets new difficult issues _____ You have the quickness insight to figure out _____ You receive knowledge direction to transfer concepts into what is wrong with a that could not have _____ You find that you have application for a situation and how to originated with you _____ You organize and build timely words to share situation improve it structures that allow lay with others to _____ The knowledge you leaders to reproduce encourage them _____ You have an ability to _____ You grasp God’s receive helps release their ministry see where principles of direction in order to the activity of God in _____ People frequently truth need to be applied thwart Satan’s attack others lives _____ You train leaders to fill confide in you because against other believers empty positions and of your sound mind and _____ You grasp situations _____ You have an awareness clarify their tasks biblical knowledge intuitively and see _____ You cannot rest when when God is releasing solutions almost you know people are knowledge and _____ You network others _____ You often sense divine simultaneously -- being given half-truths information towards strategic urgency to get some- further analysis often or controlled by false supernaturally resources thing done and are confirm your intuition teaching willing to communicate _____ You hear God speak _____ You have organizational that urgency to others _____ When a word of wisdom _____ You have an unusual messages that are for skills for developing is given in a group intuition to grasp when someone else new ministries and _____ You are not satisfied setting you usually people are demonized recruiting volunteers with a superficial truth sense if it’s authentic _____ You receive pictures or because you want _____ You see physical words for other people _____ You see what needs to people to use that truth _____ You see how life applies symptoms that lead in your mind’s eye be done and clarify the in their lives to other aspects of you to know something critical path to it issues is wrong _____ Strong counsel will _____ You love to encourage flood your mind that others to grow _____ You fit things together _____ You see what others do you are to share with a and connect things not see through mental specific person as you pictures or visions pray silently Power Gifts K L M N O MISSIONARY MIRACLES FAITH TONGUES HEALING

The missionary gift is the Miracles refers to the The gift of faith refers to The gift of tongues The gift of healings refers ability God gives to cross releasing of God's the unusual capacity of a refers to a spontaneous to demonstrating the different cultures, and to supernatural power so person to recognize, in a utterance of a word from gospel through the incarnate the gospel into that the miraculous given situation, that God God in an unknown supernatural releasing of meaningful application intervention reveals intends to do something language to an individual healing power for curing for that culture. God’s purpose and and to trust God for it and/or a group of people. all types of illnesses. intent. until He brings it to pass.

Central Thrust - Crossing Into Central Thrust - Releasing Central Thrust- Trusting God Central Thrust - Speaking Central Thrust - Releasing New Cultures To Minister God's Power and Message For The Impossible Divinely Appointed Messages God's Power To Heal

_____ You feel called to _____ God puts you in places _____ You accept God’s _____ You speak to God in _____ You become full of joy relate to other ethnic to demonstrate His promises at face value tongues you never learned and laughter and have groups power in order to and wait until God when you don’t know been drunk in the Spirit reveal His purposes fulfills them what to pray for others _____ You fruitfully share _____ You have an unusual Christ and minister to _____ You risk your reputation _____ You are looked upon by _____ You give public words ability to sense the other non-believers and trust God for the others to sustain a vision in tongues and have power of God when it supernatural events of and it’s direction interpreted other divine is present for healing _____ People of a different faith languages race and culture are _____ You sense when God is _____ You take risks for God attracted to you _____ You pray often so God going to do something _____ A leader imparted this and annoint others with releases His Power upon unusual even though spiritual gift to you by the oil and pray for them _____ You desire to learn others with great results others don’t have that laying on of hands another language and assurance _____ You have the ability to communicate God’s _____ You can discern what _____ You receive revelatory trust God and believe Word God wants to do in a _____ You have a desire to words from God for He wants to heal given situation know God in His others after you speak in publicly _____ You’re willing to live in fullness and Him alone tongues poverty to communicate _____ You see the spiritual for solutions to your _____ People are drawn God’s love to the poor realities of a situation problems _____ During worship you around you because you and discern the power speak in tongues and believe and see the _____ You have a strong encounter that’s _____ You know that God is even sing in tongues results of answered desire to travel for happening real because He has prayer Christ and minister to specifically intervened _____ You speak to God in a peoples of other _____ God uses you to do on your behalf prayer language that you _____ You have gone down cultures things which have never learned under the Spirit and supernaturally _____ You see the future and been out cold before _____ You think tactically demonstrate the power can take people to it _____ You hear God’s voice God about where the gospel of the gospel when you speak in needs to go and how to _____ You inspire others in tongues and worship _____ Releasing God’s healing incarnate His message _____ You’re breaking into times of weakness with as He directs power has given you to their world view new frontiers for the the assurance of God’s authority and gospel’s advancement character opportunity to preach the gospel Love Gifts

P Q R S T GOVERNMENTS HELPS MERCY GIVING HOSPITALITY

The gifts of governments The gifts of helps The gift of mercy refers The gift of giving refers The gift of hospitality involves a capacity to refers to the capacity to to the capacity to both to the capacity to give is the special ability manage details of service unselfishly meet the feel sympathy for those liberally to meet the that God gives to functions so as to support needs of others through injured or in need, needs of others and to do provide an open and free other leaders to very practical means. and to manifest care in so out of a pure motive house and a warm prioritize their efforts. some practical way to simply as an act of love encourage and comfort. and obedience. welcome to those in need of food and lodging.

Central Thrust -To Support Central Thrust - To Assist Central Thrust - Empathetic Central Thrust - To Channel Central Thrust - To Open Organizational Abilities Others In Their Work Care For The Hurting God’s Resources To Others Your Home To Strangers

_____ You have a knack for _____ You desire to help _____ Tears come easily as _____ You feel called to _____ You open your home to organizing things others physically you hear or see others financially support house others in need at move or in building pain God’s work any _____ You like to create stan- things they need opportunity dardized methods for _____ Most people think of _____ You are quick to doing things _____ You share God’s love you as an empathetic assume responsibility _____ You prefer to show your by fixing a car or listener for meeting the needs of witness through sharing _____ You think in terms of doing work someone others meals, gifts, or cleaning helping people reach cannot do _____ You reach out and touch house for those who are their goals or hold people who are _____ Your generosity sick _____ You have an suffering is well known by _____ You have a concern for unselfish desire to come others around you _____ Your home makes the good of the whole alongside _____ Your care for people in others “feel at home” group others in need need gives you a sense _____ You create systems and of divine find the means to give _____ You like to serve _____ You like to do things _____ You have a bent purpose to God’s work others behind the scene that support other peo- towards working and learn about new ple with the disabled _____ People like to have you _____ You have the ability or people around when they are in blessing to amass finan- _____ You organize things _____ You’re generous pain cial resources _____ You show God’s love and carry out the with your time and by what you do for oth- detailed plans assist others in their _____ You give but don’t _____ You’re careful in ers hands-on needs receive well from handling resources and _____ You find the steps nec- others desire to live _____ You like to organize and essary for plans _____ You prefer serving oth- with integrity care for other’s basic to come into reality ers anonymously _____ You’re the first one on needs when they can’t the scene and the last to _____ You love to teach _____ You see your gift as leave when others how to save and _____ Housework is your freeing up others to someone is overcome tithe their friend preach the gospel with grief resources Giftedness Survey Results Ranking Your Gifts Strengths Instruction: This Giftedness Survey is designed to identify the Instructions: Based on your own reflections of the Gift Survey functional symptoms of the gifts listed below. Tally up the state- Checklist rank your top five gifts below. ments for each gift and record it in this chart below. 1. Giftedness Survey Checklist 2. 3. Leadership Gift Cluster . . . A. Apostolic ...... _____ of 7 4. B. Prophecy ...... _____ of 7 C. Evangelist ...... _____ of 7 5. D. Pastor ...... _____ of 7 E. Teacher ...... _____ of 7 Which cluster dominates ? . . . Word Gift Cluster . . . F. Ruling ...... _____ of 7 G. Exhortation ...... _____ of 7 Drawing Out Your Gifts Mix H. Words of Wisdom ...... _____ of 7 Instructions: Fill in the concentric circles with the list of gifts you I. Discerning of Spirits ...... _____ of 7 have above. Place the most dominant core gift in the center. Try and J. Words of Knowledge ...... _____ of 7 guess what happens when the other gifts blend slightly into your core gift. How does the core gift influence the secondary gifts? (Exam- ple: Core gift mercy’s blend over the secondary gift of teaching = Power Gift Cluster . . . comfort) K. Missionary ...... _____ of 7 L. Miracle ...... _____ of 7 M. Faith ...... _____ of 7 N. Tongues ...... _____ of 7 O. Healing ...... _____ of 7

Core Leadership DominantGift Core Secondary Gifts Love Gift Cluster . . . Gifts P. Governments ...... _____ of 7 Q. Helps ...... _____ of 7 R. Mercy ...... _____ of 7 S. Giving ...... _____ of 7 T. Hospitality ...... _____ of 7 Spiritual Gifts Questionnaire

1. What does your “word gifts” set say about you? 8. What skills from work or life have your developed that could be used to served God’s purposes?

2. What does your “love gifts” set say about you? 9. What learned skills now dominate your service?

3. What does your “power gifts” set say about you? 10. What have others taught you about what your spiritual gifts?

4. What does your “leadership gifts” set say about you? 11. What life experiences do you have that could be used to contribute to the spiritual growth of others?

5. What passion gives you energy to serve endless hours just for the 12. What skills have you learned in life that could be an offering to joy of it? God?

6. Like attracts like -- Who in ministry do you wish you could be 13. When you think of your timelines as a running journal of how like? What gifts do they demonstrate that you like? you discovered your natural abilities, acquired skills and observed spiritual gifts, what do you notice about yourself?

7. What do others say are your natural abilities?