God has blessed you with your Spiritual Gifts. What you do with them is your gift to God.

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1 God has blessed you with your Spiritual Gifts. What you do with them is your gift to God. Becoming a Disciple for Jesus Christ The Spiritual Gifts assessment will support you in your faith journey and help you to become a better disciple for Jesus Christ. Perceptions about spiritual gifts will shape how you embrace and use them. Your gifts will be affirmed by others, validated through prayer and confirmed by their use over time. Confidence in your gifts comes when you recognize, accept, embrace and celebrate them yourself. Put Your Gifts into Action The next step is to explore what the Holy Spirit has planned for you by blessing you with these gifts. PRAY: seek the Holy Spirit s guidance as you explore your gifts. STUDY: become familiar with bible references and descriptions so you have a solid foundation to explore your gifts. SELF-EXAMINATION: how do you feel about each of the gifts with which you have been blessed? CELEBRATE: use your gifts by taking action as one of Christ s disciples. LISTEN FOR AFFIRMATION: others will recognize and confirm your spiritual gifts through genuine expressions of approval and thankfulness. The following questions will help you explore your gifts further. Were you surprised by any of the gifts on your list? Have you used any of these gifts recently? Is anything keeping you from using your gifts effectively? How can you make room in your life so all of your gifts can be used? What can you do to help others use their gifts? What are the Spiritual Gifts? The work of the Holy Spirit is an awesome mystery for us. The following descriptions are intended to provide you with an image of each spiritual gift. Each entry contains a description, general characteristics and bible references. Like the assessment, these descriptions are not definitive but paint a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit at work in God s people. (The gifts are listed in alphabetical order for easy reference.)

2 REFLECTING ON MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS Spiritual gifts are biblical, given to everyone, essential to discipleship, exciting to discover and reveal. You cannot choose or trade the gifts you receive. Spiritual gifts are gifted through the work of the Holy Spirit. Your spiritual gifts are not about you! God has a greater use for these gifts they are not exclusively for your edification. The mystery of these gifts is that the more you use them, the more confident you become in them and the more effective your ministry becomes. 1. When you received the results of the Spiritual Gifts assessment, were you mostly surprised, mostly not surprised, or a mix of both? 2. When you first became aware that you had a spiritual gift: what was the gift? when were you first aware of it? 3. Which two gifts in your results were you most aware of already? 4. Can you think of examples of how you ARE using those gifts, or HAVE USED them recently? 5. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate how effectively you are using each gift in your list. (1 = not effectively using, 10 = fully using) 6. Choose three gifts you are using the least and would like to explore more: 7. What might be blocking you from using those gifts? 8. What are some ways those gifts might be used (or used more fully) at Holy Trinity or in your community? 9. Look over the scripture references related to your gifts. Choose two or three that speak to you. 10. Choose one scripture reference that you would like to focus on as inspiration in your work at Holy Trinity and in the community.

3 Administration/Guidance: the gift that enables a believer to formulate, direct, and carry out plans necessary to fulfill a purpose. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Acts 14:23. People with this gift are usually: organized, goal-oriented, thorough. Apostle: the gift that enables a believer to exercise general leadership or oversight over a number of churches with an authority in spiritual matters. It is the gift whereby the Holy Spirit appoints certain Christians to lead, inspire and develop the churches of God by the proclamation and the teaching of the doctrine. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28-31, Ephesians 4:11-16, II Corinthians 12:12, Matthew 10:1-8. People with this gift are usually: pioneering, adaptable, culturally sensitive and aware. Crafts/Artistry: the gift that gives the believer the skill of creating artistic expressions that produce a spiritual response of strength and inspiration, or to create, build, maintain or repair items used within the church. Biblical References: Exodus 31:1-11, Psalm 149:3a, Exodus 30:1-6, Exodus 31:3-5, Ezekiel 27:4-11. People with this gift are usually: expressive, imaginative, artistic, creative, unconventional, sensitive, idea-oriented. Discernment: the gift that motivates a believer to seek God's will and purpose and apply that understanding to individual and congregational situations. Biblical References: John 16:6-15, Romans 9:1, I Corinthians 2:9-16. People with this gift are usually: perceptive, insightful, sensitive, intuitive, decisive, challenging, truthful. Encouragement: the gift that enables a believer to offer comfort, words of encouragement, hope and reassurance to discouraged, weak or troubled persons in such a way that they are consoled. Biblical References: Romans 12:6-8, Titus 1:9, Acts 11:23-23, I Thessalonians 2:11-12 People with this gift are usually: sensitive, faithful, compassionate. Evangelism: the gift that moves believers to reach nonbelievers in such a way that they are baptized and become active members of the Christian community. Biblical References: Matthew 28:16-20, Ephesians 4:11-16, Acts 2: People with this gift are usually: sincere, candid, respected, influential, spiritual, confident, commitment-oriented. Exhortation: the gift that moves the believer to reach out with Christian love and presence to people in personal conflict of facing a spiritual void. Biblical References: John 14:1, II Timothy 1:16-18, III John 5-8. People with this gift are usually: positive, motivating, challenging, affirming, reassuring, supportive, trustworthy. Faith: the gift that gives a believer the eyes to see the Spirit at work and the ability to trust the Spirit's leading without indication of where it all might lead. Biblical References: Genesis 12:1-4a, Mark 5:25-34, I Thessalonians 1:8-10. People with this gift are usually: prayerful, optimistic, trusting, assured, positive, inspiring, hopeful.

4 Giving: the gift that enables a believer to recognize God's blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously and sacrificially giving of one's resources (time, talent, and treasure). Biblical References: II Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 21:1-4. People with this gift are usually: responsible, resourceful, trusting in God, charitable, disciplined, sensitive, stewardship-oriented. Healing: the gift that enables a believer to serve as a human instrument through whom it pleases God to cure illnesses and restore health (physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually) apart from the use of natural means. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:7-11, I Corinthians 12:28-31, Acts 3:1-10, Luke 9:1-2 People with this gift are usually: empathetic, caring, spiritually aware, faithful. Hospitality: the gift that causes a believer to joyfully welcome and receive guests and those in need of food and lodging. Biblical References: Romans 12:13, Romans 16:23a, Luke 10:38. People with this gift are usually: friendly, gracious, inviting, trusting, caring, responsive, warm. Knowledge: the gift that drives a person to learn, analyze and uncover new insights with regard to the Bible and faith. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:8; I Corinthians 14:6, Romans 12:2. People with this gift are usually: inquisitive, responsive, observant, insightful, reflective, studious, truthful. Leadership: the gift that gives a believer the confidence to step forward, give direction and provide motivation to fulfill a dream or complete a task. Biblical References: Romans 12:8, John 21:15-17, II Timothy 4:1-5. People with this gift are usually: influential, visionary, diligent, trustworthy, persuasive, sensitive, goal-oriented. Mercy: the gift that motivates a believer to feel deeply for those in physical, spiritual, or emotional need and then act to meet that need. Biblical References: Luke 7:12-15, Luke 10:30-37, Matthew 25: People with this gift are usually: empathetic, caring, responsive, kind, compassionate, sensitive, burden-bearing. Music: the gift that gives a believer the capability and opportunity to present personal witness and inspiration and comfort to others through either vocal or instrumental music. Biblical References: Psalm 96:1-9, Psalm 100:1-2, Psalm 149:1-2, Psalm 33:1-5, Psalm 150, I Samuel 16: People with this gift are usually: expressive, imaginative, insightful, inspiring, reflective, sensitive, creative. Pastoring (Shepherding): the gift that gives a believer the confidence, capability and compassion to provide spiritual leadership and direction for individuals or groups of believers. Biblical References: I Timothy 4:12-16, I Timothy 3:1-13, II Timothy 4:1-2.

5 People with this gift are usually: discipling, supportive, protective, relational, influencing, guiding, nurturing. Prayer (Intercession): the gift that enables a believer to pray with the certainty that prayer is heard and when requests are made, answers will come. Biblical References: Matthew 6:6-15, Luke 11:1-10, Ephesians 6:18. People with this gift are usually: caring, sincere, trustworthy, advocating, burdenbearing, spiritually sensitive. Service/Helps: the gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God's work is fulfilled. Biblical References: Luke 23:50-54, Romans 16:1-16, Philippians 2: People with this gift are usually: available, willing, helpful, loyal, reliable, dependable, having a whatever-it-takes attitude. Teaching: the gift that enables a believer to communicate a personal understanding of the Bible and faith in such a way that it becomes clear and understood by others. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 18: People with this gift are usually: analytical, disciplined, perceptive, teachable, authoritative, practical, articulate. Wisdom: the gift that allows the believer to sort through opinions, facts and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be best for the individual believer or the community of believers. Biblical References: I Corinthians 2:6-13, James 3:13-18, II Chronicles 1:7-11. People with this gift are usually: sensible, insightful, practical, wise, fair, experienced, possessing common sense. Writing: the gift that gives a believer the ability to express truth in a written form; a form that can edify, instruct and strengthen the community of believers. Biblical References: I John 2:1-6, 12-14, I Timothy 3:14-15, Jude 3. People with this gift are usually: expressive, studious, insightful, inspiring, reflective, truthful, observant.