Strengths
As we think of strengths and the way that God has gifted us, we should remember that the type of gift is one element, but probably the more significant aspect of strengths is how we are interconnected with one another. In 1 Corinthians 12, the focus of the passage is less about gifts and more about how are gifts relate to each other in the body of Christ. We need to see that the mission and work of God will always be beyond ourselves and God has designed us to need to lean and depend on others and more importantly depend on Him.
However, understanding our gifts and strengths allows us to understand our role in the church and in God's story and what He desires to do through each one of us. There are spiritual gifts and natural abilities that God has given to us. The spiritual gifts are listed in the bible and are divinely given to each one of us. We do not receive gifts pre-packaged and perfect, but there is a development of them. Also, we tend to say, discover your gifts and then serve. I believe most of us discover them through experience so maybe the better posture is serve, experiment, and then discover.
As you look at this list below, what are your top 3 gifts. Also, what are your bottom 3 gifts? It is important to understand not only what we are good at, but what we are not good at. Probably the areas that are our weaknesses or are things that drain us, we should look at not doing those things and delegating them to someone else on our team.
However, understanding our gifts and strengths allows us to understand our role in the church and in God's story and what He desires to do through each one of us. There are spiritual gifts and natural abilities that God has given to us. The spiritual gifts are listed in the bible and are divinely given to each one of us. We do not receive gifts pre-packaged and perfect, but there is a development of them. Also, we tend to say, discover your gifts and then serve. I believe most of us discover them through experience so maybe the better posture is serve, experiment, and then discover.
As you look at this list below, what are your top 3 gifts. Also, what are your bottom 3 gifts? It is important to understand not only what we are good at, but what we are not good at. Probably the areas that are our weaknesses or are things that drain us, we should look at not doing those things and delegating them to someone else on our team.
Spiritual Gifts
ADMINISTRATION: The God given ability to organize, promote, lead, and administrate activities of the church’s ministry. People with this gift…
- Are able to organize things, events, people and programs.
- Develop plans and systems towards clearly defined goals.
- Delegate what needs to be done
- Help dreams become a reality.
- Probably are perfectionists and want things done their way.
- Have a strong entrepreneurial DNA to start new ventures.
- Are risk takers and love challenges
- Are strong visionaries and have great abilities to influence others to follow.
- Demonstrate strong passion to cross cultural, geographical, and economic boundaries.
- Are able to read people’s personalities, motives, and actions.
- Sense inconsistencies in others.
- Are concerned if things are right or wrong.
- Are passionate about obeying truth and living by the word of God.
- Perceive when something is twisted or in error.
- Enable others to reach their full potential in Christ.
- Typically are friendly, understanding and practical.
- Are often sought out as counselors.
- Are naturally encouraging through both their words and actions.
- Champion and celebrate the success of others.
- Feel compelled to share the life of Jesus with others
- Have the ability to communicate the gospel very effectively.
- Constantly look for ways to build relationships with those outside the church.
- Have a good sense of when people are open to the message of Jesus.
- Have great confidence and expect great things from God.
- Are very passionate about prayer.
- Embrace challenges and ventures that seem impossible.
- Strongly believe in the presence and power of God.
- Give above and beyond what is comfortable.
- Tend to give without public recognition.
- Understand that God is the owner of all that they have.
- Look for ways to increase resources, in order to contribute more to the kingdom.
- Are concerned with how money is spent and saved.
- See their homes belonging to God to share with others.
- Desire to help others be welcomed, loved, valued, and cared for.
- Are willing to adapt and host others at a moment’s notice.
- The desire to welcome those that they do not know.
- Enjoy reading and studying the bible.
- Spend much time in deeper truths and doctrines
- Are able to answer difficult questions regarding the bible.
- Desire to help others understand these deeper truths.
- Understand the big picture and communicate it well to others.
- Are able to motivate and inspire others to achieving goals.
- Empower and delegate to others who are qualified.
- Are able to place people in the right positions to succeed.
- Show great wisdom in focusing on the right things to do.
- Readily place the needs of others ahead of their own needs.
- Spend a significant amount of time praying for the needs of others.
- Will empathize with the hurts and pains of others.
- Are concerned more with the person than the reason for pain.
- Place relationships over tasks.
- Equip others to fulfill their potential in Christ.
- Emphasize spiritual health as a primary goal.
- Share words from God to comfort or confront others.
- Have a strong sense of pointing the way, declaring truth, and standing for certain convictions.
- Offer wisdom to guide, encourage, warn or reveal sin that leads to repentance and spiritual growth.
- Serve behind the scenes.
- Do not mind the routine or the mundane.
- Are often detailed oriented.
- Enjoy simply helping others through selfless acts.
- Gain energy in studying scripture and opportunities to share what they learn.
- Enjoy helping others to learn to study the bible.
- Look for opportunities to share biblical truths not just in teaching venues, but in everyday situations.
- Enjoy helping others in providing insight and counsel.
- Are strong in making sound decisions.
- Show an incredible dependence on God for wisdom and direction.
- Provide insight in interpreting life situations, difficult circumstances, identifying roadblocks, and providing solutions.
Strengths Assessment
Here are a few assessments that can help us discover the way that God has gifted us.
Uniquely You - Site for discovering our spiritual gifts. Inexpensive and also has option to blend with personality test.
Strengthsfinder - Site to take the test without purchasing the book. Different test than spiritual gifts, but good in assessing who you are and your strengths.
Place Ministries - Finding our place in ministry. Great resource combining personality, gifts, abilities and passions. Another plus! Online assessment very inexpensive.
Uniquely You - Site for discovering our spiritual gifts. Inexpensive and also has option to blend with personality test.
Strengthsfinder - Site to take the test without purchasing the book. Different test than spiritual gifts, but good in assessing who you are and your strengths.
Place Ministries - Finding our place in ministry. Great resource combining personality, gifts, abilities and passions. Another plus! Online assessment very inexpensive.
