1

Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts

To know where God wants you to serve, you need to discover these three things;

1) Your ministry passion – pages 1-2

(2) Your spiritual gift(s) – pages 3-5, and

(3) Your personal style of service – page 6.

When you have completed pages 1-6, then review page 7 with your pastor or ministry coach.

1. To discover your ministry passion, fill out page two, “My Ministry Passion for God.”
 2

My Ministry Passion for God

Prayerfully reflect upon the following questions. Next, summarize what God has
impressed upon your heart for each of these questions.

1. When it comes to spiritual matters, what do you love talking about the most?
What issues (ministries, needs, etc.) do you feel most passionate about? What
has God made you passionate about and how can that passion be used in
ministry?

2. What are the most memorable “ministry” experiences of your life and why?

3. If there were no limitations or hindrances, I would love to do the following for God
or others. (If you only had one year to live, what would you do for God/others?)

4. I think the area God has made me passionate about is....

5. Based upon my passion, God may want to use me in this area of ministry....
 3

2. To discover your spiritual gift(s), prayerfully experiment with as many gifts as you can.
(Remember Nike’s motto: “Just do it!”) Usually a spiritual gift inventory tells you what
you’ve done, not what God wants you to do!

A. Ask yourself, (1) “What do you enjoy doing for God? (2) What needs to be done in
your church or community for God?” Summarize your answers to these two
questions here.

B. Fill out page four, “What Can You Do to Glorify God?” to assist you in identifying your
spiritual gifts.

C. Next, see page five of this handout, “Getting the Right Ministry for Each Person”
 4

What Can You Do to Glorify God?

(What are your spiritual gifts?)

Is it more important to you to (1) have fun, or (2) accomplish something? If you chose
“having fun,” fill out “People Ministries.” If you chose “accomplishing something,” fill out
“Project Ministries.”

1. PEOPLE MINISTRIES: (circle all God has placed on your heart)

A. Would you rather work with Adventist or Pre-Adventists?

B. Would you rather work with adults or children?

C. Would you rather lead out in a ministry or support an existing ministry?

D. Do you prefer working by yourself or with a team?

E. List your talents, skills, and amount of discretionary time.

2. PROJECT MINISTRIES: (circle all God has placed on your heart)

A. Do you want to work on a project that helps those within our church or help
those outside of our church?

B. Would you like a project that helps children or adults?

C. Do you prefer a project that is more inside (perhaps office oriented) or outside
and perhaps more labor intensive?

D. Would you prefer being in charge or supporting another who is in charge?

E. Do you prefer working by yourself or with a team?

F. List your talents, skills and amount of discretionary time.

 5

Getting the Right Ministry for Each Person:

Just knowing one’s spiritual gift(s) isn’t enough. Notice the following as an example of
how one gift could be used many ways.

Different Persons: Same Spiritual Ministry Passion: Ministry Style:

Gift:
Allen Teaching “To nurture adults If task oriented,
members” provide teachers’
Could work in Adult materials.
Sabbath School. If people oriented,
lead out in class
Bruce Teaching “To work with the If task oriented,
unsaved” organizes outreach.
Could give Bible If people oriented,
studies, outreach does the outreach.
seminars, etc.
Carol Teaching “To work with If task oriented,
member’s children” Lower Division
Perhaps works in Coordinator. If
Children’s Sabbath people oriented
School Divisions works directly with
the children.
Don Teaching “To work with the Works with VBS,
community’s Neighborhood Bible
children” Club, etc.
Could work in some If task oriented,
community project organizes these
for children. ministries; if people
oriented work with
the children directly.
 6

3. Your personal style of service.

A. Are you more people oriented or task oriented? People who are “people oriented”
are energized by interacting with people, they are relationally oriented. People who
are “task oriented” are energized by doing (accomplishing) things. If you are task
oriented, your ministry consists of tasks that will help someone (or a project). If you
are people oriented, your ministry should primarily consist of working with others.
Summarize whether you are more of one or the other.

B. Are you more structured or unstructured? Do you like (and need) clear plans,
goals, and order. Or, do you prefer spontaneity and flexibility. Choose a ministry
which reflects your personal style.

C. Remember, personal style explains behavior, but doesn’t excuse it.

D. What other talents and experiences can you bring to your ministry? How much time
can you donate to this ministry? (List below)

4. When it comes to spiritual gifts remember the following quote. “If I could speak in any
language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making
meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy,
and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but
didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could
speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I
gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;
but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. 1 Cor. 13:1-3

5. Beware of gift projection (all should have my gift), of gift exaltation (my gift is the most
important, see 1 Cor. 12:14-31)

6. The Church Body ultimately confirms your calling and spiritual gifts! However, examine
how God blesses your ministry.

(Please do not commercially reprint this information without permission from Dr. Del Dunavant. His email is
del.dunavant@nccsda.com)
 7

Follow Up Guide for Spiritual Gifts Seminar

(After working through all of the previous pages, answer the following questions)

1. What ministry has God called you to that will glorify Him and will bless others?

2. What spiritual gifts has God given you so you can do your ministry?

3. What life experiences, talents, skills, and time commitment can you bring to this
ministry?

4. What steps will you take (or need help taking) to be involved in this ministry?
(Talk with your pastor, ministry coach, or Lay Ministry Coordinator regarding
these last two questions).

5. What resources, training, and support do you need to do your ministry?