Why these twenty gifts?
The twenty gifts covered by the Spiritual Gifts Online Assessment are those listed within the Pauline epistles to Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth, and recognized by the first-century church. While all of life is a gift from God, these twenty gifts are lifted up within Scripture as the gifts of the Spirit, given specifically for the upbuilding of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4; I Corinthians 12 & 13; Romans 12).
What if I am not gifted?
It is our firm belief that everyone is gifted by God and that each person is uniquely and beautifully equipped for ministry and mission. Giftedness is not about privilege or special skills and talents. It is about listening more deeply to, and following more fully, the deepest desires of our hearts and God's leading in our lives. This is the call to all people of faith — laity or clergy, flashy or quiet, knowledgeable or seeking.
How do we get everyone to do this?
This is probably the question we hear most often. Our answer has always been the same: It is not necessary, or even feasible, to get everyone to go through the assessment. The Spiritual Gifts Assessment or any valid tool for gifts discovery are means for inviting the Holy Spirit into the center of the life of the body of Christ.
We believe, and history and experience have proven, that when a small group—even a handful—of passionate disciples open themselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit in an intentional, committed way, change will occur. Faith, love and hope spread like wildfire when we are filled with the Spirit. It is more important to offer ongoing opportunities for the passionate few to share their unfolding discoveries than it is to get everyone through the discovery process. We hope the assessment is a means of grace in the life of the body of Christ.
How do we know whether or not we are doing this right?
If people are talking about their relationship with God in new ways . . . if the discovery process, or concerns about it, leads to dialogue about what we believe . . . if one or more participants experience an "aha" about themselves and/or others . . . you are doing it right. We have always been more interested in what is sparked by the process than with the process itself.
