Chapter One
experience
assessment
DESCRIPTION AND DIRECTIONS
There is often a correlation between Christian experiences and
spiritual gifts. This assessment explores personal experiences that
might indicate which specific gifts you are most and least likely to
have. If you have not served before, then you will identify which
of your behaviors most approximate the behaviors of those who
have certain gifts.
Directions:
1. Read each statement in the Experience Assessment (pp. 22-30).
2. Indicate how true of you each statement is by scoring it using
the following scale:
Score Meaning
3 = Consistently / Definitely true
2 = Most of the time / Usually true
1 = Some of the time / Once in a while
0 = Never / Not at all
3. Put your score (0, 1, 2, or 3) in the appropriately numbered
box on the response sheet (p. 21).
4. Important:
Answer according to who you are, not who you would
like to be or think you should be.
How true of you are these statements?
What has been your experience?
To what degree do these statements reflect your
tendencies?
5. When you have completed the Experience Assessment, add up
each column and record the total above each letter.
STATEMENTS
1. I can coordinate people, tasks, and events to meet a
need.
2. I enjoy working creatively with wood, cloth, paints,
metal, glass, or other materials.
3. I enjoy developing and using my artistic skills (art,
drama, music, photography, etc.).
4. When I see spiritual complacency, I am willing to
challenge it.
5. I have confidence that God not only can, but he will.
6. I give liberally and joyfully to people in financial need
or to projects requiring support.
7. I enjoy working behind the scenes to support the work
of others.
8. I view my home as a safe and caring place to minister
to people.
9. When it comes to my attention, I am honored to
regularly pray for someone or for a concern.
10. I am motivated to set goals and influence others to
achieve a vision in order to advance God's work on
earth.
11. I empathize with hurting people and desire to help in
their healing process.
12. I am attracted to the idea of serving in another country
or an ethnic community.
13. I have spoken a timely and important prophetic word to
others that I felt came to me directly from God while in
prayer.
14. I have the ability to communicate the gospel with clarity
and conviction.
15. I establish trust and confidence through long-term
relationships.
16. I am able to communicate God's Word effectively.
17. I can readily distinguish between spiritual truth and
error, good and evil.
18. I research and am persistent in my pursuit of knowing
the truth.
19. Others often seek me out for advice about personal and
spiritual matters.
20. I am careful, thorough, and skilled at managing details.
21. I am skilled in working with different kinds of tools.
22. I help people better understand themselves, their
relationships, and God through artistic expression.
23. I enjoy reassuring and strengthening those who are
discouraged.
24. I have confidence in God's continuing provision and
help, even in difficult times.
25. I give more than a tithe so that kingdom work can be
accomplished.
26. I enjoy doing routine tasks that support the needs of
ministry.
27. I enjoy meeting new people and helping them feel
welcomed.
28. I enjoy praying for long periods of time and receive
leadings as to what God wants me to pray for.
29. It is quite natural for me to lead, and it is more
comfortable for me to lead than not to lead.
30. I can patiently support those going through painful
experiences as they are seeking stability in their lives.
31. I am willing to take an active part in starting a new
church.
32. By God's revelation to me, I have been able to shed light
on current realities in someone's life that helps them see
God's desire for their future.
33. After I have shared the story of Jesus, people pray with
me for salvation.
34. I can faithfully provide long-term emotional and spiritual
support and concern for others.
35. I simply and practically explain and clarify the Word for
those who are confused or just do not know.
36. I have a "sixth sense" and frequently am able to identify
a person's character based on first impressions.
37. I receive information from the Spirit that I did not
acquire through natural means.
38. I can often find simple, practical solutions in the midst
of conflict or confusion.
39. I can clarify goals and develop strategies or plans to
accomplish them.
40. I can visualize how something should be constructed
before I build it.
41. I like finding new and fresh ways of communicating
God's truth.
42. I give hope to others by directing them to the promises
of God.
43. I have a special ability to trust God for extraordinary
needs.
44. I manage my money well in order to free more of it for
giving.
45. I willingly take on a variety of odd jobs around the
church to meet the needs of others.
46. I genuinely believe the Lord directs strangers to me who
need a sense of belonging and connection to others.
47. I am conscious of ministering to others as I pray.
48. I am usually chosen as the group's spokesperson when
in discussion groups.
49. I am drawn toward people who are sometimes regarded
as undeserving or beyond help.
50. I can relate to others in culturally sensitive ways.
51. I speak biblical truth in a timely and culturally sensitive
way in order to strengthen, encourage, and comfort
God's people.
52. I'd rather be around non-Christians more than Christians
so that I can build relationships with them.
53. I enjoy giving practical support, nurture, and spiritual
guidance to a group of people.
54. When I teach, people respond to my teaching with
action.
55. I can see through phoniness or deceit before it is evident
to others.
56. I seek certainty and truth in order to avoid superficial
understandings and speculation.
57. I am surprised by how many people are unable to solve
problems and seem to lack common sense.
58. I can identify and effectively use the resources needed to
accomplish tasks.
59. I am good at working with my hands and enjoy doing so.
60. I regularly need to get alone to reflect and to develop my
imagination.
61. I reassure those who need to take courageous action in
their faith, family, or life.
62. I am unwavering in my belief that God will absolutely
work in circumstances in which success cannot be
guaranteed by human effort alone.
(Continues.)
