Discovering your Spiritual Gifts
You have just begun a process of discovering your spiritual gifts. As you reflect on the gifts you have tentatively identified through the questionnaire, try to discern which ones truly are, or are not, your gifts. To do so, follow this five-step approach:

1. Explore the possibilities
Read through the four key chapters in the scriptures dealing with spiritual gifts (below). Learn what the gifts are, what characterizes them and how they function in the Body of Christ, so that you can have something concrete to look for as you move ahead.

»  1 Corinthians 12  »  Romans 12  »  Ephesians 4  »  1 Peter 4

2. Experiment with as many gifts as possible
Taking inventory of your spiritual gifts will help you experiment with different gifts. Experiment further with the gifts you pinpointed in the inventory—unless you try, you'll have a hard time knowing whether you really have them or not. Get involved in a ministry activity that will let you try out these gifts.

3. Examine your feelings
Since God has put the body together, you will feel fulfilled when functioning in the proper area. Thus, if you enjoy your attempts to use a particular gift, that is a good sign that you possess it. If, however, you dislike the service activities associated with a certain gift, that is a fairly good sign that you do not have it.

4. Evaluate your effectiveness
Since spiritual gifts are designed to benefit others, you should see positive results as you use your gift. If you see no results when you experiment with a particular gift, you probably do not have that gift. But it could be that you did not give it a fair try, or that it will simply take time for you to learn to use the gift effectively. As you evaluate, pray for the courage to be honest with yourself and with your Lord.

5. Expect confirmation from the church body
You cannot discover, develop and use a gift all on your own. Gifts are given to build up other members of the church body. If you have a gift, other Christians will recognize it and confirm it. If you feel that you have a particular gift but no one else agrees with you, then you should take a closer look at yourself and re-evaluate.

These five steps are more fully explained in C. Peter Wagner's book, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts. Remember, in all of these five steps, the key is prayer. The Lord will lead you to accurate discoveries of your gifts if you allow Him to guide and direct you in all your endeavors.

Cautions about Spiritual Gifts

1. Don't confuse gifts with natural talents.
2. Don't confuse gifts with the Fruit of the Spirit. ("Fruit" is evidence of my maturity. "Gifts" are to be used in my ministry.)
3. Don't confuse “gifts” with Christian “roles.”
4. Be aware of the "gift projection" tendency (expecting others to serve the way you do and to produce similar results).
5. Don't feel that your gifts make you superior to others.
6. Realize that using your gifts without love is worthless!
7. Recognize that you have both a primary and a secondary ministry in the church

»  Galatians 5:22-23  »  1 Corinthians 12:21  »  1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Four Ways God Wants You to Use Your Gifts

1. Through an ongoing ministry
2. Through short-term projects
3. Through spontaneous situations
4. Through starting and leading a ministry