PART ONE: What are your top two spiritual gifts? Do you agree with the results? Why or why not? Taking the Spiritual Test Assessment resulted in two spiritual gifts identified as the highest-ranking spiritual abilities, which I appear to possess. The two dominant gifts are administration and pastor/shepherd. I personally would agree with this evaluation since much of my life has been in management and now I have been entrusted to shepherd a small rural church. Examining first the gift of administration, reflects an activity that I have been engaged in most of my life. Much of my adult career has been leading teams of people most often in a position as a manager or director. The task comes naturally but is also enjoyable. The second gift
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How might you misuse your gifts? Be specific. Over the years and using the gift of teaching, I have taught Bible studies, Sunday school, preached, and led men’s groups. This has led to intensifying ministries and now to starting a small rural church. Many years of corporate business administration has enhanced skills that are critical to the foundation of this little church. Creating a new entity and leading this group has actually been one of the biggest challenges of my life, because now I am not just working for other people, I am working for God. The position requires that I must be mindful of misusing the gifts. One of the biggest abuses is pride. Someone in the positon of an overseer can quickly fall to the temptation of pride. Ben Gutierrez says that pride can have no place in the life of minister. Often the pastor who has fallen does so because he believes something good has happened is because of things he has done. The simplest of gestures or comments from a well-meaning person may have triggered this …show more content…
The results of the assessment help support decisions that I have made in my life. After years in business, they support my decision to go back to school and plan for a career that extends past retirement and possibly even cut short my current profession. The years of business administration may actually be years of “hands on” education for additional future ministries. Ephesians explains that God has prepared certain works for all to perform (Eph. 2:9). I believe that God equips the Christian for those works through gifts of the Spirit and life’s experiences. The assessment reflects where I have been and where I am going, but it also gives good helpful advice. For example, it warns that I must be careful to make decisions based on Scripture and not just logic. I must be cognizant of selfishness, frustration, and wrong motives. The results support that I must be mindful of pride and allow others to minister and fulfill their callings. I must not do everything and work toward making people accountable. As Ben Gutierrez explains, that sometimes saying “no” is actually the ability show spiritual wisdom. I must continue to support those around me and teach others equipping them to carry the gospel to others. Discouragement, lack of concern, wrong motives, lack of spiritual growth, and frustration are all obstacles that may require an extra effort to prevent them from occurring. Finally, I must
How might you misuse your gifts? Be specific. Over the years and using the gift of teaching, I have taught Bible studies, Sunday school, preached, and led men’s groups. This has led to intensifying ministries and now to starting a small rural church. Many years of corporate business administration has enhanced skills that are critical to the foundation of this little church. Creating a new entity and leading this group has actually been one of the biggest challenges of my life, because now I am not just working for other people, I am working for God. The position requires that I must be mindful of misusing the gifts. One of the biggest abuses is pride. Someone in the positon of an overseer can quickly fall to the temptation of pride. Ben Gutierrez says that pride can have no place in the life of minister. Often the pastor who has fallen does so because he believes something good has happened is because of things he has done. The simplest of gestures or comments from a well-meaning person may have triggered this …show more content…
The results of the assessment help support decisions that I have made in my life. After years in business, they support my decision to go back to school and plan for a career that extends past retirement and possibly even cut short my current profession. The years of business administration may actually be years of “hands on” education for additional future ministries. Ephesians explains that God has prepared certain works for all to perform (Eph. 2:9). I believe that God equips the Christian for those works through gifts of the Spirit and life’s experiences. The assessment reflects where I have been and where I am going, but it also gives good helpful advice. For example, it warns that I must be careful to make decisions based on Scripture and not just logic. I must be cognizant of selfishness, frustration, and wrong motives. The results support that I must be mindful of pride and allow others to minister and fulfill their callings. I must not do everything and work toward making people accountable. As Ben Gutierrez explains, that sometimes saying “no” is actually the ability show spiritual wisdom. I must continue to support those around me and teach others equipping them to carry the gospel to others. Discouragement, lack of concern, wrong motives, lack of spiritual growth, and frustration are all obstacles that may require an extra effort to prevent them from occurring. Finally, I must