Gift Testing

There are about 20 gifts mentioned in the bible. There were listed in the beginning of this chapter, however we can also group them according to how the gifts are normally used.

These categories include:

• Gifts of the Heart: Helps, Hospitality, Mercy, Faith, Giving
• Gifts of Proclamation: Evangelism, Teaching, Discernment, Knowledge, Prophecy, Wisdom.
• Gifts of Action: Leadership, Administration, Shepherding, Encouragement/Counselling, Apostleship.
• Gifts of Inspiration (Signs): Healing, Miracles, Speaking in Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues.

There are many different forms of tests for spiritual gifts, and they may produce different results. It is important for a discipleship program to consider the following issues when choosing a test to use.

• Does it include the “sign gifts” of miracles, healing, and tongues? Do you want it to?
• Does it include “life skills” of music, craftsmanship, communication/writing, etc? Do you want it to?
• Does it include “special callings” of apostleship, celibacy, poverty, intercession? Do you want it to?
• How does it define prophecy as a gift? How do you feel about that?
• Does it ask more than 4 questions per gift? (Is it statistically accurate or can one missed question throw the answers off?)
• Are the gifts distinct or have some been lumped together? (Leadership mixed with Pastor/Shepherd and Teaching mixed with Knowledge)?
• Another option is to not use a test at all, but to read through a list of gifts, their definitions, and typical uses and see what fits best. This is what you would do after taking a test anyway, and it can also be done through a discussion with the group. It does help after taking the test to discuss with others who are around you in life to see if they can identify the gifts in you or in case, they are other gifts which they observe in you that have not been picked up by the test.