Spiritual Gifts Assessment
Discover how God has equipped you for ministry
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit,”
-1 Corinthians 12:4
Every baptized disciple has been gifted by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the body of Christ. The Spiritual Gifts Assessment offers a starting place to notice how God’s grace may already be at work within you - and how those gifts might be expressed through leadership, service, and ministry in the church and the world.
Spiritual gifts are not talents or learned skills. They are signs of God’s Spirit moving within us, given not for personal achievement, but for the good of the whole community.
Why Discern Your Spiritual Gifts?
Discerning your spiritual gifts is an act of holy curiosity - paying attention to where life, joy, and purpose seem to meet. As we become more aware of the ways God has gifts us, we often find greater clarity about how and where we are called to serve.
Discerning your gifts can help you:
- Listen more deeply for God’s call in your life
- Discover meaningful ways to serve and lead
- Grow in confidence, joy, and spiritual maturity
- Strengthen the body of Christ by offering your gifts generously
This discernment is one way we live into Lay Excellence - a shared commitment to offering our gifts faithfully, thoughtfully, and for the flourishing of the church and the world.
A Wesleyan Perspective on Spiritual Gifts
In the Wesleyan tradition of The United Methodist Church, faith is not static - it is a lifelong journey of growth, grace, and transformation. Over time, the Holy Spirit reveals and refines our gifts through prayer, practice, and the wisdom of the community.
Each person carries a unique combination of gifts - some that come naturally, others that grow through experience. Together, these gifts help the church respond to God’s love and the world’s deep needs.
What might God be inviting you to offer - right now - through the gifts you’ve been given?
What Are Spiritual Gifts?
Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit gives a variety of gifts so that the whole body of Christ may be built up. The Spiritual Gifts assessment developed by The United Methodist Church focuses on twenty gifts named in Paul's letters to Rome, Corinth, and Ephesus.
While all of life is a gift from God, these spiritual gifts are named in Scripture as particular ways the Spirit equips believers to serve together in love.
How the Assessment Works
The recommended assessment, provided by Discipleship Ministries, is designed to help you:
- Notice your primary and supporting spiritual gifts
- Reflect on how those gifts show up in your life and relationships
- Begin conversations about where your gifts might be shared
Your results are not a destination - they are an invitation. Discernment continues as gifts are named, tested, affirmed, and lived out in community.
You may find it helpful to explore:
- Lay Servant Ministries - where many disciples deepen and practice their gifts through preaching, teaching, care, and leadership
- Training & Opportunities - experiences that support growth, confidence, and faithful service
Take the Next Step
If you’re wondering what comes next, you might consider:
- Saving or emailing your results for reflection
- Talking with your pastor, lay leader, or trusted spiritual friends
- Trying out ministries where your gifts can be explored and affirmed
- Continuing your journey through training, service, and shared discernment
Discovering your gifts isn't about finding a role to fill - it’s about responding, again and again, to God’s call with openness and trust.
