Spiritual Gifts and Personality Types

I took this spiritual gifts and personality type questionnaire last year in my Intro to Ministry class, and we're using it this year in our Leadership in Ministry class. As we were reviewing it today in class, I realized just how accurate it is. My combination of personality types and spiritual gifts seem to really match who I am. I feel like it's a clear way of describing who I am and how I act and why. Because I am a combination of two personality types, some things cancel each other out. Other things don't apply to me because of the other personality type I am, but overall everything is very true of me.

Spiritual Gifts

Evangelism

Christians with the gift of evangelism feel compelled to win souls. They seem to have the ability to communicate the gospel very effectively. Their concern for witnessing to a lost and dying world is evident. They desire to be involved in ministries to reach people for Christ. The gift of evangelism motivates them to want nearly every message they hear to include the gospel and an invitation to trust Christ. Missions and outreach are important to them. Always being ready to give an answer to every person is their goal. Conversations seem to often turn toward eternal values. The worth of souls and the task of evangelism are most important to the evangelist’s motivation. In a word: Dynamic            Overuse: Zeal            Goal: Build disciples, not statistics

Abilities: Comfortably share the gospel with results

Opportunities: Visitation, outreach, missions

Warning: Don’t think everyone should be as dedicated to evangelism as you are

Reward: Protecting others from poor decisions

Serving/Ministry/Helps

When you think of Christians who serve faithfully behind the scenes, you think of those with the gift of serving/ministry/helps. They are interested in blessing others to serve the Lord. They love to help others. Motivated by a strong sense of need, they feel like “someone has to do it.” Caring and concerned for others, they find themselves doing what no one else likes to do. They tend to do whatever called for. Flexible, they adapt to many challenges. They simply enjoy helping others and meeting needs. Often truly selfless, those with this gift like to be involved. In a word: Selfless            Overuse: Takes on too much            Goal: Be a servant, not a martyr

Abilities: Serving behind the scenes

Opportunities: Nursery, Sunday School, ushering

Warning:  Don’t become weary in well doing

Reward: Knowing you make a difference doing what no one else may want to do

Mercy

Christians with the gift of showing mercy demonstrate genuine sensitivity to suffering. They are compelled to help people reduce pain. They are concerned more with the person, than the reason for the suffering. Focusing on the feelings of those who hurt, showers of mercy desire to minister by “being there” when people really need them. Sympathizing and/or empathizing are their specialties. While others may care more about why, what, when, or how, those with the Showing Mercy gift are interested in “who” needs tender loving care.            In a word: Caring            Overuse: Too sensitive            Goal: Wise insights, not foolish responses

Abilities: Giving sympathy and/or empathy to the hurting

Opportunities: Hospital, benevolence, counseling

Warning: Don’t be a sucker for everyone

Reward: Knowing you helped those who no one else would help.

Personality Type

“S” Behavior (Passive, people-oriented)

Descriptions: submissive, steady, stable, security-oriented, shy, servant, specialist

Basic Motivation: Stability and support

Desires: an area of specialization; identification with a group; established work patterns; security of situation; consistent familiar environment

Responds Best to Leader Who: is relaxed and friendly; allows time to adjust to changes; allows to work at own pace; gives personal support

Needs to Learn: Change provides opportunity; friendship isn’t everything; discipline is good; boldness and taking risks is sometimes necessary

Abilities: Support, serve, specialize, finish what others start, work behind the scenes, do what needs to be done

Opportunities: On call whenever needed, hospital visitation, encourage new members, office, keep records, telephoning, counseling

Warning: Shyness hinders your opportunities to do great things for God. Be more aggressive and assertive. Be careful, people may take advantage of you.

Reward: Believing God’s promise that you can do all things through Him who strengthens you, step out and try the difficult. You may be surprised what God can do.

Leader Style: the sweet, steady, and stable leaders. They seldom demand anything. They are friendly and loyal, but tend to be too nice. They need to be more aggressive and assertive. Overly sensitive to shortcomings, “S”s need to be more confident. They hate to take risks. They often miss opportunities because of their caution. Reliable and relaxed, they are more reserved.

Follower Style: don’t make quick decisions. They like leaders who are understanding and gentle. They want to establish a relationship with a leader who will be around for a long time. “S”s are concerned about service and stability. When it comes to sensible and slow judgment, “S” followers feel right at home. They like familiar and low-key environments.

Under Pressure: Becomes subservient, insecure, fearful, weak-willed, withdrawn, sympathizer, sucker.

Sources of Irritation: Pushiness, instability, inflexibility, anger, disloyalty, insensitivity, pride, discrimination, unfairness

Needs to: Be – strong, courageous, challenging, aggressive, assertive, confrontational, enthusiastic, outgoing, expressive, cautious, bold.

“C” Behavior (Passive, task-oriented)

Descriptions: Competent, compliant, cautious, calculating, careful, contemplative

Basic Motivation: Quality and correctness

Desires: Clearly defined tasks; details; limited risks; assignments that require precision and planning; time to think

Responds Best to Leader Who: Provides reassurance; spells out detailed operating procedures; provides resources to do task correctly; listens to suggestions

Needs to Learn: Total support is not always possible; thorough explanation is not everything; deadlines must be met; more optimism will lead to greater success

Abilities: Analyze, improve, discern, calculate, follow directions, do the right thing.

Opportunities: Finance Committee, long-range planning, office, record information, research, teach, organize, order curriculum

Warning: Due to your cautiousness, criticism comes easy. Don’t always be pessimistic and hard to convince. Increase your faith in God and trust those you follow.

Reward: Ministers need competent people to fulfill their visions. You can be a great blessing if you continually look at the possibilities, rather than impossibilities.

Leader Style: competent and compliant. They go by the book and want to do everything just right.  they are thorough and detail-oriented, but tend to be too informative. “C”s need to be more positive and enthusiastic. They answer questions people aren’t asking. When optimistic, “C”s are extremely influential. They should not concentrate on problems, but focus on potentials.

Follow Style: “Consumer Report” type followers. They analyze each decision. They love research and development. “C”s are quality oriented followers. They don’t like quick or costly decisions. Picky and precise, they follow with their minds, rather than hearts. “C”s seldom respond positively at first. They often want time to think about their decisions. Once convinced, they follow best.

Under Pressure: Becomes moody, critical, contemplative, negative, worrisome

Sources of Irritation: Incompetence, disorganization, foolishness, dishonesty, inaccuracy, wastefulness, inconsistency, blind faith, false impressions

Needs to: Loosen up, communicate, be – joyful, positive, tolerant, compromising, open, trusting, enthusiastic.

Behavioral Blend: S/C

“S/C” types are stable and contemplative types. They like to search and discover the facts. They like to weigh the evidence and proceed slowly to a logical conclusion. They enjoy small groups of people. They do not like speaking in front of large crowds. They are systematic and sensitive to the needs of others, but can be critical and caustic. They are loyal friends, but can be too fault-finding. They need to improve their enthusiasm and optimism. They are motivated by kind and conscientious opportunities to slowly and correctly do things.

Combining Personalities with Spiritual Gifts

“S” Type with Evangelism

Sweet and soft type Christians with the gift of evangelism are the most gentle witnesses. They steadily share the gospel. They don’t like to force issues. They tend to be too nice. Scoffers often waste “S”-evangelists’ time. Knowing they will go the extra mile, some people take advantage. Avoiding confrontation, these stable types prefer “friendship evangelism.” But their motivation to win souls often overcomes their natural reluctance to speak out. “S”-evangelists enjoy bringing people to Jesus without a lot of fanfare.

“C” Type with Evangelism

Cautious and compliant type Christians with the gift of evangelism are the most thorough witnesses. They like to go point-by-point, convincing people to understand every detail. They try to have an answer for every question. But they can overwhelm with too many facts. “C”-evangelists are often more concerned with the task, rather than the person in need. As competent individuals, they need to be more flexible and friendly. “C”-evangelists can turn doubt into a fascinating opportunity for Christ.

“S” Type with Serving/Ministry/Helps

Steady type Christians with the gift of serving/ministry/helps are every church’s dream – the backbone of ministry. If anything needs to get done, they faithfully serve without recognition. They are not bossy, but should be more assertive. People take advantage of “S”-servants. They should be more aggressive in seeking help. Always sensitive to the feelings of others makes them sought out. But sometimes they solve problems for those who may need to feel the pressure of their irresponsibility. “S”-servants are the most stable servants.

“C” Type with Serving/Ministry/Helps

Competent type Christians with the gift of serving/ministry/helps are detail-oriented. They don’t like loose ends. If anything needs to be done right, they are prefect for the job. “C”-servants tend to be difficult to work with. They can be too picky. They need to be friendlier and cooperative. Often feeling like they are the only ones who ever do anything, they need to appreciate others more. Positive attitudes and enthusiasm are recommended but difficult for “C”-servants. They can be the hardest working and compliant servants.

“S” Type with Showing Mercy

Sensitive type Christians with the gift of showing mercy are most loving. They are sweet servants always ready to help. They specialize in times of suffering. “S”-showing mercy types may be so concerned that they miss opportunities to teach lessons. They can also be fooled by insincere cries for help. They may need to be more assertive with those who use their pain as excuses. They should be more demanding. They may need to share truth, rather than always listening. When people hurt, “S”-showing mercy types shine.

“C” Type with Showing Mercy

Compliant type Christians with the gift of showing mercy are extremely concerned about others. They see needs no one else sees. They tend to know exactly what to say. They are careful not to miss opportunities to help, but can be critical of those who don’t get involved. “C”-showers of mercy may try to analyze why people hurt. Their conservative care is often appreciated. They need to be optimistic. Enthusiasm and inspiration are often lacking. “C”-showers of mercy are competent individuals who care about the sufferings of others.