Free Spiritual Gifts Assessment: Discover Your God Assignment

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts: A Free Assessment to Help You Find Your Place

One of the most freeing truths I've ever discovered in Scripture is this: God has given you something to give.

Not just pastors. Not just worship leaders or the people who seem to have it all together. You. Paul says it plainly: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Each one. That includes the person who feels overlooked, the brand-new believer, and the person who has been sitting in the same seat at church for twenty years wondering where they fit.

For years I've wanted a simple tool that helps people answer that question with Scripture as the foundation. So we built one. It's free, it takes about 15 minutes, and you can take it right now at followingjesus.com/spiritual-gifts-assessment.

Before you jump in, though, I want to share a few things about how to use it well.

What the Bible Says About Spiritual Gifts

Scripture gives us several lists of the ways the Holy Spirit works through people. Romans 12 talks about serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy. First Corinthians 12 describes words of wisdom and knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, and interpretation of tongues. First Peter 4 adds hospitality, and all through the New Testament we see people like Epaphras "always wrestling in prayer" for the church (Colossians 4:12).

The assessment walks through 18 of those gifts with 90 short statements. Things like "I see practical needs before others do and just take care of them," or "When someone is discouraged, I know what to say to help them keep going." You simply rate how true each one is of you right now.

When you finish, you'll see your top three gifts, a short biblical description of each one, how that gift often shows up in everyday life, and next steps to grow in it.

You might notice tongues isn't on the list. That's intentional. I believe the gift of tongues is available to every Spirit-filled believer (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:5), so rather than score it, I'd point you to the Holy Spirit chapter in Following Jesus where we walk through it together.

Don't Let an Assessment Box You In

Here's something I really want you to hear. Following Jesus is a journey, not a fixed point. As you walk with Him, the Holy Spirit may use your life in new ways in different seasons. The Spirit gives gifts "just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11), not just as a quiz determines.

So hold your results with an open hand. If your top gift today is serving, that doesn't mean God will never use you to teach or to pray for the sick. I've watched people discover gifts in their forties and fifties that they never knew were in them. You're in a beautiful flow with the Holy Spirit. Let your results be a starting point for seeking God about how He's made you, not a label.

Let Your Pastor's Voice Be Louder

This is the part that matters most to me.

When I was a teenager, I went to a men's camp with my dad. During one of the services, a man ministering prophetically called me out and spoke over my life, confirming God's call on me to ministry. When I went back to church the next week and told my pastors and youth pastors, they were basically surprised I hadn't already known! They had seen it in me long before I could see it myself.

That's how gifts work in the body of Christ. They're imparted and recognized in both the natural and the supernatural. Paul reminded Timothy of the gift he received when the elders laid hands on him (1 Timothy 4:14), and he longed to impart a spiritual gift to the believers in Rome (Romans 1:11). The pastors and leaders God has placed around you can see things no assessment ever will.

So after you take it, share your results with your pastor and ask a simple question: "What do you see in me?" Their voice should be louder than any score. You can even email your results to yourself right from the results page and forward them to your pastor.

Your Gifts Are for Building Others Up

One last thing. Spiritual gifts aren't for show, and they aren't for personal recognition. Peter says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). Paul tells the Corinthians to "try to excel in those that build up the church" (1 Corinthians 14:12).

And he follows his whole teaching on gifts with the love chapter. Without love, even the greatest gifts amount to nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1–2).

Where to Start

Set aside 15 minutes this week. Grab a cup of coffee, pray a simple prayer like, "Holy Spirit, show me how You've made me," and answer honestly about what's true of your life right now, not what you hope will be true.

Then take one step. Tell your pastor what you found. Sign up for one place to serve that lines up with your top gift. Or simply ask God to stir up the gift that's already in you (2 Timothy 1:6).

If you're already serving in leadership, you may also want to take our Five-Fold Office Assessment, which looks at the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher roles from Ephesians 4.

Take the free Spiritual Gifts Assessment: followingjesus.com/spiritual-gifts-assessment

Go deeper: The Holy Spirit chapter of my book Following Jesus: 7 Essentials walks through who the Holy Spirit is and how He empowers you to live and serve.

Grow every day: Download the free Following Jesus app for daily devotionals, Bible reading plans, and discipleship tools.