How to Identify Your Spiritual Gifts #2
I was a good athlete growing up, but tennis wasnt my sport. Years later a good friend and a good tennis player offered to help me improve my game. The first thing he said was, The most important part of tennis is your serve. If you cant serve you cant win.
I decided to prepare for my first lesson. I bought a book called Tennis for Dummies, and carefully read about serving. Then I went to the library and checked out a DVD on serving featuring tennis star Jimmy Connors.
I casually mentioned to my friend what I was doing, secretly hoping to impress him. He looked at me and said, Reading about serving is helpful and watching someone serve is great. But the only way you learn to serve is to S-E-R-V-E!
The same thing is true in identifying your spiritual gifts. You can read books, listen to sermons, and take assessments. But the only way to identify your spiritual gifts is to S-E-R-V-E!
Too many believers want to identify their gifts with limited experience in church ministry. Their desire to know their gifts is commendable, but theyre going about it the wrong way.
If you want to identify your gifts, start serving at church. Volunteer for as many opportunities as possible. As you do, remember that a spiritual gift is the Holy Spirit working through you to impact others. So notice where the Holy Spirit shows up in a way you cant explain through your own abilities.
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
