MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS INVENTORY

This is not an automated response! Thank you for taking part in the testing phase of the first of three Motivational Gifts Inventories. If you need feedback, further explanation or find errors, contact us at mgi-2006-1@aftrain.com. Completing the practical applications section at the end of this text will help you to understand the usefulness of such an assessment in the church (especially) or any organization where team ministry is expected. You may return the exercises if you like for comments.

If you find this assessment to be helpful, please do pass the site address on to others. We need at least 100 testers. The interim site address is http://glowmi.org/mgi.

PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
            The purpose of this Gift Identification Inventory is to assist you in identifying the Motivational Gifts operating throughout your life. This inventory allows you to respond to various statements concerning the seven Motivational Gifts outlined in Romans 12:6-8, which are: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership and Mercy. These seven gifts are describing an individual's "frame of mind" for dealing with life situations. Your Motivational Gifts heavily influence the way you relate to people and circumstances. You will discover your "fit" in The Body when you discover your gift.
            Scripture teaches that Yahweh bestows each individual with one predominant Motivational Gift, with one or two others secondary (wings). These inventories are intended to help you differentiate which gift is most evident in your life in relation to the other Motivational Gifts. It is important to note that no test or inventory can be perfect, so avoid applying your results too rigidly. The inventory is best used in the context of the Scriptural teaching on the Motivational Gifts (carismata, charismata, Eng. “graces”) by a qualified instructor in a group setting, allowing for discussion, interaction and affirmation of your ministry within the New Testament Model.
            The core of the New Testament Model is Team Ministry. An effective ministry group or church will be one in which its members appreciate not only their own gifts, but have an even greater appreciation for the gifts of others. As a result, cooperation will become the by-word of the task/work of the team. A deep understanding of how individuals' gifts interact is critical to producing sustained, meaningful numerical and spiritual growth.
            As we become comfortable with our gifts and those of others, a climate or seedbed is formed to nurture ministry. This organic approach is in opposition to the programmed model that most Churches use unsuccessfully to develop quality leadership. Through knowing our gifts, our godly purpose can more easily come to light, thus providing a good means of finding our best fit within the team.
            Thousands of individuals have experienced this or a similar questionnaire with amazing results. The history of teaching the concept of Motivational Gifts has enabled congregations of all sizes, styles, and denominations to come to the forefront of fulfilling their purpose in the Body of Christ. It is our opinion there can be no real "equipping of the Saints" until each has discovered the Seven Motivational Gifts of Romans 12:6-8 as a predominant, functional approach to ministry.
             You will be uniquely blessed and encouraged by the understanding achieved in this exercise.
Rom 12: 6. Having graces (charismata) that differ according to the favor given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;   7. if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching;   8. he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, in liberality; he who leads, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (My translation.)

	Prophecy(3E)	Serving(4F)	Teaching(5G)	Exhortation(6B)	Giving(7C)	Leadership(8A)	Mercy(9D)
#1
#2
T

Your answers to the first inventory (#1) indicate that:
Your primary Motivational Gift is __________ ; your right wing is ________ and left wing is _________ .
If you have not completed Inventory #2, you may do so and we will add the results to our assessment. Click here to go back to Inventory #2.

Your answers to the second inventory (#2) indicate that:
Your primary Motivational Gift is _________; your right wing is _________ and left wing is _________ . If you have not completed Inventory #1, you may do so and we will add the results to our assessment. Click here to go back to Inventory #1.

**In aggregating the two inventories (perhaps the best Motivational Gifts indicator), your answers indicate that:
Your primary Motivational Gift is _________; your right wing is _________ and left wing is _________.
If you haven’t done so already, completing both inventories may confirm or optimize your results.

There was (a close / a somewhat / no) correlation between results of the two inventories. Click the link to see the characteristics of each Motivational Gift of look below. Please let us know whether the inventory matches your own self-assessment!

Motivational Gifts seminars will help bring out the natural gifts and abilities of your congregation, study group or family.

You may learn more about how to present Motivational Gifts seminars by contacting
Jack Snyder or L. Lynn Hood or you may engage either as presenters for your church or group.

DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Expresses messages verbally.
2. Ability to discern the characteristics and motives of others.
3. Capacity to identify, define, and hate evil.
4. Willingness to be "broken" to prompt action in others.
5. Dependency of scriptural truth to validate authority.
6. Desire for outward evidence to demonstrate inward conviction.
7. Direct, frank, and persuasive when speaking.
8. Concerned for the program of God; protective of the Lord's work.
9. Inwardly weeping for the sins others.
10. Eager for the correction of others.

GROWING EDGES
1. May intimidate by frankness and forcefulness.
2. Refusal to compromise - appearance of rigidness.
3. Pessimistic, negative in outlook; Gift may be used destructively.
4. Not people-oriented. May be insensitive.
5. Appears impulsive.
6. May be subject to deep depression.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Alertness to detect and meet the practical needs of others.
2. Meeting needs quickly; feeling impatient with others who do not.
3. Use of personal funds to avoid delay in meeting needs.
4. Avoiding red tape; working alone.
5. Having physical stamina; not regarding weariness.
6. Ability to recall likes and dislikes of others.
7. Having need for sincere appreciation; can detect insincerity.
8. Willing to work extra to see the job done.
9. Short-range goals desired (rather than long-range).
10. Frustrated with deadlines and time limits - a quick worker.

GROWING EDGES
1. May appear pushy.
2. Eagerness to serve may be seen as a desire for self-advancement.
3. May be upset with others who do not have the same gift.
4. Find it difficult to accepts service form others.
5. Desire for appreciation may result in hurt feelings.
6. Desire to help others may interfere in God's dealing with others.
7. Desire to meet practical needs may be judged as lack of spirituality.
8. Can be sidetracked with others' needs.
9. Procrastination and lack of focus.
10. Failure to submit to authority.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Belief that this gift is fundamental to all gifts.
2. Emphasizes the accurate use of words; enjoys word studies.
3. Tests the knowledge of teachers.
4. Delights in research to validate truth.
5. Desires to evaluate new information by comparing it with established systems of truth. (Where is the Bible?)
6. Avoids non-biblical illustrations.
7. Resists scriptural illustrations used out of context.
8. Enjoys researching involved in presenting a lesson.

GROWING EDGES
1. Discounts learned, practical lessons; closes off insight from others of little education or learning.
2. Accuracy in interpretation may override practical application; failure to apply learning; teaching style may be dull.
3. Extensive research appears to be dependent on intellect instead of the Holy Spirit.
4. Use of knowledge to test teachings appears to be pride of learning.
5. Details of research appear by many to be unnecessary.
6. Objectivity in research gives the appearance of lack of warmth and feeling; concern for message, but not the response.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Desire to visualize specific achievements in people; providing steps out of or into a present or desired situation.
2. Tends to avoid systems of information that lack practical application.
3. Ability to see how endurance produces levels of maturity.
4. Depends on individual acceptance, watches for response.
5. Looks for living examples applied to in the Bible.
6. Enjoys seeing action meet needs.
7. Grieved when teaching does not have practical application.
8. Delights in personal conferences, personal insights - people oriented.

GROWING EDGES
1. May appear hard and callous.
2. Feeds on success, can be impatient.
3. Family may suffer.
4. Emphasis on steps of action may oversimplify the problem.
5. Urgency to take action may appear as having more confidence in the steps than in the power of God.
6. Desire to win non-Christians by personal example may appear to be a sign of lack of interest in personal evangelism.
7. Use of scripture for practical application may appear out of context.

MOTIVATIONAL GIFT OF GIVING – Meeting material needs.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Ability to make wise purchases and investments.
2. Desire to give anonymously.
3. Alertness to valid needs overlooked by others.
4. Enjoyment in meeting needs without pressure or appeals.
5. Joyful when gift is in answer to prayer.
6. Concerned that gifts are of high quality.
7. Desire to feel a part of the ministry or individual to whom gifts are given.

GROWING EDGES
1. Cause, not people-oriented.
2. Judgmental on others' finances.
3. Desire to give appears to control a work or person.
4. Refusal to respond may seem to be lack of generosity.
5. Lives in a frugal fashion, seemingly not interested in meeting own family's needs in the appropriate economic "style."

MOTIVATIONAL GIFT OF LEADERSHIP (Organization) - Coordinating people, resources and schedules.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Ability to see the overall picture and clarify long-range goals.
2. Ability to organize that for which responsible.
3. Desire to complete tasks quickly; not a procrastinator.
4. Awareness of the resources available to complete a task.
5. Ability to know what can or cannot be delegated; insight to know who fits where.
6. Tendency to stand on the sidelines until responsibility is his or hers; does not push for position of leadership.
7. Tendency to assume responsibility if no structured leadership exists.
8. Willing to endure reaction from other workers in order to accomplish the ultimate goal.
9. Fulfilled in seeing all the pieces come together - seeing people enjoy the finished product.
10. Desire to move on to new challenges when a task is completed.

GROWING EDGES
1. Responds to criticism with criticism.
2. Depends on the plan more than on God.
3. Delegation of responsibility seen as avoiding work.
4. Willing to endure the negative reactions of others. (May be considered cold or hard-hearted.)
5. Neglect in explaining the plan prompts workers to feel misused.
6. People viewed as resources; projects seem more important than people.
7. Priority in completing task appears to be insensitivity toward the priority of the workers.

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Ability to feel the atmosphere of joy or distress in a group.
2. Attraction to people in distress.
3. Empathy; desire to remove hurts of others.
4. Greater concern for mental distress than physical.
5. Sensitivity to words and actions that hurt others.
6. Tolerant of personal differences.
7. Enjoys being with others who are mercy motivated.
8. Experiences a "spiritual closing" to those who are insincere or insensitive.

GROWING EDGES
1. Not objective.
2. Sensitive and easily wounded.
3. May interfere in God's process of discipline.
4. Avoidance of firmness appears to be weakness.
5. Sensitivity causes others to believe they are led by emotion.
6. Attraction to the troubled may be interpreted as interest in romance or sex rather than service.
7. Unwilling to "speak the truth in love."
8. May become depressed or inwardly grieve over others with problems.