Stewardship is everything we do after we say, "I believe." When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we know that everything we have and everything we are comes from God. Therefore, stewardship is our response to all the gifts that we have already received--our selves, our family, our vocation, our talents, our past and our future.
God has given each Christian two vitally important gifts. The first is the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, his work of redemption, and thus forgiveness of sin. The second is the gift of one or more special abilities, which are to be used for the purpose of unifying the body of Christ and for the growth of God's Kingdom. These abilities are called spiritual gifts and they are received through our baptism.
Like other presents, it is impossible to fully appreciate and make use of our spiritual gifts until they have been opened. Follow the link below to visit the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Spiritual Gifts Inventory online assessment. This tool will help you begin to open your spiritual gifts by guiding you through the following three activities:
Highlighting scripture: references that both support the existence of spiritual gifts and identify those which are commonly found in service today.
Self Assessment: a list of 60 questions which will help you identify which gifts you have received in greatest measure.
Exploration of Use: suggestions for the various types of ministry you might be most effective in because of your spiritual gifts. These three activities will begin to help you discover and employ your spiritual gifts. May the special abilities God has given you be deployed in areas of ministry where they will be most effective for the good of the entire church body. These gifts should also be affirmed by the body and utilized by the one who is gifted.
Spiritual Gifts Inventory Self Assessment
After you score your inventory continue the process by learning more about the different Spiritual Gifts. To discuss even more about Spiritual Gifts and putting your gifts to use at Grace, contact the church office or church council at council@gracewoodstock.org.
