Yep, still preparing for Tuesday’s Spiritual Gifts seminar….and discovering that 2 – 5 a.m. is the BEST time for me to currently find quiet time for study. {g}
This book is a gem. It does not deal with what the authors term the Manifestation Gifts (I Corinthians 12) or the Ministry Gifts (Ephesians 4:11). The bulk of this book deals with the Motivational Gifts of Romans 12.
The 7 motivational gifts are listed as perceiver (prophecy), server, teacher, exhorter, giver, administrator/leader, compassion person (mercy). For each gift we are given a description, a test (based on a list of characteristics), a list of 5 “problem areas”, and Biblical examples of those with the gift. All is supported with Scripture (contextually sound).
As I prepare for this seminar (1 ½ hours) I’ve once again manifested my teacher/administrator gift mix and compiled more info than I’ll ever use. I’m helpless. I’ve even ordered a ream of more information from Heart2Heart ministries – the Fortune’s ministry - on children’s gifting, the Manifestation Gifts and the Ministry Gifts. Last time I taught similar material, I used the Breakthrough test, which tested for all three gift types and had the advantage of testing for both “traits” and “experience” – but it WAS a 2 day retreat…this is not. I’ve struggled to figure out how to organize all the material I have collected. I was given some material that also organized the gifts into motivational gifts; but I didn’t like the fact that verses were taken out of context to make points the author wanted to make and that we were given “Biblical Examples” with no verses to support the opinion of the author.
After going through this book again, I think I know where I’m heading. I will briefly mention the three categories and have a handout with verses listed for further study. I will also make a hand out showing the speaking/serving distinction in the motivational gifts. Then we will briefly describe a gift and test for the gift. I’m still not sure we will be able to cover this in 1 ½ hours. I think I’ll have Mike and the older boys take the tests so I can see what sort of timing to expect. What will I do with all the excess info I’ve compiled…anyone whose been in one of my classes KNOWS the answer…I’ll make a handout listing “additional resources”. {g} For blog readers: this is my goal for the day – compile handouts for seminar.
I would recommend this book for a 12 – 13 week topical study or as the basis for a 2 – 3 day retreat. I also recommend it for individuals to read alone. I think it helps as we seek to serve in the Body of Christ, could help marriages and in parenting as well. In fact, I plan to order their book on Children’s Spiritual Gifts. Tests and profile sheets are available to order here for $2.00 each.
OH NO – this is hilarious – a problem of a teacher listed in the book is that they are easily side-tracked. According to the authors they start out looking for “transistors” in an encyclopedia and stop to check out “tape recorders, technology, television, theater, thermometer, thermostat, tide, tornado” until they’ve almost forgotten what they set out to do and find “transistors”. I turned on the computer to begin creating hand outs…I’ve ordered more material from Heart2Heart, checked to see where I can find the Children’s Gift book cheapest (Amazon), saved a picture of this book, looked for a picture of the other book I finished this week and couldn't find it, decided to go ahead and quickly write a book review for this book, and will now post this to the blog…and oh YEAH – that’s right, I need to create hand outs! Another funny: The children have grown up hearing me ask Mike “What’s the plan?”. I don’t care what the plan is “sleep in until noon and then read the paper” I just need to know that we have a plan. This would fit right into my gift of administrator/leader….so last night when a plan for the day still hadn’t materialized and the day was rushing to a close I was able to communicate “you know WHY I need a plan? I’m an administrator. I need to KNOW the big picture.” We communicated. {G}
*Warning: from their brief mention of parenting style, I don’t think I’d gel well with it. BUT this book was great!
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