This is one of the most important parts of the assessment. Spiritual gifts are not given to be confirmed or used in isolation. They are given by Christ, the Head of the Church, for the building up of His body — and the body must do the work of discerning together what the Head has given.
Three movements belong here, in this order:
- First, the Spirit calls. You have begun to listen to that call by prayerfully working through Parts Three to Seven.
- Second, those around you assist. The questions below are designed to be photocopied or printed and given to two or three trusted believers — ideally people who know you well, walk with you in faith, and will be honest with you out of love. They help you weigh what you have begun to discern.
- Third, determine where in the body to serve. Your gifts naturally go hand in hand with your calling, a specific place to serve. These areas will become apparent by where you live, the needs of the local area, opportunities already within the church or possibly new opportunities revealed. Either way, again this should be at the prompting of the Holy Spirit with much mediation, work these things out with your family, friends and the elders and deacons of your church.
- Fourth, the elders pray and lay on hands. Where the Spirit’s call and the body’s confirmation converge, the proper end-point is the formal prayer and laying on of hands by your church’s elders, releasing you into the work prepared (Acts 13:1–3; 1 Timothy 4:14). This is not bureaucratic permission; it is the church recognising what Christ has given.
If you are married, your spouse should be one of the trusted believers you ask. If you are part of a church, your pastor, an elder, or a small group leader is a natural choice. If you are alone, ask a mature mentor in the faith — even one over a phone call or a letter. Receive whatever they say with humility. Where they affirm what you already discerned, give thanks. Where they identify gifts you had not seen in yourself, take it seriously. Where they cannot affirm what you scored highly, ask why — they may see something you cannot see.
After receiving these confirmations, the next step is to ask your church’s leaders to pray for you and, where they discern it appropriate, to lay hands on you and release you into the work. This is the biblical pattern, and it is honoured of the Lord.