S.H.A.P.E. is an acronym for Spiritual Gifts, Heartbeat, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. It is a combination of these elements that will help you assess the best place for you to serve in the body of Christ.
S: Identifying My Spiritual Gifts
The Bible does not lock us into tight restrictions as to the number of spiritual gifts, or even their definitions. The four major lists of gifts are found in Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. 27-31, Ephesians 4:11-12, and 1 Peter 4:9-11 but there are other passages that mention or hint at gifts not included in these lists. Keep in mind that identifying spiritual gifts is not a science. You can only truly know your gifts through serving.
H: Monitoring My Heartbeat
If you’re like most people, you have never taken time to sort out and identify the things you’re good at and motivated to accomplish. As a result, it’s unlikely that you use these talents as completely or effectively as you could. The key to understanding your heartbeat is to look at your past accomplishments.
A: Applying your abilities
To help you understand how God has shaped you for ministry, you need to better understand "what you love to do." You need to understand your heart. Taking that a step further, it is helpful to reflect on “what you are good at.” Often there is significant overlap.
P: Personality Traits
Tendencies in your personality are an important part of determining where you will enjoy serving in the body of Christ. God designed us specifically to serve and desires for us to delight in that service. Determining your personality type will help find the perfect fit for you.
E: Examining your experiences
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance
the gospel.” Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
Our spiritual experiences, educational experiences and ministry experiences will also help us determine a good ministry fit. None of our experiences happened to us by chance. They all fit together in the tapestry God weaves in our lives to make us who he wants us to be and to serve him effectively. Note your most significant experiences in each section below.
Download: Discovering My S.H.A.P.E.
A self-assessment tool from Pulpit Rock Church Adapted from Saddleback Community Church’s S.H.A.P.E. Assessment
What does it mean to serve?
Giving of yourself is an investment that yields big dividends in terms of finding your purpose, growing deeper in your relationship with Christ -- and finding meaningful connections.
