What's your specialty? A surprising approach to discovering your spiritual strengths. (faith Focus).

ATTEND CHURCH LONG ENOUGH, AND You'll hear a pastor or Sunday school teacher talk about the importance of discovering your spiritual gifts. Perhaps you've even taken a test to determine if your strengths lie in ministries such as teaching the Scriptures, extending hospitality acting as an encourager, or discipling other believers.

Unfortunately many tests and books on spiritual gifts fall short and get the discovery process backwards. They say, "Discover your spiritual gift and then you'll know what ministry you're supposed to have." It actually works the opposite way. Often it isn't until after you start experimenting with different ministries that you discover how your natural abilities, experiences, and personality work together to uniquely shape you to serve Christ. Until you're involved in serving, you won't know what you're good at.

How do you know where to jump in and serve? Take an honest look at what you're good at--and what you're not. The …