Community That Is Christian by Julie Gorman.

PURPOSE: Distinguishes between groups that operate on the basis of methodology alone versus those that build genuine Christian community. Practical training on beginning a group ministry, vulnerability, communication, inter-generational groups, managing group life.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Training resource for leaders and potential leaders of small groups, home fellowships, Bible discussions. Very relational in approach.

Discover Your Giftedness in Christ by Uniquely You in Christ.
Uniquely You in Christ
1-800-501-0490

PURPOSE: Combines spiritual gifts, temperment, talents, and interests into one profile. Uses the DISC personality profile, and emphasizes “motivational” gifts from Romans 12, as well as other New Testament gift listings. Aims at helping ministry practitioners maximize their performance and avoid needless conflict.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Easy to understand and use. Can be used in a 3-lesson or 13-lesson format. Suitable for individuial or group study. Teacher’s guide is available.

Discover Your God-given Gifts by Don & Katie Fortune.
GPH 03TW5303

PURPOSE: Teaches how to better understand each other through administration and interpretation of tests which measure a person’s God-given gifts. Examines manifestation gifts, ministry gifts, and motivational gifts. Focuses extensively on Romans 12:6-8 listing of seven “motivational” gifts.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Includes detailed tests at three levels: adult, teen, children, as well as charts to help each person find the career or ministry that suits them best.

Empowering Church Volunteers by Walter A. Lacey.
Church Growth Institute
1-800-553-4769

PURPOSE: Assumes that the ability to motivate church volunteers does not come naturally; it must be cultivated. Provides training designed to improve leadership’s ability to understand volunteers, recruit them, and keep their enthusiasm level high.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Includes workbook, personality and spiritual gift tests, 4 audio cassettes.

First Steps for Teachers by William J. Martin.
GPH 02TW0506, 31TW0870 & 25TW0244

PURPOSE: Designed especially to “launch” those new to the teaching ministry. Motivates new staff to make their students want to learn more about God. Addresses doctrine, lesson preparation, methods, curriculum, and more. Appropriate for preparing staff across age levels and for a variety of ministry assignments.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Text. Instructors Guide. Transparency masters. An excellent starting point for training new staff, or as a refresher. Suitable for classroom or seminar.

Houts Inventory of Spiritual Gifts by Richard F. Houts.
1-800-804-0777

PURPOSE: Tests for 16 spiritual gifts. No sign gifts are included. Leads the participant through a self-evaluation of results. Also, discusses church ministry opportunties as they relate to the gifts. Distinguishes “action gifts” (teaching) from gifts that describe a condition of being (discernment).

RESOURCE APPLICATION: A stand-alone questionnaire without supporting teaching material. Perhaps uncomfortable for Pentecostals due to absence of sign gifts. A pioneer in the field.

How to Lead Small Groups by Neal F. McBride.
GPH 03TW1728

PURPOSE: Handbook for leading a Bible discussion group. Topics include preparing lesson plans, developing objectives, preparing and asking stimulating questions and handling problems in the group process.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Training tool for developing small group leaders.

Leading Adult Learners by Delia Halverson.
GPH 03TW1944

PURPOSE: Stresses that Christian education involves more than book learning. Focuses on techniques churches can use to guide adult class leaders, plan events, reap the rewards of training, and plan resources. Designed to help those who lead “unhealthy” classes make their groups more functional. Also, for those who want to start new classes or improve on a good situation.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Training tool for new and existing teachers. Notes. Bibliography.

Network by Bugbee, Cousins & Hybels.

PURPOSE: Helps believers understand who God has made them to be and mobilizes them to find meaningful service in the body. Includes assessments leading to discovery of spiritual gifts and personal style. Provides a system for deploying trained people.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Videos. Leader’s guides with overheads, participant’s and consultant’s guide. An implementation tool for the network concept.

Our Church in Ministry by Richard Dresselhaus.
GPH 02TW0633

PURPOSE: Examines evangelism and service as it helps church workers develop their spiritual gifts. Covers personal godliness, discipline, community evangelism and different types of ministry.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: General introduction to ministry from the ACTS series. Suitable for adult class or training.

Spiritual Gifts by Robert Brandt.
GPH 42TW7186 & 42TW7187

PURPOSE: Lead your people into service. Move them from the bleachers onto the playing field. This book explores different types of ministries and spiritual gifts. Lessons include: “God Has Gifts for You,” “Ministry Gifts: Ministering, Teaching, Exhorting,” etc. Covers service gifts as well as charismata.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: ICI course. Study Guide. Instructor’s Guide with outlines and worksheets. Audio Album. Video Album.

Spiritual Gifts Inventory: TEAM Ministry by Larry Gilbert.
Church Growth Institute
1-800-553-4769

PURPOSE: Committed to getting people into ministry positions today, rather than stumbling through years of church experiences before finding their niche. Presents the TEAM ministry concept of seeing God’s overall design in the church and responding to it. Uses the gift list found in the Houts Questionnaire, with the addition of the gift of administration.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Adult and Youth versions. Very sharp and easy to understand. Little supporting material without purchase of the TEAM ministry products. Using the test results is more difficult without the supplemental material.

The Church by Donald Smeeton.
GPH 42TW7122 & 42TW7123

PURPOSE: Examines the past, present and future of the church. Each student will have a better understanding of how he can fulfill his potential as one of the parts of the body of Christ. Lessons include: “What the Church Is,” “How I Can Be a Part of God’s Church,” “How the Church Is Like a Body,” etc.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: ICI course. Study Guide. Instructor’s Guide with outlines and worksheets. Audio Album.

The Exodus Principle by Gary McIntosh.

PURPOSE: Shows how church growth is based on reaching out and reaching in. Offers a 5-part strategy to help churches achieve a “culture of service” that frees people to minister to each other.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Leadership aid for developing the congregations spiritual gifts to involve members in ministry.

The Lay Driven Church by Melvin J. Steinborn.

PURPOSE: Guides church leaders into understanding the church as: Needs-Conscious, Gift-Oriented, Balanced, and Biblical. Aimed at shifting the congregation from the spectator mode into ministry mode, led by a visionary, equipping pastoral team.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Suitable for leadership training class, seminar. Includes lab exercises.

Understanding How Others Misunderstand You by Ken Voges & Ron Braund.

PURPOSE: Based on the DISC inventory of personality types, instruction is provided on working more effectively with others through increased mutual understanding, and finding a place of service in the body of Christ through increased self-understanding.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Book and Workbook. Includes DISC inventory and detailed explanation. Worksheets to amplify positives and blunt negatives of personality types.

Wagner-Modified Houts Questionnaire by C. Peter Wagner.
Included in Your Spiritual Gifts

PURPOSE: Using the Houts Inventory of Spiritual Gifts as a base, Wagner adds a number of gifts (including tongues, prophecy, miracles, celibacy, exorcism, etc.) to the list to bring th total to 25. Suggested definitions and Scripture texts are provided.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Covers the broadest range of gifts, and is one of the most popular inventories across denominational lines. Suitable for individual or group study. A “standard” in the field. Inventory available from ICDE 1-800-804-0777

Wesley Spiritual Gifts Questionnaire by John Maxwell & Dan Reiland.
1-800-333-6506

PURPOSE: Developed in a local church membership program as a way of mobilizing constituents. Includes the typical gift categories, although their application in the local church will be somwhat different from the Pentecostal understanding. Tests for unique gifts such as music and craftsmanship.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Includes a unique section on Spiritual Gifts and Ministry Match-Up. Best for group use. Focused on integration of new people.

What You Do Best in the Body of Christ by Bruce Bugbee.
GPH 03TW2843

PURPOSE: Each believer has been given specific spiritual gifts which can enable him/her to serve God with maximum effectiveness and joy. Uses a proven method to identify spiritual gifts, passions, and relational style and direct them productively into God’s kingdom.

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Extremely practical. Suitable for small group, classroom, leadership development training.

You Can Lead A Bible Discussion by Dr. Terry Powell.
GPH 03TW7033

PURPOSE: Very practical “textbook” for leaders of inductive Bible study groups. Teaches the framing of excellent questions (observation, interpretation, application) and the organization of the group experience (managing time, dealing with participants, etc.).

RESOURCE APPLICATION: Training resource for leaders and potential leaders of Bible discussion groups. Very Bible-content oriented.