This is not the first Daniel Darling book I've read - I also have read "The Dignity Revolution." So I was excited to see his take on one of my favorite subjects. After all, I've read Spiritual Gifts books and taken spiritual gift inventories from the charismatic to the cessationist views. In fact, I've taken two inventories in the past 12 months, including the one Darling suggests in this book.
Technically, this is more of a workbook. My Bible Study group just finished going through this. It is a 6 week study, consisting of five short studies for each chapter, followed by a discussion guide. Probably, neither cessationists nor Charismatics will be completely pleased, but Darling does an excellent job of presenting this without criticizing any of the contrasting views.
I highly recommend this study.
Allow me to add some interaction I've had, especially connected to the two inventories. I took the one Darling recommends this evening (referred to as the Lifeway test), and I took a previous one coupled with a personality test during a Guide Retreat (and hereafter called the Guide test).
There were similarities between the two. Both dealt with the same 16 gifts; Lifeway gives 5 questions per gift, while Guide gives 8. Those questions really are statements and you are answer with a number between 1 and 5 concerning your agreement. In doing the Guide test, the group leader suggested we rate each statement either 1 or 5, and if it really is somewhere in between, give it a 2 or a 4, avoiding 3s.
What's interesting is comparing the ratings. Some of it may be due to sticking to 1s and 5s on the Guide. Some of it is how the statements are worded, whether based on experience or interest. There's one case which showed bias: One of the questions to use on the gift of encouragement was, "I usually teach topically rather than verse by verse." Is that saying those who are gifted encouragers would not be expository teachesrs? Nonsense!
Some of the common threads: On both, I'm high on teaching, knowledge, and encouragement and low on leadership, administration, and - to my disappointment, on helps and discernment. I wasn't surprised to see the Lifeway test reflect my typical low score on evangelism compared to the aberrant 40 of 40 score on the Guide test. What did surprise me was Guide having me high on "Apostleship" (pioneer church work) and Pastor (shepherding) than Lifeway did, and that Lifeway had me very high on giving and faith which most tests - including Guide - also had me low on.
One concluding thought - we need to remember that the gifts of the Spirit often have accompanying roles in the Christian life. Some have gifts of evangelism, giving, mercy, discernment, faith, and helps, but we're all called to be witnesses, generous, merciful, discerning, full of faith, and helpful to those in need.
