Finding Your Opportunity Assessment

Finding Your Opportunity

Self-Assessment
Name:
In the fall of 2022, Pastor Nick von Stein gave a series of messages called “Deep Roots Long Branches” in which he discussed the importance of having deep spiritual roots from which long branches will grow. Now at the beginning of the year 2023, he presented the message series “Find Your Opportunity”.

It is one thing to discuss and think about finding our opportunity to grow long branches to share the fruit that grows from the Spirit. But how do we identify our branches? Am I supposed to go to Africa to preach the gospel or help with sharing the good news with children or become a foster/adoptive parent or care for the homeless? Or what?

Have you ever wondered about the soil your spiritual “tree” is planted in? That soil is you, all you have learned and done up until now. The soil you have become is unique to you and your life experiences. It is uniquely prepared for deep roots and long branches. It has been prepared by God, even before you were born.

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb."Psalm 139:13 (But read all of Psalm 139)

How do we identify our specific branches? How has God prepared you? How has your unique life experience created an opportunity for the Lord to use You?

Sometimes it can be hard to figure out what to do when we grow in our Christian walk, but God has something special for each one of us to do as we mature in our faith. Our Lord has been preparing our life’s path for us since our birth. He has laid out for us what He is calling us to do.

The results of this self-assessment can be a way to help us figure out what God is calling us to – so we can live out our special "call" from God to impact lives for Him and extend long branches of mercy into the world.

This assessment is divided into 4 sections, each centered on you.
-> Your hobbies and things you like to do for fun
-> Your work experiences
-> Your life experiences
-> Your spiritual life

Your hobbies and things you like to do for fun
It’s a beautiful day and you have all the time in the world. What would you like to be doing?

Be with familyBe outside, in nature, or playing a sportRead a book or listen to musicBe inside, making somethingDream, but be specific:

What do you like to talk about (besides the Lord, the news, or politics) when you are with your friends? Be specific:
Have you ever enjoyed teaching someone else how to do something? If you have enjoyed helping someone else understand something or learn a new skill, what was it about that experience that blessed you?
Do you enjoy having people over to your house for a party? Do you enjoy talking with interesting strangers? Do you know who your neighbors are, and enjoy talking with them? If you enjoy this kind of interaction, what is the "draw" for you?

Your Work Experiences
Think about the worst job you ever had. While you hated the experience, you walked away from it learning two valuable lessons: you hate that job and why you hated it. Even the times in our lives that are uncomfortable, difficult, discouraging or frustrating can be opportunities to learn more about who God has made us to be. God is showing us who we are and what is a better "fit" for how He uniquely designed us.
If you have had a job that “has been a better fit" for you? What was it about that job that you like so much? If you have had only difficult jobs what about them was so difficult? Why was it a bad fit for you?
What was the least favorite work task you have had to do? What made it so terrible?
What talent(s) or skills did you excel at and were able to use in your favorite job?
What talent(s) would you have liked to learn and use on your job?

Your Life Experiences
Throughout your life, you have had many experiences - some good and some not so good. But you have learned something from each. They, along with your natural abilities and tendencies, and God given unique "bents" and spiritual gifts, make up who you are today. We worked in jobs that we liked and those we did not. We have tried different hobbies, staying with those we enjoyed and forgetting those that held no interest for us.

What have your l experiences taught you about you?

As a kid did you watch sports with your dad? Prepare family dinners with your mom? As a child, did you share your bedroom with a brother or sister (without killing them)? Did you live on a farm, in a small city, or in an urban center? Maybe you moved around a lot, grew up in a foster home, or had just one parent. Did you grow up in overseas or spend time in another country?
Think about what you enjoyed as a child, and what significant events happened to you. And what was not so enjoyable?
When you were a small child, what toys did you really like? Were there things you did with your parents that you really enjoyed? What did you really dislike? Why?
When you were growing up, where did you live; in the country, city, in the United States, or overseas, etc? How did these experiences shape you? Any insights?
What was your life like when you were a teenager? What insights can you share from your experiences as a teenager that molded you into who you are today?
As an adult, what did you do that you wish you had done differently?
As you look back on your experiences, what paths did you take in your life that you wish that you had not taken?

What is your best guess as to how you believe the Lord is guiding you now, and in the near future? What "ministries" are you participating in now, and what areas of “ministry " do you believe our God is leading you to? These opportunities could be at Grace Covenant Church, or a parachurch, or through partnership in other churches, or simply an opportunity you find in your daily life and networks of connections.
Our hope in this self-assessment is twofold. First, is that it will help you to better understand your own unique design and giftedness in serving in God’s Kingdom and to find opportunities to use your gifts. Secondly, through connecting with one another and learning of each other’s gifts and serving opportunities we might better be able to network each other and partner with each other in extending long branches of mercy into the world. With this in mind, is there any other information, ideas, or ministry opportunities that you would like to share with us that could potentially support the greater effort of GCC finding their opportunity?
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