A helpful tool for understanding how God has wired us is the Prophet, Priest, King test. Where Jesus perfectly embodied all three of these, all of us are especially gifted by God in one of these roles for the purpose of serving one another.
Take some time now to fill out the survey. Answer these questions according to who you are, not who you want to be. Choose the answer that is your first instinct, don’t over-analyze. Circle only ONE answer per question.
1. Are you most frustrated when:
a. Things are not planned well
b. Something is not being taught correctly
c. People are treated poorly
2. Which best describes you:
a. Well planned
b. Knowledgeable
c. A people person
3. Are you more likely to be:
a. Controlling
b. Harsh
c. Lenient
4. Do you most naturally lead through:
a. Delegation
b. Explanation
c. Relationships
5. Are you more likely to see:
a. What is not working in a person’s way of doing things
b. What is unbiblical about a person’s way of doing things
c. If people are being hurt by a person’s way of doing things
6. Do you evaluate situations by asking what:
a. Works/doesn’t work
b. What is right/wrong
c. What helps/hurts
7. Would you rather:
a. Lead a group to accomplish a task
b. Teach your favorite passage of Scripture
c. Meet one on one to help someone with a problem
8. What do you get most excited about:
a. When things are being run well
b. The Bible is being taught well
c. If individual people are being developed well
9. Would people characterize you as:
a. Organized
b. Insightful
c. Encouraging
10. People are most likely to say your biggest flaw is:
a. You are OCD
b. You are too harsh
c. You are a pushover
11. Are you most self-righteous about:
a. Seeing the big picture
b. Being accurate
c. Being well-liked
12. Which of these would you naturally lean more towards:
a. Too rigid
b. Too judgmental
c. Too timid to confront sin
13. In your opinion, people:
a. Are needed to help accomplish things
b. Need to be taught
c. Need to be engaged
14. Do people come to you to:
a. Help them plan
b. Help them understand
c. To have someone identify with them
15. When you hear a new idea; your first thought is:
a. How does it work?
b. Is it true?
c. How does it affect people?
16. Would you describe yourself as:
a. Practical
b. A visionary
c. Dedicated
17. When it comes to people, do you:
a. Want to tell them what to do
b. Want to teach them something
c. Want to protect them
18. Would your dream job be:
a. An engineer/manager
b. A spokesperson/teacher
c. A social worker/counselor
19. Are you more:
a. Directive
b. Illustrative
c. Protective
20. If you are in a big group of people hiking a mountain, do you want to:
a. Make a plan for hiking the mountain
b. Communicate the plan to the group
c. Help make sure everyone makes it to the top
21. Do you tend to:
a. Protect the plan
b. Protect the truth
c. Protect the people
22. If you are to assess your intelligence, would you say you have:
a. Street smarts
b. Book smarts
c. People smarts
RESULTS
Once you’ve answered all of these questions, add them up to see what role best suits you. Below is a description of those roles.
a. King
b. Prophet
c. Priest
Kings
Kings are concerned with leadership, details, and systems. Their first question is likely “How will that practically work?” because their mind is always on functionality, order, and effectiveness. They love spreadsheets and to-do lists and plans. They communicate clearly and effectively.
Potential sins and issues: Pragmatism, manipulation, control.
Potential ways to serve in LifeGroup: Rhythm planner, Childcare facilitator, Review the Mission leader
Prophets
Prophets are concerned about truth first and foremost. Their first question is typically “Is that biblically accurate and in step with the gospel?” They are teachers and preachers.
Potential sins and issues: Arrogance, intellectualism, poor listening skills, overbearing demeanor
Potential way to serve in LifeGroup: Sermon Discussion leader
Priests
Priests are especially gifted in caring for people (this is reflected in shepherding language throughout the Bible). Their first question is typically “How will this affect people?” They are good listeners and counselors.
Potential sins and issues: Cowardice, emotionalism, unhealthy concern with how others feel about them.
Potential ways to serve in LifeGroup: Engage the Heart leader, Care Follow-Up leader