Your SHAPE for God’s Service
Handout 2PR
To be given out in Session Two and done at home in preparation for Session Three.
PERSONAL REFLECTION ON YOUR PERSONALITY
Who am I?
Your personality consists of many ingredients, such as your character, style, attitudes, preferences,
personal qualities, strengths and weaknesses. Your personality has been shaped by your genetic makeup (Nature) and by your life - experiences, relationships, culture and circumstances (Nurture).
Who should I be?
Yourself! There is no such thing as an “ideal Christian”. God has made us all different on purpose.
None of us are perfect (yet!!!), but God wants to use you as you are. He wants you to serve him in
roles and contexts where your particular personality will be able to thrive and contribute most
effectively.
In order to discover what those ideal roles and contexts for your ministry might be, you need to keep
growing in self-awareness of your own personality. The following exercise should help with this
process.
“Who do you say that I am?”
This was Jesus’ question to his friends (Matthew 16:15).
We are going to ask people a similar question in relation to our personalities.
ACTION TO TAKE:
1. Look at the grid over the page. Pray that God will use this exercise and give you discernment
and insights. Before asking anyone else, ask yourself the question in the left hand column. How do
you see your own personality and character? Jot down your answers in the column headed
“Yourself”. (Don’t agonise over it - answer quickly, spontaneously and honestly). You won’t have
to show the paper to anyone, though you’ll be asked to share a few insights from it verbally, at the
next session.
2. Before Session Three, please speak briefly (perhaps over the phone) to as many as
possible of the following: a work colleague; a friend; a parent or older person; your spouse or
partner. This variety is to gain feedback on how people see you in different types of relationships.
If you do not have one (or more) of these categories of people, then instead ask more friends
(preferably ones with whom you do different types of things) and alter the column-headings on the
grid over the page. Explain that you need their help with a project you are doing, about exploring
personality.
3. Ask each of these people the question in the first column over the page. Don’t warn
them or give them time to think in advance about their answers. Say that you want their gutreactions, answers “off the top of their heads”; the first words which come to their minds. The
conversation only needs to take about 5 minutes at most.
4. Jot down each of the words they mention in the relevant column. (Aim to get at least 5
words from each person). Do not omit words which have already been mentioned by someone
else.
5. When you have gathered your feedback, look at the answers on your grid. Are there any
words which have been mentioned by more than one person? Do any particular characteristics
emerge strongly? (If so, write them at the bottom of the page).
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Your SHAPE for God’s Service
Handout 2PR
6. Compare the column headed “Yourself” with the other columns. Does the way you see
yourself, match how other people see you? Any surprises or encouragements? (Write at the
bottom of the page).
Keep this paper until Session 6, to help you build up an overall picture of your SHAPE.
BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE NEXT SESSION
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Your SHAPE for God’s Service
Handout 2PR
NAME………………………………
QUESTION TO ASK:
Yourself
FEEDBACK ON MY PERSONALITY
Spouse / Partner
Parent or older
person
What words come to
your mind to describe my
personality and character?
Record here your own reflections on the answers afterwards:
 Which characteristics emerge most strongly?

Does how you see yourself, match how other people see you?

Any surprises or encouragements?
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A Friend
Work-colleague