Spiritual Gifts
What is a spiritual gift?
A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to a person at the moment of his or her salvation/baptism. See; Acts 2:38-39, 12:7
How many spiritual gifts are there?
The Bible lists sixteen gifts in three different passages.
They are: Romans 12: 1-8, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.
Who gives the spiritual gifts?
The Holy Spirit, since the day of Pentecost has given each believer one or more spiritual gifts. See Ephesians 4:11-13, I Corinthians 12:11
What is the purpose of the spiritual gifts?
The purpose of the gifts is to glorify God and to edify His church. We do this by using our gifts to bear much fruit that lasts. See Ephesians 3:16-19, Ephesians 4:12-13 and John 15:8
How many gifts do I have?
All believers are given at least one spiritual gift on the day of their baptism. Some believers receive more than one See Ephesians 4:7, Corinthians 7:7, I Corinthians 12:7, 11, I Peter 4:10
Does anyone have all of the spiritual gifts?
No. Each believer is given a gift or gifts according to the will of God. See I Corinthians 7:7, I Corinthians 12:29-31
How do I use my gifts?
The Bible tells us to use our gifts in love. See I Corinthians 13:1-13. There are many ministries that need all kinds of gifts. Look around and see what the church is involved in, or see what ministries need help. The idea is to find out where you can serve and use your gifts.
What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift?
Good question. A talent is a natural ability given at birth. This could be anything from athletic ability to musical talent to artistic genius. Talents cannot be used to glorify God unless the Holy Spirit allows them to. The possessor of a particular talent cannot use it on his own power to glorify God. If, however, that person receives Christ and is baptized, the Holy Spirit may then transform his talent into a spiritual gift that would fall under one of the gifts listed below. The Holy Spirit may also decide to give that person a totally different gift or gifts.
Below are sixteen gifts identified in the Bible.
A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to a person at the moment of his or her salvation/baptism. See; Acts 2:38-39, 12:7
How many spiritual gifts are there?
The Bible lists sixteen gifts in three different passages.
They are: Romans 12: 1-8, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.
Who gives the spiritual gifts?
The Holy Spirit, since the day of Pentecost has given each believer one or more spiritual gifts. See Ephesians 4:11-13, I Corinthians 12:11
What is the purpose of the spiritual gifts?
The purpose of the gifts is to glorify God and to edify His church. We do this by using our gifts to bear much fruit that lasts. See Ephesians 3:16-19, Ephesians 4:12-13 and John 15:8
How many gifts do I have?
All believers are given at least one spiritual gift on the day of their baptism. Some believers receive more than one See Ephesians 4:7, Corinthians 7:7, I Corinthians 12:7, 11, I Peter 4:10
Does anyone have all of the spiritual gifts?
No. Each believer is given a gift or gifts according to the will of God. See I Corinthians 7:7, I Corinthians 12:29-31
How do I use my gifts?
The Bible tells us to use our gifts in love. See I Corinthians 13:1-13. There are many ministries that need all kinds of gifts. Look around and see what the church is involved in, or see what ministries need help. The idea is to find out where you can serve and use your gifts.
What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift?
Good question. A talent is a natural ability given at birth. This could be anything from athletic ability to musical talent to artistic genius. Talents cannot be used to glorify God unless the Holy Spirit allows them to. The possessor of a particular talent cannot use it on his own power to glorify God. If, however, that person receives Christ and is baptized, the Holy Spirit may then transform his talent into a spiritual gift that would fall under one of the gifts listed below. The Holy Spirit may also decide to give that person a totally different gift or gifts.
Below are sixteen gifts identified in the Bible.
- Teaching
- Discernment
- Wisdom
- Knowledge
- Exhortation
- Giving
- Helps/Serving
- Administration
- Leadership
- Missions
- Mercy
- Faith
- Evangelism
- Hospitality
- Elder/Overseer
- Preaching
Spiritual Gifts Guide
Gifts for which the scores are strongest are the ones in which you appear to be strongest. Gifts which are the lowest are your weakest Spiritual Gifts
A. Preaching: The God-empowered ability and urgent need to communicate God's truths with power and clarity in such a way that brings correction, reprntance, edification, and comfort.
Acts 2:37-40
Acts 7:51-53
Acts 26:24-29
1 Thessalonians 1:5
B. Shepherding (Pastoring): The God-empowered ability to lead, nurture, instruct, and care for individuals or groups in the body on a long-term basis so that their relationship with Christ is deepened and faith is developed.
John 10:1-18
Ephesians 4:11-14
1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 Peter 5:1-3
C. Missions: - The church sends missionaries from the body to plant churches and carry forth God's Mission. Missionaries motivate the body to look beyond its walls in order to carry out the Great Commission
1 Cor. 12:28
Eph. 4:11
D. Hospitality: The God-empowered ability to provide in your own home, as well as other settings, an open house with an atmosphere of acceptance and love to those in need of food, lodging or fellowship.
Acts 16:14-15
Romans 12:13
Romans 16:23
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Peter 4:9
E. Evangelism: The God-empowered ability to be a productive communicator of God's Good News about Christ to unbelivers.
Acts 8:5-6
Acts 8:26-40
Acts 14:21
Acts 21:8
Eph. 4:11-14
F. Faith: The God-empowered ability to see the Lord's will clearly and to act upon it in great confidence in spite of all worldly evidence to the contrary.
Acts 11:22-24
Romans 4:18-21
1 Corinthians 12:9
Hebrews 11
G. Mercy: The God-empowered ability to identify with the hurting, causing you to respond in an appropriate way with comfort, aid, understanding, and cheerfulness.
Matthew 9:35-36
Mark 9:41
Romans 12:8
1 Thessalonians 5:14
H. Leadership The God-empowered ability to set goals in accordance with God's purpose and to motivate others in the body of Christ to voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God.
Romans 12:8
1 Timothy 3:1-13
1 Timothy 5:17
Hebrews 13:17
I. Administration/Organization: The God-empowered ability to understand what makes an organization function and what is required to work with and through fellow disciples to plan and achieve biblical goals and organizational objectives.
Luke 14:28
Acts 6:1-7
1 Corinthians 12:28
J. Service/Helps: The God-empowered ability to provide physical labor for the accomplishment of tasks within the body of Christ, thus enabling others to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:28
Romans 16:1-2
Acts 6:1-7
Romans 12:7
Galatians 6:10
K. Giving: The God-empowered ability to contribute yourself, money, time and material resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality.
Mark 12:41-44
Romans 12:8
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
2 Corinthians 9:2-7
L. Knowledge: The God-empowered ability to discover, accumulate, analyze, clarify, organize and communicate the Word of God so that the author's intended meaning is seen in its original context.
Acts 5:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:8
Colossians 2:23
M. Wisdom: The God-empowered ability to know how to apply God's truth to contemporary problems, combining an understanding of life situations with a preception of what to do and how to do it.
Acts 6:3,10
1 Corinthians 2:6-13
1 Corinthians 12:8
N. Discernment: The God-empowered ability to distinguish between truth and error, being able to use this information to caution those in the body, resulting in continued spiritual growth.
Matthew 16:21-23
Acts 5:1-11
Acts 16:16-18
1 Corinthians 12:10
1 John 4:1-6
O. Teaching: The God-empowered ability to understand, communicate and apply the Word of God in such a way that the teacher and listeners will learn and be motivated to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Acts 18:24-28
Acts 20:20
1 Corinthians 12:28
Ephesians 4:11-14
P. Encouragement/Exhortation: The God-empowered ability to comfort, reassure, strengthen, affirm, and challenge, doing it in such away that spirits are lifted, helped and healed.
Acts 14:22
Romans 12:8
1 Timothy 4:13
Hebrews 10:24-25
A. Preaching: The God-empowered ability and urgent need to communicate God's truths with power and clarity in such a way that brings correction, reprntance, edification, and comfort.
Acts 2:37-40
Acts 7:51-53
Acts 26:24-29
1 Thessalonians 1:5
B. Shepherding (Pastoring): The God-empowered ability to lead, nurture, instruct, and care for individuals or groups in the body on a long-term basis so that their relationship with Christ is deepened and faith is developed.
John 10:1-18
Ephesians 4:11-14
1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 Peter 5:1-3
C. Missions: - The church sends missionaries from the body to plant churches and carry forth God's Mission. Missionaries motivate the body to look beyond its walls in order to carry out the Great Commission
1 Cor. 12:28
Eph. 4:11
D. Hospitality: The God-empowered ability to provide in your own home, as well as other settings, an open house with an atmosphere of acceptance and love to those in need of food, lodging or fellowship.
Acts 16:14-15
Romans 12:13
Romans 16:23
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Peter 4:9
E. Evangelism: The God-empowered ability to be a productive communicator of God's Good News about Christ to unbelivers.
Acts 8:5-6
Acts 8:26-40
Acts 14:21
Acts 21:8
Eph. 4:11-14
F. Faith: The God-empowered ability to see the Lord's will clearly and to act upon it in great confidence in spite of all worldly evidence to the contrary.
Acts 11:22-24
Romans 4:18-21
1 Corinthians 12:9
Hebrews 11
G. Mercy: The God-empowered ability to identify with the hurting, causing you to respond in an appropriate way with comfort, aid, understanding, and cheerfulness.
Matthew 9:35-36
Mark 9:41
Romans 12:8
1 Thessalonians 5:14
H. Leadership The God-empowered ability to set goals in accordance with God's purpose and to motivate others in the body of Christ to voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God.
Romans 12:8
1 Timothy 3:1-13
1 Timothy 5:17
Hebrews 13:17
I. Administration/Organization: The God-empowered ability to understand what makes an organization function and what is required to work with and through fellow disciples to plan and achieve biblical goals and organizational objectives.
Luke 14:28
Acts 6:1-7
1 Corinthians 12:28
J. Service/Helps: The God-empowered ability to provide physical labor for the accomplishment of tasks within the body of Christ, thus enabling others to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:28
Romans 16:1-2
Acts 6:1-7
Romans 12:7
Galatians 6:10
K. Giving: The God-empowered ability to contribute yourself, money, time and material resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality.
Mark 12:41-44
Romans 12:8
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
2 Corinthians 9:2-7
L. Knowledge: The God-empowered ability to discover, accumulate, analyze, clarify, organize and communicate the Word of God so that the author's intended meaning is seen in its original context.
Acts 5:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:8
Colossians 2:23
M. Wisdom: The God-empowered ability to know how to apply God's truth to contemporary problems, combining an understanding of life situations with a preception of what to do and how to do it.
Acts 6:3,10
1 Corinthians 2:6-13
1 Corinthians 12:8
N. Discernment: The God-empowered ability to distinguish between truth and error, being able to use this information to caution those in the body, resulting in continued spiritual growth.
Matthew 16:21-23
Acts 5:1-11
Acts 16:16-18
1 Corinthians 12:10
1 John 4:1-6
O. Teaching: The God-empowered ability to understand, communicate and apply the Word of God in such a way that the teacher and listeners will learn and be motivated to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Acts 18:24-28
Acts 20:20
1 Corinthians 12:28
Ephesians 4:11-14
P. Encouragement/Exhortation: The God-empowered ability to comfort, reassure, strengthen, affirm, and challenge, doing it in such away that spirits are lifted, helped and healed.
Acts 14:22
Romans 12:8
1 Timothy 4:13
Hebrews 10:24-25
