EXPLORE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

 

INTRODUCTION

God gives to each person one or more spiritual gifts that may be used to build up His body on Earth, the church. Below you will find a list of modern spiritual characteristics based on principles enumerated in the Bible. Find a gift you feel you have. Read the description to see if it fits you. You can also scroll through the list looking for characteristics that match your talents and interests. Spiritual gifts don’t need to only be spiritually manifested or demonstrated; if you are a good auto mechanic you may also have the spiritual gift of craftsmanship. If you are a good cook and like to entertain, you may also have the spiritual gift of hospitality. Think about what you are good at or what others tell you that you do well.

 

GIFTS THAT EXPAND THE CHURCH

/  EVANGELISM  /

Acts 8:26-40, Ephesians 4:11

People with this gift are sensitive about how the unchurched feel. They have a knack for turning conversations to a spiritual side. This gift can be used in many ways. You may have the gift of evangelism, but be introverted. So, this gift is going to show up in different ways. You have to learn to share in a way consistent with your personality.

The ability to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to unbelievers in such a way that they become His disciples. The ability to sense opportunities to share the gospel and lead people to respond with faith.

 

/  MISSIONS  /

1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Acts 13:2-3

Paul also had this gift. He said, "I've become all things to all men that I may save some. To the Jew, as a Jew, etc." Some people, if you took them to Japan and they had to eat sushi, they'd gag. They couldn’t do it. They just can't blend into the culture. Some of you find this very exciting. You don’t have to go overseas to exercise this gift. In Berrien Springs there are people from every nation in the world. The leaders of the world many times come here to study.

The ability to adapt to a different culture in order to reach unbelievers and help believers from that culture. The ability to use whatever other spiritual gifts one has in a second culture.

 

/  CHURCH PLANTING  /

Romans 15:20, Ephesians 4:11

This is what you'd call a church planter. You can take risks, try new things. In the early Adventist church, pastors were primarily church planters. There was no such thing as a settled pastor over a church. The church would primarily take care of itself. And the pastor would go around and train people and start up new work in different areas.

The ability to start new churches, assume oversight for their development, and exercise leadership with authority in spiritual matters that is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches.

 

GIFTS THAT EDIFY THE CHURCH

/  TEACHING  /

Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Cor. 12:28

Have you ever been taught by someone that didn’t have a gift for teaching? If you have a bad teacher, your mind is wandering. If you have a good teacher, you're there with them. A good teacher is systematic about his teaching. He/she is clear so that the student can follow.

The ability to educate God’s people by clearly explaining and applying the Bible in a way that causes them to learn and grow in their relationship with God. The ability to equip and train other believers for ministry.

 

/  LEADERSHIP  /

Hebrews 13:7, 13:17

The test of leadership is if people will follow you. These are goal oriented people.

The ability to clarify and communicate the purpose and vision of a ministry in a way that attracts others to get involved. The ability to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose for the future, then communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish them for the glory of God.

 

/  PASTORING  /

1 Peter 5:2-3, James 5:14-16

The word pastor means to care for. This is a gift, but it’s also a role. At this church I’d love for us to have dozens of pastors through cell groups.

The ability to care for the spiritual needs of a group of believers and help equip them for ministry. The ability to nurture a small group in spiritual growth and assume long-term personal responsibility for their welfare.

 

/  ADMINISTRATION  /

Romans 12:8, 1 Cor. 3:10

These are people that can balance several balls at the same time. Usually they’re very organized. They’re looking for more efficient ways to do things. People with this can work with the details without getting lost.

The ability to understand clearly the goals of leadership and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals. The ability to coordinate many details, manage people, and organize resources and time for maximum effectiveness in ministry.

 

GIFTS THAT BUILD UP GOD'S PEOPLE

/  MERCY  /

Luke 10:30-37, Romans 12:8

This is like the Good Samaritan. This guy picked this guy up, helped him out. Left his credit card. These people can empathize really well. Some churches have a ministry called "Care Callers.”

The ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals (both Christian and non-Christian) who suffer distressing physical, mental or other problems, and to translate that compassion into practical and cheerful deeds that reflect God’s love and alleviate the suffering.

 

/  ENCOURAGEMENT  /

Acts 14:22, Romans 12:8

People with this gift are inspirational. They can visualize achievement in other people. Many times they're really great counselors.

The ability to motivate God's people to apply and act on Biblical principles, especially when they are discouraged or wavering in their faith. The ability to bring out the best in others and challenge them to develop their potential, or to speak words of comfort and counsel in such a way that they feel helped or healed.

 

/  INTERCESSION  /

Col. 1:9-12, Romans 8:26-27

If you have this gift, we need you involved in the prayer ministry of this church. Paul had this gift because it says that he was constantly praying for the churches.

The ability to pray for the needs of others for extended periods of time on a regular basis, and see frequent and specific answers to one's prayers, to a degree greater than that expected of an average Christian. Also, the ability to persist in prayer and not be discouraged until the answer arrives.

 

GIFTS THAT BUILD UP GOD'S HOUSE

/  CRAFTSMANSHIP  /

1 Chr. 28:21, Ex. 31:1-11

The ability to build, maintain or beautify a place of worship for God’s glory and the facilitation of ministry. Also, the ability to develop and utilize one’s skills to express worship through a variety of art forms.

 

/  MUSIC  /

Colossians 3:16, Psalm 40:3

The ability to celebrate God's presence through anointed music, either vocally or instrumentally, in such a way that an atmosphere of participatory worship is created for the believer and a powerful sense of God’s presence is experienced by the unbeliever.

 

/  ARTS & CRAFTS  /

Exodus 31:3-11 

Drama falls under this. So do painters and those kinds of artists.

The ability to build, maintain, or beautify the place of worship for God's glory. The ability to express worship through a variety of art forms.

 

/  HOSPITALITY  /

1 Peter 4:9-10, Hebrews 13:1-2

You can tell the people that have this gift, because you immediately feel comfortable around them. There's a difference between entertaining and hospitality. These people have a great concern for your comfort. If you have this gift, you should be a greeter. Totally. Some people know how to shake your hand and make you feel relaxed.

The ability to make others, especially strangers, feel warmly welcomed, accepted and comfortable in the church family. The ability to coordinate factors that promote fellowship between the saved and unsaved, whether it be within the church, in one's own home, or at some other location or event. The ability to graciously accommodate those in need.

 

GIFTS THAT BUILD UP GOD'S WORK

/  SERVICE  /

Romans 16:1-2, 1 Corinthians 12:22

People with this gift do not have to be told what to do. They'll walk in a room, and you don't need to ask them, they see a need and begin to do something: taking down tables, moving chairs, cleaning in the kitchen. They want to be helpful. They don't want to be upfront, but seem to have a spiritual antenna to see what needs to be done.

The ability to recognize unmet needs in the church family or in a task related to God's work, and take the initiative to provide practical task-oriented assistance promptly, cheerfully, and without a need for recognition.

 

/  HELPS  /

Acts 6:1-7, 1 Corinthians 12:28

The ability to invest one's talents in the life and ministry of another member of the Body, thus enabling the person helped to increase the effectiveness of their own gifts.

 

/  GIVING  /

Romans 12:8, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 

People that have this gift don't need to be told to give. They're constantly giving. It fulfills them to bless the church financially or with resources. And this doesn’t mean that they give a certain amount. They’re not necessarily rich, but they love to give.

The ability to generously contribute material resources or money beyond one's tithe so that the Body may grow and be strengthened. The ability to earn and manage money so it may be given to support the ministry of others, particularly through the local church.

 

GIFTS OF REVELATION

/  DISCERNMENT  /

Acts 16:16-22, 1 Cor. 12:10 

This is needed in the church. This gift protects the church. Some of you have this gift, but you don't have enough Bible under your belt. You haven't read the Bible enough. And as we continue towards spiritual maturity and grow more, your understanding of the biblical world view will increase.

The ability to know with assurance whether the source of an experience is God, Satan, or merely the human spirit. The ability to distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error, and to give an immediate evaluation based on God's Word.

 

/  KNOWLEDGE  /

1 Corinthians 12:8, Daniel 1:17 

Daniel had the gift of knowledge. He was able to learn and process information. These people are researchers. Some people like to go to the library and love to read. I could tell them, I'm doing a series on relationships, and they'll go and find quotes and facts and figures. I need people like that!

The ability to receive specific information from the Holy Spirit that meets a particular need. Also, the ability to comprehend and clarify a large amount of information and provide it when needed for effective decision-making, in such a way that an individual believer or the entire church family is benefited.

 

GIFTS OF COMMUNICATION

/  INTERPRETATION  /

1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:27-28

The ability to make known, in the vernacular of the hearers, the message of one who gives a public anointed utterance from God in an unknown tongue.

 

GIFTS OF DEMONSTRATION

/  HEALING  /

1 Corinthians 12:9, Acts 3:1-11

The ability to pray in faith specifically for people who need physical, emotional, or spiritual healing and see God restore health apart from the use of natural means, to bring glory to His name and attention to the gospel.

 

/  FAITH  /

1 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 4:20-21

The ability to trust God, or to inspire trust in God, for what cannot be seen and to act on God's promise, regardless of what the circumstances indicate. Also, the willingness to risk failure in pursuit of a God-given vision, expecting God to handle the obstacles.

 

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