3 keys to understanding spiritual gifts

1. If you have a saving faith in Christ, you have the Spirit living in you, and the Spirit moves through you through spiritual gifts. You have at least one, probably more. (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 29–30; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Peter 4:10)
2. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to build the church. They are an expression of God’s mercy that motivates us to serve. We have a responsibility not only to use but also to develop our spiritual gifts. (Isaiah 6:1–8; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Timothy 4:14)
3. Spiritual gifts will result in giving God glory, not us. We use them in humility and love. Spiritual gifts will not bring chaos but clarity. (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 13, 14; 1 Peter 4:11)

Spiritual gifts

(not an exhaustive list)

• Administration – Spirit-given ability to guide and organize people and ministries toward a common goal. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

• Craftsmanship – Spirit-given ability to creatively design and/or construct items to be used for ministry. (Exodus 31:1–11)

• Discernment – Spirit-given ability to distinguish between truth and error. (1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:29 (verbal form); 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21; 1 John 4:1–3; Matthew 16:21–23)

• Encouragement – Spirit-given ability to strengthen people’s faith through a word of comfort or exhortation. (Romans 12:8; John 14:16, 26; Acts 11:22–24, 14:21, 22; 2 Corinthians 7:6)

• Evangelism – Spirit-given ability to share the gospel with power and great effect. (Ephesians 4:11; Acts 21:8; 2 Timothy 4:5)

• Faith – Spirit-given ability to “see” what God wants done and to believe He will accomplish His will, even if it seems impossible. (1 Corinthians 12:9; 13:2; Matthew 17:14–21 (mustard seed); 21:18–22 (fig tree); James 5:15; Hebrews 11:1 (if it were not mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9 we would not know that faith is a spiritual gift!)

• Giving – Spirit-given ability to share your resources generously with those who are in need. (Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; Acts 4:32–37)

• Healing – Spirit-given ability to restore people to health for the Glory of God. (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, James 5:13–16)

• Helps – Spirit-given ability to serve where needed so that God’s work is advanced. (1 Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:7)

• Knowledge – Spirit-given ability to receive and share biblical knowledge in various situations. (1 Corinthians 12:8, 13:2, 8–12, 14:6; Colossians 1:10)

• Leadership – Spirit-given ability to provide God’s people with vision (foresight) and oversight, so that they may accomplish God’s purposes. (Romans 12:8, Luke 22:26)

• Mercy – Spirit-given ability to joyfully embrace those in need, showing Christ’s compassion and kindness. (Romans 12:8)

• Miracles – Spirit-given ability to do that which can only be done through supernatural means testifying to God’s power and arousing awe and wonder in those who see or hear it.  (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29)

• Pastor – Teacher/Shepherd – Spirit-given ability to nurture and care for God’s people, using God’s word to guide them into Christian maturity. (Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1–4)

• Prophecy – Spirit-given ability to proclaim a message to God’s people so that they are strengthened, encouraged, comforted and instructed. (Luke 1:67; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 1 Corinthians 14:1–33; Ephesians 3:5, 4:11; Revelation 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:16, 4:14)

• Teaching – Spirit-given ability to teach God’s word with clarity, applying it with accuracy so that people grow in Christian maturity (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29; Ephesians 4:11)

• Tongues – Spirit-given ability to “worship” (pray or sing) God through a language not known to the speaker (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30; 14:2–13, 26, 27)

• Wisdom – Spirit-given ability to speak a message which will defend the truth of the gospel, or give insight and guidance to the church for a particular need. (1 Corinthians 12:8, Luke 21:15)

Interested in finding out your own spiritual gifts? Take the assessment below!