Spiritual Giftedness “What Are My Spiritual Gifts?”
Why is it so crazy to believe that we serve a God who gives good gifts? He specifically made each and every one of us with a Gift that brings us joy and Him glory! And what’s even better? We serve a God that believes the best in us…the Gospel is our greatest indication of that. God allows us to hone one another with the gifts He’s given us so that we bring Him the most glory. What if someone asked you your spiritual gifts? Would you be able to answer? Take 10 Minutes and fill out this Test from our Friends at Life.Church to see your gifts: CLICK HERE TO TAKE TEST
1 Peter 4:10-11 Romans 12:4-8 1 Corinthians 12:27-30
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN SCRIPTURE
ADMINISTRATION (Luke 14:28-30)
Those with the gift of Administration accomplish God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others. People with this gift have the ability to understand what makes an organization function and can plan and execute procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry.
People with this gift: develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals, assist organizations to become more effective and efficient, create order out of organizational chaos, manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task, and organize people, tasks, or events.
APOSTLE (2 Corinthians 12:12 , Ephesians 4:11-16 )
Apostles exercise general leadership or oversight over a number of churches with an authority in spiritual matters. God appoints Christians with this gift to lead, inspire and develop the Church by the proclamation and the teaching of true doctrine. Apostles have a divine ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures.
People with this gift: pioneer and establish new ministries or churches, adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware, desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries, have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches, demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church
CRAFTSMANSHIP / ARTIST (Exodus 31:1-11)
Christians with this gift create artistic expressions that provoke a spiritual response. Those with the gift of skilled craftsmanship have an unusual ability to create, build, maintain, or repair things. Craftsmen are able to creatively design and/or construct items to be used for ministry. Artists communicate God’s truth through a variety of art forms.
People with this gift: work with wood, cloth, paint, metal, glass, and other raw materials, make things that increase the effectiveness of others or provide specific help to others, design and build tangible items and resources, use the arts to communicate God’s truth, develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, dance, etc. use creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ’s message, challenge other’s perspective of God through various forms of the arts, demonstrate fresh ways to express Biblical truth.
DISCERNMENT (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
Discernment is the special ability to know with assurance whether certain behavior or teaching is truth or contains error. People with the gift of discernment have an uncanny ability to differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong.
People with this gift: distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure, identify deception with accuracy and appropriateness, determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic, recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message, or interpretation
ENCOURAGEMENT (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
Those with encouragement offer comfort, hope and reassurance to discouraged, weak, or troubled others in a way that consoles them.
People with this gift: come to the side of those who are discouraged give them hope, emphasize God’s promises and confidence in His will
EVANGELISM (Acts 2:36-40)
Evangelists proclaim the Gospel of salvation effectively so that people respond and become followers of Christ. They possess the ability to effectively communicate the Gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship.
People with this gift: communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction, seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters, challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ, adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual’s needs, seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers
EXHORTATION (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
People with this gift use words to strengthen weak and faltering, motivating them to become all God wants them to be. Exhorters help others reach their full potential by encouraging, challenging, comforting and guiding others by being able to present truth in a way that urges those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith to take action.
People with this gift: come to the side of those who are weak in spirit to strengthen them, challenge or confront others to trust and hope in the promises of God, urge others to action by applying Biblical truth, offer advice, a solution, or ideas for progress, motivate others to grow.
FAITH (Acts 27:21-25)
Those with the spiritual gift of faith are firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose. These gifted people display strong confidence in God and His Word, and circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction. The spiritual gift of faith enables the believer to act on God’s promises with confidence and unwavering belief in His ability to fulfill His purposes.
People with this gift: believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same, act with complete confidence in God’s ability to overcome obstacles, demonstrate an attitude of trust in God’s will and His promises, advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others will not, ask God for what is needed and trust Him for His provision
GIVING (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
The gift of giving enables a believer to recognize God’s blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously, sacrificially and cheerfully giving of their time, talents and money without thought of being repaid. This gift enables believers to contribute financial and other resources when God asks them to with cheerfulness and generosity.
People with this gift: manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give away as much as possible, support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance God’s work, meet the tangible needs of others so that spiritual growth can occur, provide resources generously and cheerfully, have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God’s work
HELPS / SERVICE (Luke 22:24-27)
Those with this gift work gladly behind the scenes to ensure that God’s work is accomplished. These are often found in a supporting role or they invest their talents in the life & ministry of others to make a lasting difference in the world. Believers with this gift are able to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support and meet the needs of others
People with this gift: serve behind the scenes whenever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others (often without having to be asked), see the tangible and practical things that need to be done and enjoy doing them, enjoy knowing that they are freeing up others to do what God has called them to do, would rather do a job than find someone else to do it
HOSPITALITY (Hebrews 13:1-2)
Those with the gift of hospitality make others feel like they are at home. They provide an open home and warm welcome to those in need of food, lodging, and fellowship. The gift of hospitality is marked by a readiness to invite others into their home or church and to make them feel not only welcome, but as though they belong there.
People with this gift: provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for, meet new people and help them feel welcomed, create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop, seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships
INTERCESSION / PRAYER (James 5:15-16)
Those with the gift of prayer pray for specific needs over an extended period of time and see God move through their prayers. Their gift enables them to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results.
People with this gift: feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause, have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged, are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer and pray in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit
KNOWLEDGE (Colossians 2:2-3)
The gift of knowledge enables certain Christians to understand the truths of God’s Word and to make them relevant. Believers with this gift desire to seek out and learn as much about the Bible as they possibly can. Their gift enables them to bring truth to others through a revelation or Biblical insight.
People with this gift: receive truth which enables them to better serve others, search the Scriptures for insight, understanding, and truth, have an unusual insight or understanding that serves others, organize information for teaching and practical use.
LEADERSHIP (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Those with the spiritual gift of leadership set goals to accomplish God’s purposes and communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily work together to accomplish them. They are able to cast vision, motivate and direct people to accomplish the purposes of God.
People with this gift: provide direction for God’s people or ministry, motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities, present the “big picture” for others to see, model the values of the organization, take responsibility and establish goals
MERCY / COMPASSION (Matthew 9:36)
Those with this gift feel exceptional empathy and compassion for those who are suffering physically, mentally or emotionally. They feel genuine sympathy for the misery of others and care for those who suffer with acts of love that help alleviate their distress. Believers with the gift of mercy cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering and in need by putting compassion into action.
People with this gift: focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people, address the needs of the lonely and forgotten, express love, grace and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis, serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances, advocate individual or social issues that oppress people
MISSIONS (Acts 22:21)
Those with the gift of missions are burdened to reach others in foreign countries or “unreachable places”. They find it easy or exciting to adjust to a different culture or community. Missionaries find great joy working with minorities, people of other countries or those with other distinct cultural differences. Those with this gift live the Great Commission to the ends of the world.
People with this gift: have an intense feeling of unease at the thought of all the unsaved people in the world, have the ability to reach out to people groups of a different ethnicity, language or cultural background, can establish meaningful relationships & have the desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries
MUSIC (1 Samuel 16:14-23)
Those with the gift of Music have the ability to present personal witness and inspiration to others through instrumental music, singing or dancing. Those listening or watching become inspired to feel the presence of God.
People with this gift: sing or play a musical instrument well, find joy in singing or playing praises to God, feel secure in the fact that their musical ability will be of benefit to other people with whom they come in contact, and can use their musical ability to help and inspire others to worship God
PASTOR / SHEPHERD (John 10:1-16)
Pastors are able to assume a long-term personal responsibility for leadership and the spiritual care, protection, guidance and teaching of a group of believers. They feel a strong desire to nurture, care for, and guide people to follow and become like Christ.
People with this gift: take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God, provide guidance and oversight to a group of God’s people, model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ, establish trust and confidence through long-term relationships, lead and protect those within their span of care
PROPHET / PROPHECY (Deuteronomy 18:18-22)
Those with the gift of Prophecy are able to proclaim the Word of God with clarity and apply it fearlessly to strengthen, encourage and convict other believers and to convince unbelievers. These believers are especially able to interpret and apply God’s revelation, reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely & relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance and edification.
People with this gift: speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification, see truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond, understand God’s heart and mind through experiences He takes them through
TEACHING / TEACHER (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Those with the gift of teaching have the ability to explain the truths of the Word of God clearly and apply them effectively so that others understand and learn. They instruct others about the Bible in a logical and systematic way that communicates and imparts true understanding and growth. They are able to understand, clearly explain and apply the Word of God in a way that causes those listening to become more like Christ.
People with this gift: communicate Biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the Word, challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of Scripture, focus on changing lives by helping others understand the Bible better, give attention to detail and accuracy, prepare through extended times of study and reflection
WISDOM (James 3:13-18)
Those with the gift of Wisdom sort through opinions, facts, and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be best for themselves and others. They apply knowledge to life in a way that is relevant and practical to daily life and decision making. They know the mind of God in a way that brings insight into how to apply knowledge so that specific needs of others are met.
People with this gift: focus on the unseen consequences as they determine the next steps to take, receive an understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of others, provide God-given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion, hear God’s direction in a given situation, apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways
WRITING (1 John 2:12-14)
This gift gives a believer the ability to express truth in written form in a way that builds up, instructs, comforts or strengthens others. Their special ability to formulate thoughts and ideas into meaningful written form enables the reader to find courage, guidance, knowledge or edification through their words. The writers of the Bible had this gift.
People with this gift: may write stories, sermons, devotions, histories, prayers, songs or poetry to be used to build up the body of Christ, are inspired by the Holy Spirit in what they write, may teach God’s Word to others through what they write, often use writing to express other gifts, may be better at expressing their thoughts in written form than in verbal form
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Tyler West 