Discover More About what the Bible Teaches About Gifts

And Discover Your Personal Gifts Through the Gift Self-Assessment

The main places in the Bible where we learn about Spiritual Gifts are:

1 Corinthians 12-14 · Romans 12 · Ephesians 4 · 1 Peter 4

From these Scriptures we learn the following key information about Spiritual Gifts:

Biblical Summary about Spiritual Gifts

  1. Every Christian has at least one Spiritual Gift (1 Peter 4:10).
  2. No Christian has all the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28-30).
  3. We cannot choose our gifts; God does that job (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
  4. There is no gift that every Christian possesses (1 Corinthians 12:29-30).
  5. Believers will account to the Lord for how they use their gifts (1 Peter 4:10).
  6. Spiritual Gifts indicate God’s call and purpose for a Christian’s life (Romans 12:2-8).
  7. Gifts used without love do not accomplish God’s intended purposes (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
  8. Spiritual Gifts are for the common good to build up the Body (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Biblical Guidelines for using Spiritual Gifts

  1. Usage of the gift(s) conforms to Biblical teaching (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4).
  2. There is affirmation and positive feedback within the Body of Christ for the expression of the gift (1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:16).
  3. There is agreement within the Body of Christ that the Holy Spirit is at work (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).
  4. The Holy Spirit provides peace in our spirits as we offer our gift(s) to the Body of Christ (John 15:26; Romans 8:16).
  5. There is evidence of godly fruit in the life of the Body (John 15:8; Matthew 7:16-20).
  6. Believers offer their gifts for the common good as others have need (Acts 2:44-45; 1 Corinthians 12:7).
  7. Unless gifts are offered in love, they have no worth (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
  8. We should strive to live a life worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1).

Descriptions of Various Spiritual Gifts

As you read the definition of each gift and compare it with your responses to the statements on the Spiritual Gifts Self-Assessment, rank the gifts in order of the strength of your positive responses.

Bible verse references that help identify and describe the gifts are in parentheses after the definitions. As you try to discern what gifts God has given you, you might want to study those verses for additional insights. 

____ A. Administration: The Spirit-given ability to translate a vision into reality by developing a plan of action and directing, motivating, and coordinating others to achieve that goal. (1 Corinthians 12:28; Luke 14:28-30; Titus 1:5; Acts 6:1-7)

_____ B. Counseling: The Spirit-given ability to effectively listen to people and assist them in their quest for psychological and relational wholeness. (Matthew 5; Proverbs 8:14; Proverbs 20:5; Proverbs 27:9)

_____ C. Craftsmanship: The Spirit-given ability to use your hands, energy, and imagination to create or repair needed items for Christ's church. (Exodus 31:1-6, Exodus 35:30-36:5)

____ D. Creative Communication: The Spirit-given ability to use hands, mind, and imagination to communicate God's truth through, visual, written or performing arts. (Exodus 35:31-35; 1 Samuel 16:14-23; 2 Samuel 23:1-2)

____ E. Discernment: The Spirit-given ability to distinguish between truth and error, and to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong. (1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 5:1-11; Acts 16:16-18; 1 John 4:16-18; Matthew 16:21-23)

____ F. Encouragement: The Spirit-given ability to comfort, challenge, and affirm those who are having difficulty with their lives and faith. (Romans 12:8; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 14:21-22)

____ G. Evangelism: The Spirit-given ability to share the good news in an accepting, clear, and convincing way that may help others learn about Christ. (2 Timothy 4:5; Ephesians 4:11-14; Acts 8:5-6, 26-40; Acts 12:24; Acts 26:1-29)

____ H. Faith: The Spirit-given ability to trust God's faithfulness to provide a way in all circumstances. (1 Corinthians 12:9; Acts 11:22-24; Acts 27:21-25; Hebrews 11; Romans 4:18-21)

____ I. Giving: The Spirit-given ability to contribute significant personal and material resources to the Lord's work freely, cheerfully, and sacrificially. (2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 15; Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:2-8; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 8:2-3; John 12:1-8)

____ J. Helps/Service: The Spirit-given ability to invest one's time and energy in the accomplishment of tasks within the church, and to see spiritual value in doing work that will free others to use their gifts. (1 Peter 4:11; Romans 16:1-2; Acts 9:36; Mark 15:40-41; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

____ K. Hospitality: The Spirit-given ability to offer a warm welcome and an inviting presence to strangers and guests to the church or a home setting. (1 Peter 4:9-10; Romans 16:23; Acts 16:14-15; Hebrews 13:1-2)

____ L. Intercession: The Spirit-given ability to pray faithfully and effectively for others consistently and to see answers to prayer at a frequency beyond that of most other Christians. (Mark 11:22-25; James 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Colossians 1:9-12; Colossians 4:12-13; Luke 22:41-44)

____ M. Knowledge: The divine enablement to bring truth to the body through a revelation or Biblical insight. (1 Corinthians 12:8; Mark 2:6-8; John 1:45-50)

____ N. Leadership: The Spirit-given ability to lead others by seeing and casting a vision, setting and communicating goals, and inspiring and directing people to work together toward those goals. (Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 7:10; Acts 15:7-11; Hebrews 13:17; Luke 9:51)

____ O. Mercy: The Spirit-given ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for hurting people and to translate that feeling into cheerful acts of service. (Luke 10:30-37; Mark 9:41; Acts 16:33-34; Matthew 20:29-34; Acts 11:28-30)

____ P. Prophecy: The Spirit-given ability to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification, with immediate or future implications. (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

____ Q. Shepherding: The Spirit-given ability to keep watch over, care for, support, and feed members of the Body of Christ as they seek to grow spiritually. (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; John 10:1-8; 1 Peter 5:1-3)

____ R. Teaching: The Spirit-given ability to clearly and effectively communicate Scripture, truths and information to help adults and children grow in faith. (James 3:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-15; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Timothy 4:13-14; Acts 18:24-28; Acts 20:20-21)

____ S. Wisdom: The Spirit-given ability to apply spiritual truth effectively to meet a need in a specific situation. (1 Corinthians 12:8; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; Acts 6:3, 10; James 1:5-6; 2 Peter 3:15, 16)

If you want to explore more about your Spiritual Gifts, Long-Form Spiritual Gifts Self-Assessments are in the office. These forms have about 100 statements that may help you discover your gifts.

The only sure way to know your gifts is to use them in ministry. Grow personally and spiritually --Get Involved!

“Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.”  John 14.6

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