Spiritual Gifts What They Are? What They Are Not? What Do They Look Like? What Are My Gifts? What Do I do With Them?

What are Spiritual Gifts? Spiritual Gifts are divine endowments given by God to be used in meaningful service which builds up the Body of Christ. We learn about Spiritual Gifts mainly in 1 Corinthians 12-14 Romans 12 Ephesians 4

What they are Not Spiritual gifts are not the same thing as “natural talent,” or learned ability. Many people have “natural talents” and learned abilities, and they may be used in the service of God and His Church. But, only believers have Spiritual Gifts, since they have the Spirit and it is in the presence of the Spirit that gifts are given

What do they look like? There are several “lists” of Spiritual Gifts. Some differentiate between “types” of gifts. What is essential to remember is that all are important to the functioning of the Body.

“As it is, there are many parts, but one body “As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’” -- 1 Corinthians 12-20-21a “ . . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” -- 1 Corinthians 12: 25-26

What Do They Look Like? Administration/Guidance Apostleship Celibacy Craftsmanship/Artisan Discernment/Distinguishing Spirits Encouragement Evangelism Exhortation Faith Giving

Healing Helps/Service Hospitality Intercession/Prayer Knowledge Leadership Mercy/Compassion Miracles Music

Pastoring/Shepherding Poverty (Voluntary) Prophesy Teaching Tongues (Interpretation) Tongues (Speaking) Wisdom Writing

Administration – the special ability to steer the Body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others. Apostle – the divine ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures. Celibacy – the special ability to voluntarily remain single without regret and with the ability to maintain control over sexual impulses so as to serve the Lord without distraction.

Craftsmanship – the divine enablement to creatively design and/or construct items to be used for ministry or the divine enablement to communicate God’s truth through a variety of art forms. Discernment – the divine enablement to distinguish between truth and error, to discern spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong.

Encouragement – the special ability to offer comfort, words of encouragement, hope, and reassurance to discouraged, weak, or troubled Christians in such a way that they are consoled. Evangelism – the divine enablement to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship.

Exhortation – the divine enablement to present truth so as to strengthen or urge to action those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith. Faith – the divine enablement to act on God’s promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God’s ability to fulfill His purposes.

Giving – the divine enablement to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. Healing - the divine enablement to be God’s means for restoring people to wholeness.

Helps/Serving – the divine enablement to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support, and meet the needs of others. Hospitality – the divine enablement to care for people by providing fellowship, food, and shelter.

Intercession/Prayer – the divine enablement to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results. Knowledge – the divine enablement to bring truth to the Body through a revelation or Biblical insight.

Leadership – the divine enablement to cast vision, motivate, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God. Mercy/Compassion – the divine enablement to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need by putting compassion into action.

Miracles – the special ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom God performs special acts of supernatural power. Missionary – the special ability God gives to some to minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have in another culture.

Music – the gift that gives a Music – the gift that gives a believer the capacity to present personal witness and inspiration to others through instrumental music, singing, or dancing. Pastor/Shepherd – the divine enablement to nurture, care for, and guide people toward on-going spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ.

Poverty (Voluntary) – the special ability to God gives to some to purposely live impoverished lifestyles to serve and aid others with their material resources. Prophet/Prophecy – the divine enablement to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification.

Teaching/Teacher – the divine enablement to understand, clearly explain, or apply the Word of God causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners. Tongues (Interpreting) – the special ability God gives to some to translate the message of one who speaks in tongues.

Tongues (Speaking) – the special ability God gives to speak prayer or praise in a language they have never learned or to communicate a message from God to His people. Wisdom – the special ability to know the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how knowledge may best be applied to specific needs arising in the Body of Christ.

Writing – the special God-given ability to formulate thoughts and ideas into meaningful written forms so that the reader will find courage, guidance, knowledge, or edification through the words.

What Are My Gifts? The Spiritual Gift Test consists of 140 statements. You respond by entering a number for each on the Analysis Sheet. Depending upon how you feel about each statement, enter a number from 1 to 10, where 1 means the statement does not describe you at all and 10 means it describes you perfectly. The test should take about an hour to complete.

As you take the test, enter a response (1 to 10 indicating how well the statement describes you) in the pre-numbered boxes. Continue this for each column of the test. Respond to each statement quickly with your first feeling. Don’t be modest. Do not unfold the Analysis Sheet until you have finished the questions. Then follow the directions on Page 8.

What Do I Do With My Gifts? Find the group (numbered 1-28) and spend some time developing a list of opportunities to use your gift(s) at Saint Peter’s. Do not only think of existing opportunities, but be creative in developing new ministries, as well. Have a member of the group write down the results of your discussion.

What’s Next? Fill out one of the report forms listing your gifts. Volunteer for one of the ministry opportunities at St. Peter’s, or propose a new ministry. Communicate with those who have a similar gift to share ideas for ministry.

(or is it The Beginning?) The End (or is it The Beginning?)