The Bible describes 7 specific spiritual gifts that believers in Jesus Christ are given to build up the body of Christ and strengthen faith. According to scripture, every Christian is gifted by the Holy Spirit with at least one of these 7 gifts. Understanding the spiritual gifts can help Christians discover their God-given strengths and discern how to best serve God and the church.
What are spiritual gifts?
Spiritual gifts are special abilities provided by the Holy Spirit to Christians for the purpose of growing the church. The New Testament speaks frequently about spiritual gifts given to believers to empower them to accomplish God’s will on earth.
The apostle Paul addresses spiritual gifts in three main passages: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and Ephesians 4:11. He describes spiritual gifts as empowerments for building up groups of Christians and bringing glory to God.
Why are spiritual gifts given?
According to the Bible, spiritual gifts are given for several key reasons:
- To glorify God – Spiritual gifts demonstrate the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and give glory to God (1 Peter 4:10-11).
- To edify the church – Spiritual gifts strengthen, encourage, and comfort fellow believers, helping the church grow in faith (1 Corinthians 14:12).
- To spread the gospel – Spiritual gifts empower Christians to reach unbelievers with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
- To equip believers – Spiritual gifts allow Christians to disciple one another and become mature in their faith (Ephesians 4:12-13).
In summary, spiritual gifts are not given simply for the individual’s benefit but primarily for the common good of the church community (1 Corinthians 12:7).
What are the 7 spiritual gifts?
The Bible does not specifically limit the number of spiritual gifts to 7. However, many Bible scholars agree that there are 7 gifts that are representative of the types of spiritual gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit.
Here are the 7 spiritual gifts listed in scripture:
- Prophecy – The gift of prophecy involves speaking the truth of God with clarity and power in a way that convicts, convinces, and calls people to repentance and obedience to God (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:1-5; Romans 12:6).
- Serving – The gift of serving involves identifying and meeting the practical needs of the church in any capacity (Romans 12:7; Acts 6:1-7).
- Teaching – The gift of teaching involves instructing and training other believers with wisdom, clarity, and application from God’s Word (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11).
- Exhortation – The gift of exhortation involves encouraging, urging, and advising fellow believers through the written or spoken word and Biblical truth (Romans 12:8; Acts 11:23-24).
- Giving – The gift of giving involves generously, cheerfully, and regularly contributing material resources and funding the work of the church and advancing the Kingdom of God (Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7).
- Leadership – The gift of leadership involves setting goals, making decisions, and motivating others toward accomplishing God’s purposes for the church (Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17).
- Mercy – The gift of mercy involves compassionately caring for and comforting those who are suffering or afflicted, often through prayer and practical support (Romans 12:8; Mark 9:41; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).
1. The gift of prophecy
The spiritual gift of prophecy involves receiving and proclaiming the message of God through divine revelation. This may include predicting future events, preaching the gospel with boldness, or divinely inspired communication.
Those with the gift of prophecy courageously declare the Word of God. They draw people to repentance and obedience to the truth. Their messages provide direction, warning, instruction, and encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:3-4).
In the Old Testament, prophets spoke on God’s behalf, warning of sin and coming judgment while calling people to holiness. In the New Testament, prophecy continues by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Key attributes:
- Speaks boldly and truthfully with conviction
- Calls people to repent and obey God
- Warns of future consequences
- Offers divine perspective
- Communicates revelation from God
The gift is often misused and needs evaluation against the authority of Scripture (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). It should be used in love to build up others (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).
2. The gift of serving
The gift of serving is the special ability to identify unmet needs in the church family and take action to meet those needs. Those with this gift do not mind working behind the scenes and thrive on helping others accomplish goals.
Christians with this gift serve with joy and often feel most alive when selflessly assisting others. They derive great fulfillment using their gifts and talents to make the lives of others easier. This gift supplies the practical needs of church members so that the Body can function effectively.
Key attributes:
- Works diligently behind the scenes
- Delights in helping others shine
- Meets tangible needs with generosity
- Does practical and logistical work
- Sees assignments through to completion
Those with this gift follow Christ’s example of serving humbly, even in undesirable jobs. The gift needs to be exercised with vision or it can get stuck in maintenance mode. It’s most effective when aligned with the overall mission.
3. The gift of teaching
The spiritual gift of teaching is the God-given ability to effectively instruct and train other believers in the truths and doctrines of God’s Word for the purposes of building up, unifying, and maturing the body of Christ.
Christians with the gift of teaching use Scriptures to lead others toward wisdom, spiritual maturity, obedience, and righteous living. They focus on biblical truth, accuracy, and application. Their messages explain the Bible clearly and practically for daily life.
Key attributes:
- Explains Scripture clearly and applies it practically
- Loves studying and unraveling complex truths
- Equips others to defend the faith
- Thrives on time preparing the lesson
- Presents truth in a logical, systematic way
This gift needs to be tempered with grace and humility. Teachers must live according to the truths they proclaim. When used well, this gift brings unity in the church on foundational doctrines.
4. The gift of exhortation
The gift of exhortation is the ability to encourage others through the written or spoken word and Biblical truth.
Believers with this gift uplift those who are discouraged, confront those in sin, and motivate backsliders toward spiritual growth. They urge others to pursue righteousness, practice faithfulness, and fulfill their duties. This gift equips Christians to come alongside others with counsel, comfort, and encouragement.
Key attributes:
- Motivates others toward godly living
- Challenges & confronts sinful patterns
- Offers spiritual counsel and advice
- Upbuilds the weary and oppressed
- Applies Biblical truth to daily life
Those with this gift must exercise it with patience and grace. They should lift up more than admonish. Wise use of this gift promotes spiritual growth and unity in the body of Christ.
5. The gift of giving
The gift of giving is the Spirit-given capacity to joyfully and generously provide material resources and funding to support God’s work on earth.
Believers with this gift give freely and cheerfully to the ministry, mission, and people of God. They manage their finances and priorities in order to consistently donate time, abilities, and finances above and beyond the tithe. This gift undergirds the work of ministry and advances the Kingdom.
Key attributes:
- Gives generously, even sacrificially
- Seeks opportunities to financially undergird ministry
- Believes that God provides abundantly
- Feels compelled to donate time & resources
- Finds joy in knowing gifts advance God’s Kingdom
This gift must be managed with wisdom and integrity. Those with the gift can guard against greed and develop a healthy detachment from possessions. Used well, the gift multiplied resources for ministry.
6. The gift of leadership
The gift of leadership is the God-given capacity to influence, motivate, and enable others to accomplish a vision from God.
Christians with this gift envision the goals and direction for ministry. They motivate and influence others to work together to fulfill the plans. They enjoy leading teams and coordinating strategies to meet objectives. Leaders step up to oversee projects, assess progress, and keep groups focused.
Key attributes:
- Influences groups to accomplish goals
- Self-motivated with exemplary work ethic
- Delegates tasks and empowers team members
- Initiates plans to fulfill a vision
- Sets tone and direction for the group
This gift must be balanced with listening and empathy. Leaders should develop humility and surround themselves with wise counselors. Used well, this gift bears fruit as followers grow in influence and responsibility.
7. The gift of mercy
The gift of mercy is the Spirit-endowed ability to feel exceptional empathy and compassion for those who are suffering and to translate that compassion into cheerful acts of service.
Christians with the gift of mercy empathize deeply with hurting people. They derive great joy in brightening the lives of the sick, oppressed, poor, or outcast. This gift equips believers to visit those in prison, comfort those in mourning, and support the work of nonprofit groups.
Key attributes:
- Feels empathy for the hurting and downcast
- Enjoys meeting tangible needs of the oppressed
- Ministers patiently to those in distress
- Avoids judging those in unfortunate situations
- Believes in power of care and compassion
This gift needs wisdom to set healthy boundaries. Believers should take time to care for their own needs as well and realize they cannot help every single person.
Conclusion
There are 7 motivational spiritual gifts described in the Bible: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. These Holy Spirit-empowered gifts are given to believers in the church.
When used properly, spiritual gifts strengthen the faith community, unify Christians in doctrine, and bring glory to God. Discovering and employing spiritual gifts is key to following God’s will and becoming mature disciples of Jesus Christ.