One of the reasons that the Church is great is that God assigned specific roles to each believer and gave them spiritual gifts to ably serve their local church, and the universal Church, in those roles. Discover what spiritual gifts are, how they work, what gift you have, and how to use it.

By Mark D. Harris

The Apostle Paul wrote to the fractious Christians in Corinth that the kingdom of God is not merely in word but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20). People differ in how they view the Church. Some see the Church as billions of people from every race and tongue for all history led by the Almighty Himself and trampling every opponent, physical and spiritual. Paul would agree. Sadly, such a picture of the Church escapes most people, including Christians.

To many, the church is an old (maybe historic) building visited weekly by aged and foolish (or at least uneducated) people who listen to fables from an ancient book. Greedy pastors pressure parishioners to give money while preaching about a supposed God who Himself is cruel and vain. The Church is anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-science, and anti-progress. Some consider the Church to be against “people of color.”[1]

Devoted Christians read the news about the decline of the Church. From the biased media reports, they fear that young people outside are ignoring the church and young people inside are charging for the door. Christians of all ages pine for the past and fret about the future. The rich and powerful raise their glasses to celebrate the supposed triumph of secular humanism which Voltaire prophesied in the 18^th century. These “elites,” like Satan himself, try to turn our eyes away from the local church, the universal Church, and its Divine Source.

Ultimately, God, through the Church will prevail. The gates of hell will not stand against it (Matthew 16:17-19). Jesus created His Church with exactly the right amounts and types of teachings on freedom, order, doctrine, ritual, peace, war, earth, and heaven.  He did not require large sums of money, warriors, or a slick marketing plan. Jesus and His successors did not allow Greek or Jewish cultural baggage to hinder the Church (Acts 15). He left the Holy Spirit to ensure the success of His venture.

In the first century “the Way” movement developed into the enduring organization of the Church, in its many forms. The transformation happened through the establishment of the deaconate (Acts 6), elder leaders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and the adaptation of a congregational structure and practices like the Jewish synagogues. Another contributor to the endurance of the Church was the God-ordained use of complementary roles in the Church and in local churches. Everyone had work to do, but the Lord wanted them to do it in accordance with His assignments. God provides each of His children (those who believe in and follow Jesus) with a special ability to serve Him in a unique way. These abilities are called spiritual gifts (Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12). Spiritual gifts are mentioned in many places in the New Testament.

What are spiritual gifts?

Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to Christians only and given for the purpose of building up the Church and glorifying God. Why do Christians have Spiritual gifts?

1. To glorify God (1 Peter 4:10-11)
2. To build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12)
3. To complete the work of the body (1 Corinthians 12)
4. To build unity in the body (1 Corinthians 12:25)
5. To include all believers in the ministry of the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Everyone on earth has natural talents, but no one except for Christians have spiritual gifts. Such gifts are bestowed by the Holy Spirit which enters each of God’s people at conversion. If a person, no matter how seemingly good, does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, he or she cannot have a spiritual gift.

How are spiritual gifts different from natural talents?

	TALENTS	SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Source	From God through parents	From God alone
Possessed	From birth	From conversion
Purpose	To glorify self	To glorify God
Fueled by	Human effort	God’s Spirit
Results	Short-lived	Eternal

The examples in the section below on knowing your spiritual gift also help illustrate the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts.

Lists of the gifts of the Spirit in the New Testament (in order of appearance in Scripture)

Romans 12:6-8	1 Cor 12:8-10	1 Cor 12:28-30	Ephesians 4:11	1 Peter 4:9-11
Prophecy	Wisdom	Apostle	Apostle	Hospitality
Serving	Knowledge	Prophecy	Prophecy	Serving
Teaching	Faith	Teaching	Evangelism	Speaking
Exhortation	Healing	Miracles	Pastor/Teacher
Giving	Miracles	Healing
Leading	Prophecy	Helping
Mercy	Discernment	Administration
	Tongues and Interpretation	Tongues and Interpretation

The purpose of a spiritual gift is never to glorify the human with the gift – financially, reputationally, or in any other way. Instead, it is to glorify God and bring others to Him by confirming His message. Jesus did not make water into wine to make Himself look good but rather so that witnesses would glorify the Father in Heaven. Some people (and some spiritual gift inventories) include celibacy, craftsmanship, music, poverty, and writing as spiritual gifts. Since these are not in one of the key Biblical lists, they will not be considered here.

Explanation of each Spiritual Gift

It is one thing to know a list of spiritual gifts, but another entirely to understand what they mean. It is even more critical for Christians to know what gift(s) they have and how to use them for their local church.

Gift	Meaning
Apostle	Church planting, missions
Discernment	Telling good from evil in a given situation or a given person. To evaluate a person who “claims to be somebody (Acts 5:36-39).
Evangelism	Leading others to Christ
Exhortation	Encouraging
Faith	Rock solid confidence in God’s work. Such faith enables miracles since miracles require faith in the miracle worker and the recipient(s) of the miracle.
Giving	Ability and willingness to supply resources to others
Healing	Supernatural or unusual skill in making people physically better
Helping	Unusual ability to assist others
Hospitality	Opening one’s home and life to share with others
Knowledge	Deeply knowing God’s word and nature
Leadership and Admin	Organizing, motivating, and directing people and groups to accomplish goals
Mercy	Unusual compassion and understanding others
Miracles	Supernatural works
Prophecy	Receiving and communicating God’s message, now and in the future
Serving	A heart and hands to joyfully help others
Pastor and Teacher	Skill in communicating Christian truth
Tongues	Speaking and interpreting in languages unknown to you or in a personal prayer language or with indecipherable speech in the congregation
Wisdom	Applying God’s truth to life

Humans being what we are, many people tend to want a showy gift like miracles, healing, prophecy, or at least speaking in tongues. Miracles, healing, predicting the future (fore-telling) and tongues are dramatic and impressive. Such acts are rare and the kind of thing that makes the evening news. They can attract money to the “miracle worker.” Followers may gather around, providing worldly affirmation and power.

Miracles, healing, predicting the future (fore-telling) and tongues are called “sign gifts” because God uses them to provide proof of His work to hard-hearted men. Sign gifts are seen only at specific and rare times in the Bible. Such gifts accomplish a specific purpose.

Miraculous times in Scripture

Time	Purpose
Moses and Joshua	Testify to the reality of God’s provision and power in the Exodus and establishment of the nation of Israel
Elijah and Elisha	Testify to the importance of their message of repentance and the coming peril of Israel
Daniel and the Three	Testify to the faithfulness of God support His people even after their punishment and while in Exile
Jesus	Testify to His identity as God the Son and the veracity of His teachings
Apostles	Testify to God’s new work in establishing His Church, known since as Christianity
The Two Witnesses	Testify to the final judgment of God over the fallen world and bring about the final ingathering of saints before the Day of the Lord

One school of thought, called the Cessationists, believes that God no longer gives sign gifts because they are not needed to advance His work. Another school, the Continualists, believe that sign gifts continue to this day. Continualists argue that if people don’t see miracles today, it is because those people (and their culture) are too hard hearted to believe. Jesus Himself could not do many miracles in his hometown of Nazareth because of peoples’ unbelief (Mark 6:1-6).

How do you know what spiritual gift(s) you have?

The mnemonic PANEL is a good start to discovering your spiritual gift(s). It reads as follows:

1. PAST — What past experiences and training have you had? What aptitude for working in the Church did you show then?
2. AFFINITY – What do you like to do in the church? What have you been successful at?
3. NEIGHBOR – What do those around you, family and friends, tell you that you can do well? These must be people who know you and who know God. They must be faithful, trusted advisors. If you don’t know anyone who fits this bill, find someone. Your pastor and church can help.
4. EQUIPPED/EXIGENT – What has God prepared you to do over your lifetime? What problems are emergent now?
5. LEAD – How do you feel the Holy Spirit is leading you?

The PANEL mnemonic is a good, quick way to get an idea what spiritual gift you, or someone else, has. For example, suppose that James, a recent high school graduate, believes that God has called him to professional, full-time ministry (LEAD). He was a leader in his youth group and held a part time job for the last two years (PAST). James enjoyed teaching bible studies at church and in his high school chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) (AFFINITY). His parents, pastor, and friends have seen godly fruit, specifically in teaching, in his life. They also believe that he is called into full time Christian ministry (NEIGHBOR). God gave James the opportunity to serve at a Christian camp last summer and his bible studies were well attended. Listeners provided positive feedback (NEIGHBOR). Unlike many others in his youth group, James thrives on evangelism (AFFINITY).

Using this information, James seems to have the gifts of pastor/teacher and evangelism. He may have another, but people rarely (if ever) have more than three spiritual gifts. James should prayerfully consider attending a Christian college and get involved in ministry and a local church. God’s design for his future will come into sharper focus over the coming years. Perhaps James will be called to be a church planter (Apostle). Perhaps he will find himself uncommonly fascinated by some part of theology or biblical history and decide to become a professor (Knowledge). No matter what gifts he has, James must use them to edify the Body of Christ and glorify God. If he does, these gifts will mature and produce great fruit.

In another example, Janet (52) and her husband Philip (53) are recent empty nesters. They have been nominal Christians for decades, but Janet has begun to feel a strong pull from the Holy Spirit on her life. Janet married Norman right after finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business (22), worked at an insurance company, and divorced (27) with one child. She married Phil (30), a dentist, moved to a different state, and got a job working as a teller at a local bank. Janet had another child (31) and was promoted to manager (32). Janet is a valued leader, loves managing people (AFFINITY), and she declined promotion to regional manager several times to stay with her family. Phil is unsure about his wife’s new enthusiasm for church, and unsure even about his own salvation.

Janet has not been involved in the church except for events, Christmas, and Easter, since college, but she has increased her attendance in the past three months. Last Sunday the pastor said that the church was looking for nominations for a new member of the finance committee (EXIGENT). Janet does not feel any specific leading except to dedicate herself to her Lord (LEAD). Since she has not been in church, there is no NEIGHBOR testimony that she can rely on to determine her spiritual gifts or specific leading in ministry. Phil’s skepticism about Janet’s new devotion does not count as NEIGHBOR testimony since the natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).  Her husband may be an insightful advisor on dozens of matters, but not on spiritual ones.

Using this information, Janet may have potential for the spiritual gift of administration. I say potential because natural talents are not spiritual gifts. Her PAST suggests that her skill in business leadership may be put to good use in the church, but until she works in the church and her work bears fruit, Janet cannot be said to have the spiritual gift of Administration. Her love of people may manifest itself in the church as the gifts of hospitality, mercy, helping, serving, or a combination. As Janet begins to work in various ministries in the church, she will get useful information from pastors, friends, and co-workers. Once Janet has an idea of what her spiritual gift is, the pastor, or perhaps a women’s ministry director, can guide her in how to use them. Most churches have an array of ministries which need financial donors and volunteers.

Spiritual Gift Inventories

Several spiritual gift inventories exist for those who would like a more systematic approach to determining their spiritual gift.

1. https://becomingmissionarydisciples.net/sites/bmd/files/spiritual_inventory_for_web_0.pdf.
2. https://pearidgebaptist.com/media/4z5wbd4/spiritual-gift-reference-chart.
3. https://southernbaptistchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Spiritual-GiftsTESTANDANALYSIS.pdf.
4. https://pmbcjc.org/spiritual-gifts-survey.

These inventories can be useful, but they can also contradict each other and cause confusion. Also, while every believer has a spiritual gift, no one has every gift. God made us as a body with separate but complementary parts. When each part does its work, the body thrives. When one or more parts do no work, or parts try to do someone else’ work, the body suffers. Spiritual gifts must be used for the church. They will improve with use.

The ultimate proof that a person has a spiritual gift comes when that person uses his or her gift and it bears fruit.

Unity in the body of Christ

Remember that God Himself has given each believer at least one spiritual gift. He gave gifts based on His will, not on our preference. He created us perfectly to accomplish His purpose in our time. In fact, God gives greater honor to those who have spiritual gifts that are not as demonstrative. Spiritual gifts are intended by God to be used within the Church.

The fact that every Christian has a gift motivates us and enables us to contribute to the Body for the glory of God. Likewise, the fact that no Christian has every gift compels us to live and work together as a Body.

Conclusion

The Church has endured and will continue to do so for eternity because God Almighty has deemed it so. The use of spiritual gifts in the Church (and in the church locally) is one of its great strengths.[2] The Lord gifts people to accomplish His will and purpose. And as we learn in 1 Corinthians 13, while gifts are good…godly love is better.

References

1. MacArthur, J. (1985). The MacArthur New Testament commentary. Moody Publishers.
2. John Calvin, Calvin’s Complete Commentary on the Bible 22 Vol Set (Grand Rapids MI: Baker Book House, 1993).

[1] This accusation is funny since the majority of the Church in the world today is non-white.

[2] Memorial Baptist Church in Beckley WV includes spiritual gifts in its MBC 101 class for interested attendees. The MDHI has the MBC 101 supplemental information in a free class.