Spiritual gifts (Greek charismata) are Spirit-given abilities for serving the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). Lists appear in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 — including teaching, prophecy, service, leadership, mercy, healing, tongues, and more. Gifts are given for edification, not pride (1 Corinthians 14:12).
Spiritual gifts are central to the New Testament's vision of the church. The Greek word charismata (from charis, grace) means 'grace-gifts.' Several biblical truths. (1) Every believer has at least one. 1 Corinthians 12:7 — 'But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.' 1 Peter 4:10 — 'As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another.' Spiritual gifts are not for super-Christians — they are for every believer. (2) Gifts are diverse. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 — diversities of gifts, administrations, operations — but the same Spirit. The lists in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 are not identical or exhaustive — they suggest a wide range. (3) Major gift categories. Romans 12:6-8 lists: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, mercy. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28 lists: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation, apostles, prophets, teachers, helps, governments. Ephesians 4:11 lists: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. 1 Peter 4:11 distinguishes speaking and serving gifts. (4) Gifts come from the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:11 — 'all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.' The Spirit, not the believer, chooses. (5) Gifts are for edifying the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12 — 'forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.' Gifts are not for personal display but for the body. (6) Love is greater than gifts. 1 Corinthians 13 is sandwiched between two chapters on gifts (12 and 14) to drive the point home — gifts without love are nothing. (7) Christians differ on cessation. Cessationists hold some 'sign gifts' (tongues, prophecy, healing) ended with the apostolic age. Continuationists hold all gifts continue. Both sides affirm the gifts are real and Scripture is sufficient. Practical: how to discover your gifts. (1) Saturate in Scripture — know the gifts. (2) Pray for clarity. (3) Try serving in different areas. (4) Notice fruitfulness and joy. (5) Confirm with mature believers. (6) Use what you find — gifts develop in use. (7) Love comes first — gifts serve love.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching.”
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Discover your gift(s) — saturate in Scripture, pray, try, notice fruitfulness, confirm with mature believers. Use what you find — gifts develop in use. Serve the church, not yourself. Pursue love above all (1 Corinthians 13). Don't despise others' gifts (1 Corinthians 12:21). Build the body together. The Spirit gives gifts as he will, for the common good.
Spiritual gifts (charismata) are Spirit-given abilities for serving the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). Lists in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 include teaching, prophecy, service, leadership, mercy, healing, tongues, helps, and many more. They are given to every believer by the Spirit's choice (1 Corinthians 12:11) for the building up of the church.
(1) Saturate in Scripture — know what gifts the Bible describes. (2) Pray for clarity. (3) Try serving in different areas of the church. (4) Notice where you bear fruit and find joy. (5) Confirm with mature believers who see you serving. (6) Use what you discover — gifts grow with use. Don't wait for certainty before serving; serve, and clarity often follows.
Christians differ. Cessationists hold that some 'sign gifts' (tongues, prophecy, miraculous healings) ended with the apostolic age, while permanent gifts (teaching, service, mercy) continue. Continuationists (charismatics, Pentecostals, many Reformed) hold that all gifts continue. Both sides affirm spiritual gifts are real and Scripture is sufficient as the rule of faith.
1 Corinthians 13 sandwiches the gift chapters with the famous chapter on love — making clear love is greater than any gift. 'Though I have all gifts... and have not charity, I am nothing.' Gifts serve love. Without love, gifts are noise. The most important thing in 1 Corinthians 12-14 is not which gift, but love.