Spiritual Gifts List: Discover Your God-Given Talents

Understanding spiritual gifts is crucial for Christians seeking to live out their faith fully. The Bible outlines various gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit to equip believers for service and to build up the church. This Spiritual Gifts List provides a helpful overview and simple definitions to aid in your understanding.

Administration
Apostle
Discernment
Evangelism
Exhortation
Faith
Giving
Healing
Helps
Hospitality
Knowledge
Leadership
Mercy
Prophecy
Serving
Speaking in Tongues
Teaching (Shepherding)
Wisdom

Want to delve deeper into identifying your spiritual gifts? Explore this resource!

Unpacking the Spiritual Gifts: Definitions and Insights

A happy man holds a buzz saw in close up. He is using his spiritual gifts by performing construction jobs, either around his church, or in ministry.

ADMINISTRATION: This gift empowers individuals to organize, plan, and supervise activities within the church or ministry effectively. Those with the gift of administration excel at steering groups toward achieving God-ordained goals through strategic planning and meticulous execution. They are the natural organizers and leaders who bring structure and efficiency to Kingdom work.

APOSTLESHIP: Apostles are pioneers of the Gospel, sent to new territories to proclaim the message of Christ. Often associated with missionaries, apostles not only spread the Word in unreached areas but also provide spiritual leadership and guidance to developing churches and ministries. They possess a unique calling to establish and nurture faith communities in diverse contexts.

DISCERNMENT: The spiritual gift of discernment is the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and to recognize whether behaviors or teachings originate from God or from ungodly sources. Individuals with discernment possess a heightened spiritual sensitivity, enabling them to evaluate situations and doctrines with clarity and wisdom, safeguarding the church from deception.

EVANGELISM: Evangelism is the divinely given capacity to effectively communicate the Gospel message, particularly to those who are not yet believers. Evangelists are passionate communicators who can articulate the saving grace of Jesus Christ in a compelling and accessible way, drawing people into a relationship with God.

EXHORTATION (or Encouragement): Those gifted in exhortation excel at offering encouragement, comfort, and practical support to others, motivating them to reach their full potential in Christ. Exhorters are gifted counselors and motivators, inspiring individuals to persevere in their faith journey and live according to God’s purpose.

FAITH: Individuals with the gift of faith exhibit extraordinary confidence in God’s power and promises, remaining steadfast in their beliefs even amidst trials. They inspire others with their unwavering trust in God and often play a vital role in defending and advancing the church through their courageous faith.

A manin a leather jacket, with a headpiece microphone, speaks from a dark stage. He is using his spiritual gifts of teaching and exhortation.

GIVING: The gift of giving is characterized by a generous and joyful willingness to share resources without expecting anything in return. Givers are characterized by their cheerful generosity and recognize that all they have is a blessing from God to be shared with others. They find fulfillment in supporting God’s work and meeting the needs of others.

HEALING: The gift of healing is a supernatural ability through which God restores individuals in body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Those with this gift are instruments of divine healing, ministering to others and witnessing God’s restorative power in tangible ways. This gift manifests in diverse ways, addressing holistic needs within the community.

HELPS: Individuals gifted with helps have a passion for serving behind the scenes, supporting other members of the body of Christ so they can effectively fulfill their ministries. Those with the gift of helps are essential for the smooth functioning of the church, providing practical assistance and freeing up others to focus on their specific callings.

HOSPITALITY: Hospitality is the special ability to make people feel welcome and comfortable, especially in one’s home or within the church setting. Those with this gift create environments of warmth and acceptance, using their homes and church spaces as places of connection, discipleship, and service, extending Christian love to both members and newcomers.

KNOWLEDGE: The gift of knowledge is marked by a deep thirst for understanding the Bible and a love for in-depth study and analysis of biblical truths. Individuals with this gift often excel in biblical scholarship and are valuable resources for theological understanding and teaching within the church. They are driven to uncover and share the depths of God’s Word.

LEADERSHIP: Leadership as a spiritual gift equips individuals to guide and direct the church or ministry with vision, care, and dedication. Leaders are able to inspire and motivate others towards achieving common goals, providing direction and fostering unity within the body of Christ. They are entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding and guiding God’s people.

Hands are holding in close up. Do you have the spiritual gift of mercy? Or of faith?

MERCY: Mercy is characterized by deep compassion and sensitivity towards those who are suffering or in need. Individuals with this gift are moved to offer practical help, emotional support, and genuine empathy to alleviate the pain and burdens of others. They embody the love of Christ through acts of kindness and compassion.

PROPHECY: The gift of prophecy is the ability to communicate God’s message to others, which may include encouragement, correction, or insight into future events. Prophets speak forth God’s word, edifying the church and calling people back to His truth. This gift is to be used responsibly and in alignment with the Scriptures, primarily for building up the church.

SERVING (or Ministry): The gift of serving involves recognizing practical needs within the body of Christ and skillfully utilizing available resources to meet those needs. Servers are action-oriented individuals who find joy in meeting tangible needs and ensuring the practical aspects of ministry are handled efficiently. They are the hands and feet of the church, making ministry happen.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES (Glossolalia): Speaking in tongues is a supernatural gift enabling individuals to speak in languages unknown to them. This gift, while sometimes debated in its present-day relevance, historically served as a sign and means of communication, particularly in the early church.

TEACHING (or Shepherding): Teaching is the ability to effectively communicate biblical truth in a way that fosters understanding and spiritual growth in others. Teachers are gifted communicators who can explain complex theological concepts and apply them to daily life, nurturing the spiritual development of believers. They are foundational in building up the body of Christ through sound doctrine.

WISDOM: The gift of wisdom enables individuals to discern God’s will in complex situations and to apply knowledge practically and effectively within the church. Those with wisdom can see beyond the surface, offering sound judgment and guidance to navigate challenges and make decisions that align with God’s purposes for the church.

It’s important to note that perspectives vary among Christians regarding the continuation of all spiritual gifts today. Some believe certain gifts like speaking in tongues were specific to the early church era. However, the purpose of understanding spiritual gifts remains consistent: to recognize and utilize the talents God has given for the building up of His church.

Intrigued to discover your own spiritual gifts? Explore this helpful guide.

Deepen your understanding with this free Bible study on spiritual gifts: Click here to access..