How do I identify my spiritual gift?
There is no magic formula or definitive test that can tell us exactly what our spiritual gifts are. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). A common problem for Christians is the temptation to get so caught up in our spiritual gift that we only seek to serve God in…
What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift?
There are similarities and differences between talents and spiritual gifts. Both are gifts from God. Both grow in effectiveness with use. Both are intended to be used on behalf of others, not for selfish purposes. First Corinthians 12:7 states that spiritual gifts are given to benefit others and not ourselves. As the two great commandments…
Is there a biblical spiritual gifts list?
There are actually three biblical lists of the “gifts of the Spirit,” also known as spiritual gifts. The three main passages describing the spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28. We could also include Ephesians 4:11, but that is a list of offices within the church, not spiritual gifts, per…
What is the spiritual gift of teaching?
The spiritual gift of teaching is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:1–12). It is a gift given by the Holy Spirit, enabling one to effectively communicate the truths of the Bible to others. It is most often, but not always, used in the context of the…
What is the spiritual gift of discerning spirits?
The gift of discerning spirits, or “distinguishing” spirits, is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Like all these gifts, the gift of discerning spirits is given by the Holy Spirit, who disperses these gifts to believers for service in the body of Christ. Every believer has a spiritual…
What is the spiritual gift of administration?
Of the many gifts given by the Holy Spirit to His church, administration is sometimes overlooked but is as important as the rest. First Corinthians 12:28 and Romans 12:8 both include the gift of administration in their lists of spiritual gifts. It is called “administrating” in the ESV, and other translations have “guidance” (NIV), “leadership”…
Is speaking in tongues evidence for having the Holy Spirit?
There are three occasions in the book of Acts where speaking in tongues accompanied the receiving of the Holy Spirit—Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6. However, these three occasions are the only places in the Bible where speaking in tongues is an evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. Throughout the book of Acts, thousands of people…
Spiritual gifts survey – what are the different spiritual gifts the Bible mentions?
Before we survey the spiritual gifts, we will look at two Greek words used to describe the gifts of the Spirit: pneumatika refers to their source, the Holy Spirit (pneuma) of God; and charismata refers to the fact that they are granted as an act of God’s grace (charis). The spiritual gifts are given by…
What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
The purpose of spiritual gifts is to promote “the common good” of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7), to build up the church (1 Corinthians 14:12), and to prepare us each for “works of service . . . until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of…
What are the spiritual gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge?
There are three spiritual gifts lists in Scripture (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28), but only one of them mentions the gifts referred to as the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8). There is much confusion as to exactly what these two gifts are. Perhaps the best…