New to Faith: Bible Reading PlanSample

Spiritual Gifts

When you decide to trust and follow Jesus, you join a community of Christ-followers who are on a mission to love one another and share the story of Jesus with the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us in different ways, referred to as Spiritual gifts. A Spiritual gift is a Spirit-empowered ability given to build up, encourage, and comfort the church. The Bible lists spiritual gifts, including administration, discernment, faith, hospitality, leadership, teaching, and wisdom. (See Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 for lists of more Spiritual gifts.) All Spiritual gifts are vital to the health of the whole community.

The Christian community is where God’s Spirit empowers everybody in a unified way. In 1 Corinthians, Paul uses a metaphor of the human body to describe the church. Just like the human body comprises individual body parts, each with a different function, the church is one body made up of individual members. Each church member is gifted with different Spirit-empowered abilities and is needed for the whole community to function properly. Love and concern for one another should be central when using your Spiritual gifts.

You’re probably wondering, “How do I know what is my Spiritual gift?” A Spiritual gift is discovered and used within your community. As you begin to get involved and serve in a Christian community, you'll discover your special skills and talents and feel energized by these gifts. In this community, fellow Christ-followers can identify and name those Spirit-empowered abilities you may take for granted.

Question: You are needed and valuable to the Christian community. What are your strengths, and how has God gifted you to build up, encourage, or comfort your Christian community? A great first step in discovering your gifts is to try serving for a season. Reach out to your local church community to explore opportunities to serve.