What are the different spiritual gifts?

A spiritual gift is the special ability God gives, according to his grace, to every member of the body of Christ to be used for the development of the church.

The Holy Spirit gives these gifts differently to each person. When used together they are powerful for building up one another in love.

You can read about spiritual gifts in the following Bible verses:

  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

  • Romans 12:3-8

  • Ephesians 4:11

Listed below are some spiritual gifts and their definitions. What gifts connect with you?

Administration – The special ability to understand clearly the immediate and long term goals of the local or global church and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals.

Discernment – The special ability to know with assurance whether certain behaviour said to be of God is in reality divine, human or satanic.

Evangelism – The special ability to share the gospel with unbelievers in a way that men and women become Jesus’ disciples. 

Exhortation/Encouragement – The special ability to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement and counsel to other members of the body in such a way that they feel helped and healed.

Faith – The special ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purposes of God for the future of his work.

Giving – The special ability to contribute their material resources to God’s work with freedom and cheerfulness.

Mercy - The special ability to sense and respond to the emotional and spiritual needs of others.

Healing – The special ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to cure illness and restore health apart from the use of natural means.

Hospitality – The special ability to provide an open house and warm welcome for those in need of food and lodging.

Intercession – The special ability to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers.

Miracles - The special ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of history.

Prophecy – The special ability to receive or communicate an immediate message of God to his people through divinely anointed speech.

Pastoring/Shepherding – The special ability to assume long term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers.

Serving – The special ability to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired goals.

Teaching – The special ability to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn.

Wisdom –  The special ability to sort through facts and data to discover what needs to be done for the church.