GIFTS DEFINITIONS AND SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
The following contains suggested definitions of the spiritual gifts. While not meant to be dogmatic or final, these definitions and supporting scriptures do correspond to characteristics of the gifts as expressed in the Spiritual Gifts Questionnaire.
HELPS
The ability to invest the talents one has in the life and ministry of other members of the body, thus enabling those others to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts.
Mark 15:40:41, Acts 9:36, Romans 16:1-2,
I Corinthians 12:28
LEADERSHIP
The ability to set goals in accordance with God's purpose for the future and to communicate those goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God.
Acts 15:7-11, Romans 12:8,
I Timothy 5:17, Hebrews 13:17
HOSPITALITY
The ability to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging.
Acts 16:14-15, Romans 12:9-13,
Romans 16:23, Hebrews 13:1-2,
I Peter 4:9
SERVICE
The 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 results.
Acts 6:1-7, Romans 12:7, Galatians 6:2, II Timothy 1:16-18, Titus 3:14
ADMINISTRATION
The ability to understand clearly the immediate and long-range goals of a particular unit of the body of Christ and to devise and execute effective plans to accomplish these goals.
Luke 14:28-30, Acts 6:1-7,
I Corinthians 12:28
DISCERNMENT
The ability to know with assurance whether certain behavior purported to be of God is, in reality, divine, human, or satanic. The purpose of this gift is to prevent confusion and false teaching from infiltrating the church.
Matthew 16:21-23, Acts 5:1-11, I John 4:1-6
Acts 16:16-18, I Corinthians 12:10
FAITH
The ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God and to propel the body of believers into actively claiming the promises of God.
Acts 11:22-24, Romans 4:18-21,
I Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 11
MUSIC
The ability to use one's voice to sing praises to the Lord for the benefit of others or to play a musical instrument to praise the Lord and for the benefit of others.
Deuteronomy 31:22, I Samuel 16:16,
I Chronicles 16:41-42,II Chronicles 5:12-13
LANGUAGES/TONGUES
The ability to speak a divinely anointed message in a language one has never learned, but one that is known to the hearers. Its purpose is an evangelical tool for spreading the gospel.
Mark 16:17, Acts 2:1-13, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:1-7
MIRACLE
The ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.
Acts 9:36-42, Acts 19:11-20, Acts 20:7-12, Romans 15:18-19, I Corinthians 12:10, 28
CRAFTSMANSHIP
The ability to use one's hands, thoughts, and mind to further the kingdom of God through artistic, creative means. People with this gift may also serve to lead others in forming their abilities in this area. The gift may also be used in the areas of maintenance, care,and upkeep for the benefit and beautification of God’s kingdom here on earth.
Exodus 30:22-25, Exodus 31:3-11,
II Chronicles 34:9-13, Acts 18:2-3
HEALING
The ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom Gods healing power is applied to another person’s physical or emotional need.
Acts 3:1-10, Acts 5:12-16, Acts 9:32-35,
I Corinthians 12:9, 28
GIVING
The ability to contribute material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness.
Mark 12:41-44, Romans 12:8,
II Corinthians 8:1-7, II Corinthians 9:2-8
MERCY
The ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental, or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully accomplished deeds that reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the sufferings.
Matthew 9:35, 36, Mark 9:41,
1 Thessalonians 5:14
WISDOM
The ability to apply spiritual truth to a specific issue in an especially relevant fashion, and to make proper choices in difficult situations, based on sufficient information.
Acts 6:3, 10, I Corinthians 2:1-13,
I Corinthians 12:8, James 1:5, II Peter 3:15
KNOWLEDGE
The ability to discover, accumulate, analyze, and clarify information that is pertinent to the growth and well-being of the body.
Acts 5:1-11, I Corinthians 12:8,
II Corinthians 11:6, Colossians 2:2-3
EXHORTATION
The ability to minister words of encouragement, consolation, comfort, and motivation from God’s Word to help others complete their tasks and be all that God wants them to be.
Acts 4:32-37, Acts 14:22, Romans 12:8, I Timothy 4:13, Hebrews 10:24-25
TEACHING
The ability to employ a logical, systematic approach to biblical study and to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn.
Acts 18:24-28, Acts 20:20-21, I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-14
PASTOR/SHEPHERD
The ability to assume a long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers.
John 10:1-18, Ephesians 4:11-14,
I Timothy 3:1-7, I Peter 5:1-3
APOSTLESHIP
The ability to assume and exercise general leadership over a number of churches, with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters, which is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches.
Acts 15:1-2, I Corinthians 12:28,
II Corinthians 12:12, Galatians 2:7-10, Ephesians 3:1-9, Ephesians 4:11-14
MISSIONARY
The ability to minister with whatever other spiritual gifts one has in a second culture.
Acts 8:4, Acts 13:2-3, Acts 22:21, Romans 10:15, I Corinthians 9:19-23
PROPHECY
The ability to proclaim the Word of God with divine anointing, thus bringing conviction to the hearers, who recognize God’s Word and are compelled to act upon it.
Acts 2:37-40, Acts 7:54, Acts 26:24-29, I Corinthians 14:1, 3, I Thessalonians 1:5
EVANGELISM
The ability to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the body of Christ.
Acts 8:5-6, Acts 8:26-40, Acts 14:21, Acts 21:8, Ephesians 4:11-14, II Timothy 4:5
PRAYER/INTERCESSION
The ability to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to prayer, to a degree much greater than that which is experienced by most Christians.
Luke 22:41-44, Acts 12:12, Colossians 1:9-12, Colossians 4:12-13, I timothy 2:1-2
James 5:14-16