- Administration
Literal Meaning: To pilot or steer a ship
Description: The gift of Administration is the divine enablement to understand what makes an organization function, and the special ability to plan and execute procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry.
Distinctives: People with this gift
- Develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals
- Assist ministries to become more effective and efficient
- Create order out of organizational chaos
- Manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task
- Organize people, tasks, or events
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Thorough ❒ Need to be open to adjusting their plans, so that
- Objective they don’t stifle a leader’s vision
- Responsible ❒ Could use people simply to accomplish goals
- Organized without being concerned for their growth in the
- Goal-oriented process
- Efficient ❒ Could fail to see God’s purposes being fulfilled
- Conscientious in the process of meeting a goal
References: I Cor. 12:28, Acts 6:1-7, Ex. 18: 13-26
- Apostleship
Literal Meaning: To be sent with a message
Description: The gift of Apostleship is the divine ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures.
NOTE: While the “office” of apostle that the original disciples of Christ held is unique and no longer exists, the “role” of apostle continues today and functions through the Spiritual Gift of Apostleship
Distinctives: People with this gift
- Pioneer and establish new ministries or churches
- Adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware
- Desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries
- Have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches
- Demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Adventurous ❒ Should be aware that misusing their authority can
- Entrepreneurial quench the Spirit in others
- Persevering ❒ Need to be affirmed and sent by the church
- Adaptable ❒ Can be demanding and pessimistic
- Culturally Sensitive
- Risk – Taking
- Cause-Driven
References: I Cor. 12:28 – 29, Eph. 4:11, 12, Rom. 1:5, Acts 13:2, 3
- Craftsmanship
Literal Meaning: To craft, design, build
Description: The gift of Craftsmanship is the divine enablement to creatively design and/or construct items to be used for ministry.
Distinctives: People with this gift
- Work with wood, cloth, paints, metal, glass and other raw materials
- Make things which increase the effectiveness of others’ ministries
- Enjoy serving with their hands to meet tangible needs
- Design and build tangible items and resources for ministry use
- Work with different kinds of tools and are skilled with their hands
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Creative ❒ Could fail to see that their gift is significant and one
- Designer that makes a spiritual contribution to the body
- Handy ❒ Could use people to get things done instead of
- Resourceful helping them grow in the process
- Practical ❒ Should remember that the things they produce are
- Behind-the-scenes just a means to the end and not the end itself
- Helpful
References: Ex. 31:3, 35:31-35, Acts 9:36-39, II Kings 22:5, 6
- Creative Communication
Literal Meaning: To communicate artistically
Description: The gift of Creative Communication is the divine enablement to communicate God’s truth through a variety of art forms
Distinctives: People with this gift
- Use the arts to communicate God’s truth
- Develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, etc.
- Use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ’s message
- Challenge people’s perspective of God through various forms of the arts
- Demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord’s ministry and message
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Expressive ❒ Need to remember that art is not for art’s sake, but
- Imaginative it’s to glorify God and edify others
- Idea-oriented ❒ Could find evaluation and constructive criticism
- Artistic difficult to accept
- Creative ❒ Might be uncooperative (because of ego, pride, or
- Unconventional individualism) and need to work at being a team
- Sensitive player
References: Ps. 150:3-5, 2 Sam. 6:14, 15, Mark 4:2, 33
- Discernment
Literal Meaning: To separate or make a distinction, differentiate
Description: The gift of Discernment is the divine enablement to distinguish between truth and error. It is able to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure
- Identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness
- Determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic
- Recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message or interpretation
- Are able to sense the presence of evil
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Perceptive ❒ May struggle with how to express their perceptions,
- Insightful feelings or insights
- Sensitive ❒ Could be harsh when confronting others, instead of
- Intuitive speaking the truth in love
- Decisive ❒ Need to confirm their perceptions before speaking
- Challenging
- Truthful
References: I Cor. 12:10, Acts 5:1-4, Matt. 16:21-23
- Encouragement
Literal Meaning: To come along side of
Description: The gift of Encouragement is the divine enablement to present truth so as to strengthen, comfort, or urge to action those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Come to the side of those who are discouraged to strengthen and reassure them
- Challenge, comfort or confront others to trust and hope in the promises of God
- Urge others to action by applying biblical truth
- Motivate others to grow
- Emphasize God’s promises and to have confidence in His will
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Positive ❒ Can sometimes be overly optimistic, too simplistic or
- Motivating flattering
- Challenging ❒ Should first take time to understand where others are
- Affirming and what they really need
- Reassuring ❒ May want to just say “positive” things to others and
- Supportive avoid being confrontational when it’s needed
- Trustworthy
References: Rom. 12:8, Acts 11:22-24, Acts 15:30-32
•Evangelism
Literal Meaning: To bring good news
Description: The gift of Evangelism is the divine enablement to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship.
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction
- Seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters
- Challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ
- Adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual’s needs
- Seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Sincere ❒ Need to remember the Holy Spirit, not guilt, is the
- Candid motivator in a person’s decision for Christ
- Respected ❒ Should avoid becoming critical of others by
- Influential remembering that we are all “witnesses,” but we are
- Spiritual not all “evangelists”
- Confident ❒ Need to listen carefully, because the same approach
- Commitment-oriented is not appropriate for everyone
References: Eph. 4:11, Acts 8:26-40, Luke 19:1-10
- Faith
Literal Meaning: To trust, have confidence, believe
Description: The gift of Faith is the divine enablement to act on God’s promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God’s ability to fulfill His purposes
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same
- Act in complete confidence of God’s ability to overcome obstacles
- Demonstrate an attitude of trust in God’s will and His promises
- Advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others will not
- Ask God for what is needed and trust Him for His provision
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Prayerful ❒ Need to act on their faith
- Optimistic ❒ Should remember that those who speak with reason
- Trusting and desire to plan do not necessarily lack faith
- Assured ❒ Should listen to and consider the counsel of wise and
- Positive spirit-filled believers
- Inspiring
- Hopeful
References: I Cor. 12:9, 13:2, Heb. 11:1, Rom. 4:18-21
•Giving
Literal Meaning: To give part of, share
Description: The gift of Giving is the divine enablement to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. People with this gift do not ask “How much money do I need to give to God?” but, “How much money do I need to live on?”
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much as possible
- Support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom
- Meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur
- Provide resources, generously and cheerfully, trusting God for His provision
- May have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God’s work
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Stewardship-oriented ❒ Need to esteem their gift, remembering that giving
- Responsible money and resources is a spiritual contribution to the
- Resourceful body of Christ
- Charitable ❒ Need to remember the church’s agenda is determined
- Trusts in God by leaders, not by the giver’s gift
- Disciplined ❒ Need to guard against greed
- Trustworthy
References: Rom. 12:8, II Cor. 6:8, Luke 21:1-4
- Helps
Literal Meaning: To take the place of someone
Description: The gift of Helps is the divine enablement to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support, and meet the needs of others
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Serve behind the scenes wherever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others
- See the tangible and practical things to be done and enjoy doing them
- Sense God’s purpose and pleasure in meeting everyday responsibilities
- Attach spiritual value to practical service
- Enjoy knowing that they are freeing up others to do what God has called them to do
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Available ❒ Need to esteem their gift, remembering that doing
- Motivating practical deeds is a spiritual contribution to the body
- Challenging of Christ
- Affirming ❒ Find it difficult to say “no”
- Reassuring ❒ Need to be responsive to the priorities of leadership
- Supportive instead of setting their own agendas
- Trustworthy
References: I Cor. 12:28, Rom. 12:7, Acts 6:1-4, Rom.16:1, 2
- Hospitality
Literal Meaning: To love strangers
Description: The gift of Hospitality is the divine enablement to care for people by providing fellowship, food, and shelter
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for
- Meet new people and help them to feel welcomed
- Create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop
- Seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships
- Set people at ease in unfamiliar surroundings
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Friendly ❒ Should avoid viewing their gift as just “entertaining”
- Gracious ❒ Need to remember to ask God who He wants them to
- Inviting befriend and serve
- Trusting ❒ Should be careful not to cause stress in their own
- Caring family when inviting others into their home
- Responsive
- Warm
References: I Peter 4:9, 10, Rom. 12:13, Heb. 13:1, 2
- Intercession
Literal Meaning: To plead on behalf of someone, intercede
Description: The gift of Intercession is the divine enablement to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause
- Have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray
- Are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer
- Pray in response to the leading of the spirit, whether they understand it or not
- Exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Advocate ❒ Should avoid feeling that their gift is not valued, by
- Caring remembering that interceding for others is their
- Sincere ministry & spiritual contribution to the body of
- Peacemaker Christ
- Trustworthy ❒ Should avoid using prayer as an escape from
- Burden-bearer fulfilling responsibilities
- Spiritually sensitive ❒ Need to avoid a “holier than thou” attitude sometimes
caused by extended times of prayer and spiritual intimacy with God
References: Rom. 8:26, 27, John 17:9-26, I Tim. 2:1, 2, Col. 1:9-12, 4:12, 13
- Knowledge
Literal Meaning: To know
Description: The gift of Knowledge is the divine enablement to bring truth to the body through a revelation or biblical insight
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Receive truth which enables them to better serve the body
- Search the scriptures for insight, understanding, and truth
- Have an unusual insight or understanding that serves the church
- Organize information for teaching and practical use
- Gain knowledge which was not attained by natural observation or means
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Inquisitive ❒ Need to be careful of this gift leading to pride
- Responsive (“knowledge puffs up”)
- Observant ❒ Should remember that it’s God’s message, not theirs,
- Insightful when the give a word of knowledge to the church
- Reflective ❒ Need to remember with the increasing of knowledge
- Studious comes the increasing of pain
- Truthful
References: I Cor. 12:8, Mark 2:6-8, John 1:45-50
- Leadership
Literal Meaning: To stand before
Description: The gift of Leadership is the divine enablement to cast vision, motivate, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Provide direction for God’s people or ministry
- Motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities
- Present the “big picture” for others to see
- Model the values of the ministry
- Take responsibility and establish goals
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Influential ❒ Should realize their relational credibility takes time
- Diligent and is critical for leadership effectiveness
- Visionary ❒ Should remember that servant leadership is the
- Trustworthy biblical model, the greatest being the servant of all
- Persuasive ❒ Do not need to be in a leadership “position” to use
- Motivating this gift
- Goal-setter
References: Rom. 12:8, Heb. 13:17, Luke 22:25, 26
- Mercy
Literal Meaning: To have compassion
Description: The gift of Mercy is the divine enablement to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need, compassion moved to action
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people
- Address the needs of the lonely and forgotten
- Express love, grace, and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis
- Serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully
- Concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Empathetic ❒ Need to be aware that rescuing people from their pain
- Caring may be hindering God’s work in them
- Responsive ❒ Need to guard against feeling “unappreciated,” since
- Kind some of the people helped will not show or express
- Compassionate any appreciation
- Sensitive ❒ Should guard against becoming defensive and angry
- Burden-bearing about the sources of others’ pain
References: Rom. 12:8, Matt. 5:7, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 10:25-37
- Prophecy
Literal Meaning: To speak before
Description: The gift of Prophecy is the divine enablement to reveal the truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance or edification
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation
- Speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification
- See truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond
- Warn of God’s immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance
- Understand God’s hearts and mind through experiences he takes them through
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Discerning ❒ Need to be aware that listeners may reject the
- Compelling message if not spoken with love and compassion
- Uncompromising ❒ Need to avoid pride which can create a demanding or
- Outspoken discouraging Spirit that hinders the gift
- Authoritative ❒ Should remember that discernment and scripture
- Convicting must support and agree with each prophecy
- Confronting
References: Rom. 12:6, I Cor. 12:10, 28, 13:2, II Peter 1:19-21
- Shepherding
Literal Meaning: To shepherd a flock
Description: The gift of Shepherding is the divine enablement to nurture, care for, and guide people toward on-going spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God
- Provide guidance and oversight to a group of God’s people
- Model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus
- Establish trust and confidence through long-term relationships
- Lead and protect those within their span of care
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Influencing ❒ Should remember that God judges those who neglect
- Nurturing or abuse their oversight responsibilities
- Guiding ❒ Need to be aware that the desire to feed and support
- Discipling others can make it difficult to say “no”
- Protective ❒ Should realize that some of those being nurtured will
- Supportive grow beyond the shepherd’s own ability and need to
- Relational be freed to do so
References: Eph. 4:11, 12, I Peter 5:1-4, John 10:1-18
- Teaching
Literal Meaning: To instruct
Description: The gift of Teaching is the divine enablement to understand, clearly explain, and apply the word of God, causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Communicate biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the word
- Challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of scripture
- Present the whole counsel of God for maximum life change
- Give attention to detail and accuracy
- Prepare through extended times of study and reflection
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Disciplined ❒ Should avoid pride that may result from their
- Perceptive “superior” biblical knowledge and understanding
- Teachable ❒ Could become too detailed when teaching and fail to
- Authoritative make life application
- Practical ❒ Should remember that their spirituality is not
- Analytical measured by how much they know
- Articulate
References: Rom. 12:7, I Cor. 12:28, 29, Acts 18:24-28, II Tim. 2:2
•Wisdom
Literal Meaning: To apply truth practically
Description: The gift of Wisdom is the divine enablement to apply spiritual truth effectively to meet a need in a specific situation
Distinctive’s: People with this gift
- Focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take
- Receive an understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body
- Provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion
- Hear the Spirit provide direction for God’s best in a given situation
- Apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways
Traits: Cautions: People with this gift
- Sensible ❒ Could fail to share the wisdom that God has given
- Insightful them
- Practical ❒ Need to avoid having others develop a dependence
- Wise upon them, which may weaken their faith in God
- Fair ❒ Need to be patient with others who do not have this
- Experienced gift
- Common Sense
References: I Cor. 12:8, James 3:13-18, I Cor. 2:3-14, Jer. 9:23, 24