Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts:
Definitions of the 20 Spiritual Gifts
Identified in The Spiritual Gifts Inventory

This section of the study material lists definitions for each of the twenty spiritual gifts described in the inventory. Carefully read all of these definitions in order to develop a better understanding of the meaning of each gift. Focus attention on those gifts on which you recorded the highest scores in the inventory.

The twenty gifts identified in the inventory and defined below are listed in the four biblical passages which describe giftedness. This is not meant to be an inclusive list of all spiritual gifts. Many biblical scholars, theologians, pastors and Christian educators (myself included) believe that there are many gifts which are not listed in scripture. An example of such a person is Charles V. Bryant, a pastor and author of the book, Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts. In his book, which was used in the development of this material, Reverend Bryant also lists craftsmanship, exorcism, faith, humor, voluntary poverty, martyrdom, and singleness as spiritual gifts. Other authors have other suggestions.

As you explore the twenty gifts defined below, you are encouraged to explore other gifts listed in other resources. A few of these other resources are listed in the bibliography of this material.

Music	The capacity to create or perform lyrics and melodies that lead others to experience, to worship, and to serve God.
Prophecy	The capacity to receive, to reveal, or to interpret God's Truth, publicly, no matter what the consequences or risks.
Wisdom	The capacity to convincingly illustrate the mystery of God's Truth in very concrete, practical, and specific ways.
Knowledge	The capacity to cognitively comprehend the complexities of God's Truth and to explain these complexities to others.
Teaching	The capacity to create an environment in which obedience to God's Truth can be practiced.
Mentoring	The ability to affirm, to equip, and to support other Christians in spiritual formation and Christian ministry.
Evangelism	The capacity to discern when and how the Gospel message should be communicated to persons outside the Christian community.
Missionary	The ability to move beyond race, culture, faith tradition, nationality, or lifestyle to meet the physical and spiritual needs of neglected peoples.
Exhortation	The capacity to inspire, to motivate, and to encourage others in their spiritual formation and personal ministry.
Discernment	The ability to recognize and to affirm the skills, talents, and spiritual gifts of other people, especially other Christians
Hospitality	The ability to meet the basic social needs of and to extend care to persons (strangers) beyond one's immediate circle of friends.
Community Builder	The ability to help create *koinonia*, that unique type of inclusive fellowship which characterized the early Christian church.
Healing	A sensitivity to the pains and hurts of other persons and the capacity to participate in addressing these pains and hurts.
Mercy	The ability to identify with and to feel the pains and hurts of another person and the capacity to help that person move beyond those pains and hurts.
Helps	The ability and overwhelming desire to aid persons in need.
Service	The ability to perform the most basic acts of kindness as a means to glorify God and to embody the Gospel.
Giving	The capacity to manage one's own resources (income, time, energy, skills, and gifts) in such a way that there is more than enough to share with other people.
Prayer	The ability to sense when, and for whom or what, to pray.
Leadership	The ability to understand one's own principles and vision, to communicate those principles and vision to others, and to challenge others to move into the future, all in a non-reactive way.
Administration	The ability to organize resources and persons for effective ministry.

Next: An Essay: Spiritual Gifts Used Through the Local Congregation
Previous: A Spiritual Gifts Inventory
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Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts: Definitions of the 20 Spiritual Gifts Identified in The Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts:
Definitions of the 20 Spiritual Gifts
Identified in The Spiritual Gifts Inventory