“And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28

Overview

Doing practical and necessary tasks which free up, support, and meet the needs of others. Helps is a spiritual gift that gets tasks done joyfully behind the scenes. Helps is discerned from the passage in 1 Corinthians 12:28 which states that God has appointed “forms of assistance,” or helps.

Those with the gift of Helps have a humble personality, and willingly sacrifice time and energy to do God's work. They are able to see other's needs often before they do, having great attention to detail. Helpers tend to have a servant's heart, be very loyal, and go above and beyond in their tasks. 

A possible pitfall of this spiritual gifting is that the person can become bitter about doing all the work while others are enjoying themselves. It is possible to be taken advantage of by others who want to get out of their own responsibilities. Because this gift is often behind the scenes, it may go unnoticed, even though it is essential for keeping things working and to ensure people are cared for inside and out of the church. Helpers should still be recognized and encouraged.

People with this gift

• Serve behind the scenes 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.

Performing practical deeds is a spiritual contribution to the body of Christ.  To have the gift of helps is to be in “the glorious company of stretcher-bearers" as in the story in Mark 2:1-12.

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“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you...”

Luke 14:13-14

Overview

A person with the gift of Hospitality provides a warm welcome for people that demonstrates God’s love by providing food, shelter or fellowship. “The Spiritual Gift of Hospitality has nothing to do with show and ostentation; rather it has everything to do with the way in which a guest is welcomed, and made to feel comfortable and at home.

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Hospitality?

• I am comfortable around strangers and care deeply about how my church welcomes them.

• I can make all kinds of people feel welcome.

• I enjoy providing a safe environment for those in need.

• I feel fulfilled when I can open my home to others for food and fellowship.

• I am more concerned with whether guests feel welcome than whether my house is in order.

• I love to create appealing and appropriate environments for people.

• I view relationships as opportunities to pass on God’s love.

Here are some suggestions for developing your Spiritual Gift of Hospitality

• Step out in faith! You may think your dining table isn’t big enough or your cooking skills not good enough. Never mind – God blesses take-out chicken served from the bucket with napkins on a card table.

• Study the importance of simplicity and how it can set you free to concentrate on the people you are serving instead of your concern about details and preparations.

• Challenge yourself – make it a point to meet someone new every Sunday. Can you make guests as welcome as we would want Jesus to feel if he were a visitor to our church?

• Serving in this capacity at Bethany would include many opportunities on the Engagement Team,: Connection Café, First Impressions Host or Hostess, working at the welcome table, greeters, and ushers, etc.

“Hospitality is the way in which God's people do more for the stranger than they might do for their dearest friends. For God often comes to us in the guise of the stranger.”

“...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me… Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these..., you did it to me. ”

Matt 25: 35-36, 40

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Coming soon

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; …the leader, in diligence…”

Romans 12:6,8

Overview

A person with the Spiritual Gift of Leadership has the special ability to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose for the future and communicate these goals to others so that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish them for the glory of God.

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Leadership?

• Do you enjoy inspiring and leading others for the sake of Christ’s work?
• Are you usually quick to sense when a group you are in is getting nowhere and you want to do something about it?
• When you join a group, do others often expect you to take leadership?
• Have you accepted leadership responsibilities and succeeded in helping a group work toward a goal?
• Do you find it easy to motivate others to follow through on a ministry project?
• Do you tend to think futuristically about ministries within the church and community?

Suggestions for developing the Spiritual Gift of Leadership

Study: Study passages throughout the Bible that exemplify leadership by people under God’s direction to understand what God expects of leaders, the faith that is required, and the ways in which the leadership is carried out (consider starting with Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the temple).

Read: Read biographies of great leaders to gain insight into effective methods used. Learn how to develop rapport, how to earn the trust of others, and how to delegate.

Consider how this gift might be used - Meditate on the ways your gift of leadership could most effectively be employed to help build up the church. Where is leadership needed, and what skills can you bring to the table to help move things along in the right direction? Prayer is essential to support any initiative you may feel moved to take.

Ways to use the gift of leadership

• Personally: help others to set healthy goals and objectives; lead family projects.
• Within the church: chair a committee; assist in the setting of long-range church plans; head up a project.
• Within the wider community: serve as a school board member; become involved in community service groups.

Jesus said to him (Peter), “Take care of my sheep.” John 21:16

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; …the leader, in diligence…”

Romans 12:6,8

• Content from https://svpc.us, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

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“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead…a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these…was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Luke 10:30-37

Overview:

A person with the gift of mercy joyfully, practically, and compassionately helps those in need. The basic motivational drive is to sense and respond to the emotional and spiritual needs of others with love and understanding. 

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Mercy?

• Are you kind and gentle?

• Can you sense how others are feeling? Do you sense the spiritual and emotional atmosphere around you?

• Are you interested in learning doctrine for the purpose of acting on in obedience? 

• Are you drawn to other sensitive people or people in distress?

• Do you feel you MUST pray? Is it an expression of your heart to God to release your emotions?

People with this gift:

• Express love, grace, and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis

• Focus on alleviating sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people

• Address the needs of the lonely and forgotten, unlovable, ill, wounded in spirit, handicapped, elderly, the out-of-fellowship or rebellious

• Serve cheerfully in difficult or unsightly circumstances

• Concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people.

A Mercy’s Weaknesses- taken from Institute in Basic Life principles (iblp.org)

• Mercies can be indecisive, tossed to and fro by their emotions. (See James 1:5–8.)

• Mercy-givers can easily allow others to become dependent on them, when the individuals should be dependent on God. They often become rescuers of those who do not need to be rescued.

• The mercy-giver’s warmth can be falsely interpreted as personal, intimate affection. They must learn to temper their demonstration of affections based on the mindset of those to whom they are ministering. If they fail to do this, both parties may be led into temptation.

• Mercies are quick to take up others’ offenses, which can quickly lead to anger and bitterness.

• Because mercy-givers try to avoid conflict of any kind, they often avoid confrontation that is needed. Mercy-givers would rather hide from or ignore their enemies than confront them, even when they are in authority over those enemies. Delaying the inevitable always leads to more trouble—for everyone.

• Immature or rebellious mercies tend to be harsh and impatient, reflecting their own self-condemnation by lashing out at others whom they judge to be as weak or sinful as they are.

• Mercies tend to be introspective. As a person who is sensitive to hurts, it is easy for him to become overly sensitive to his own. If a mercy falls into this trap, he will wallow in past offenses, cling to past bitterness, and dwell on past mistakes or sins.

• It is easy for mercies to develop a poor self-image, since they tend to be introspective and remain acutely aware of their own failures. The longer the mercy dwells on his failures, the more worthless and wicked he feels.

• Mercies tend to be worriers as a result of focusing on their own failures.

Those who have the gift of Mercy minister, often invisibly, to the congregation and to so many beyond our walls. They do not take sin lightly, and embrace humility and are aware of their own weakness and failures.

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF MERCY:

• Read and study similar information about the other 6 spiritual motivational gifts: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement,  giving and organization.

• Content from https://svpc.us, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church and the Institute in Basic Life principles (iblp.org)

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“And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with skill…. These are the vestments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban, and a sash. When they make these sacred vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.”

Exodus 28:3-4

Overview

A person with the spiritual gift of Craftsmanship can forward the kingdom of God through creative skills such as carpentry, graphic arts, painting, and sewing. This gift provides the believer with the skill of creating artistic expressions that produce a spiritual response of strength and inspiration.

Do You Have the Spiritual Gift of Craftsmanship?

• Do you have significant artistic or craft ability that you would like to put into service for the Lord?

• Can you see how your artistic or craftsmanship skills could be used to benefit the body of Christ?

• Are you aware that people have been blessed through your craft skills or artistic ability?

• Are you characterized as a creative person or someone who is good with their hands?

• Can you envision some specific projects that you could undertake to use this gift or the kingdom of God?

What specific artistic or craftsmanship abilities has God given you?

People with this gift:

• Work with raw materials like wood, cloth, paint, metal, glass

• Work with different kinds of tools and are skilled with their hands

• Make things which increase the fruitfulness of others' ministries

• Create tangible items and resources

• Use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ ’s message

• Demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord ’s ministry and message.

How might this gift be used? Consider how God might use this gift through you and thereby build up the church. Habitat for Humanity and making lap quilts are just two ways one might use the gift of craftsmanship.

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF CRAFTSMANSHIP:

Study Your Craft: Find ways to be trained and so bring forth your skills of artistry. Be Creative for God: Listen to the source of your gift and find ways to deepen your spirituality and count on God to set your imagination free. For example, seek out writings of other Christian crafts people to learn how they have opened themselves to God's inspiration.

Unlike some spiritual gifts, Craftsmanship produces fruit that can be readily and immediately seen. The results are tangible. It is also a gift that focuses largely on praise for the Lord, and the act of praising is always full of joy. You are blessed to have the gift of artistry or craftsmanship. Rejoice!

• Content from https://svpc.us, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

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Overview

“Praise him with trumpet sound; Praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; Praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; Praise him with loud clashing cymbals!”

Psalm 150:3-5

“David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.”

2 Samuel 6:14-15

CREATIVE COMMUNICATION

The Spirit-given ability to communicate God’s truth through visual, written, or performing arts.

People with the gift of Creative Communication strive to worship God, give God glory, show the Kingdom of God to others, bless, encourage, and bring peace through beauty.

More specifically people with this gift:

• Use the arts to communicate God’s truth

• Identify, develop and use artistic skills in themselves and others

• 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.

Some of the ways the gift of Creative Communication can be seen within worship experiences include artistic signage, music (hand bells, singing, playing instruments), and drama.

The gift of Creative Communication is manifested in other ministries. Consider photography, writing plays or music, and design for everything from websites to bulletin boards to motion graphics. All these can help communicate God’s message creatively and effectively.

• Content from https://svpc.us, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

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Overview

To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14

The spiritual gift of discernment is God given to believers for the purpose of recognizing lying spirits and to identifying deceptive and erroneous doctrines.

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Discernment?

• Are you a person who studies the Word of God so you can have a discerning heart?

• Are you one who pours over His precepts, so you know how to discern God’s truth and rightly divide it,
   teach it, and apply it?

• Do you have a longing to see people set free from demonic bondage?

• Do you want to be more effective in prayer and spiritual warfare?

• Do you have a passion for the un-grieved Presence of the Holy Spirit?

• Are you more sensitive to spiritual atmospheres than others?

• Do you see and sense things in the spiritual realm that others do not?

• If a spiritual gift is used to criticize or tear down a church, person or leader, are you aware of its misuse?

• Are you tuned into people’s motives?

• Are you able to distinguish, discern, judge, or appraise between the truth of the Word and the demonically     
  deceptive doctrines of a person, statement, situation, or environment?

“Every believer has some discernment as a born-again follower of Christ, which increases as one matures in the faith. We are all exhorted to be spiritually discerning (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1), but some in the body of Christ have been given the unique ability to spot the doctrinal “forgeries” that have plagued the church since the first century. This discernment does not involve mystical, extra-biblical revelations or a voice from God. Rather, the spiritually discerning are so familiar with the Word of God that they instantly recognize what is contrary to it. They do not receive special messages from God; they use the Word of God to “test the spirits” to see which line up with God and which are in opposition to Him. The spiritually discerning are diligent to “rightly divide” (2 Timothy 2:15) the Word of God.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/gift-discerning-spirits.html)

The highest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing; it is to discern what the Spirit of God is doing. The spiritual gift of discernment builds up the church by enabling certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation. The church needs those with this gift to warn believers in times of danger or keep them from being led astray by false teaching. When a discerner is submitted to the Holy Spirit and based in the Father’s love, their insight will truly be a gift.

SOME SIGNS OF OPERATING IN DISCERNMENT:

• It builds up the church and is life-giving

• It brings freedom and transformation

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF DISCERNMENT:

• True discernment comes from intimacy with the Father. The fruit of your discernment will not be fear,  suspicion, confusion, or accusation. Discernment is from the Holy Spirit, but suspicion, which can masquerade as discernment, is actually sourced in our own human nature.

• Discerners need to be cared for and pastored and discipled in a Bible-believing, healthy church environment.

• As a matter of protection for the discerner and others, discerners should operate in their gift with accountability, under God-given leadership.

• Insights need to be weighed up by Word of God and the insight of other Christians who will have different pieces of the puzzle and complimentary gifts. (See 1 Cor 12:12-27, 14:29.) As the Apostle Paul said, ‘For we know in part and we prophesy in part.’ (1 Cor 13:9)

• Developing in character, wisdom, and holiness, helps discernment grow and become sharper.

• A discerner needs to learn how and when to share insight.

• Be humble. God may allow a wilderness season to grow the character of the discerner or to direct them into new areas of fruitfulness.

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“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a [person’s] gift is encouraging…let him encourage…”
Romans 12:6,8

Overview

A person with the gift of encouragement listens effectively to others, offers wise counsel, support, and empowerment – and helps to bring about emotional, relational, or physical healing.

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Encouragement?

• Others say I’m a good listener, or friends seek me out when they’ve got problems.
• I often see the best in others – things they’re slow to recognize in themselves.
• I am usually tuned into the emotional state of people around me, whether things are going well or whether the chips are down.
• When folks find themselves in stressful situations, I can often offer perspective in a way that is helpful to them.
• I sympathize easily and am tolerant of others' shortcomings, and at the same time I enjoy helping them mature in their faith.
• I like to reassure people who are discouraged how much God loves them.

“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another…”
Hebrews 10:24-25

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Affirm Your Gift: Identify a mentor with the same gift who will encourage you as you pursue an encourager role.

Challenge Yourself: Sign up for a class in counseling or mediation, or consider training that emphasizes listening to others or walking alongside them in times of crisis.

Step Out in Faith: Consider small group leader training, and then use your gift to make each group time together a time of encouragement for each participant.

“When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion.” Acts 11:23

• Content from https://svpc.us, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

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Overview

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

Overview:

Evangelism is the Spirit-given ability to share the gospel with others so that they respond in faith and move towards discipleship.

People with this gift:

• Communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction

• Seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters

• Encourage unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ

• Seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers.

Lifestyle: A person with the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism shares with others that Jesus is good news. They have spiritual conversations with neighbors and coworkers regularly. They frequently bring others into the faith community. Well-known public evangelists may come to mind, yet there are unnamed others who have been effective via sports, literature, music, and just hanging out.

As a Volunteer: Evangelists might work in existing churches and church planting. They might be a greeter, usher, class leader, may welcome newcomers, serve in prison or campus or park ministry, participate in renewal events, teach others about relational evangelism, coordinate outreach events, perform inner-city work, be a missionary or one-on-one witness, support missionaries (visit, letters, contacts), or do web outreach.

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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Overview

A person with the Spiritual Gift of Faith acts on God’s promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God’s ability to fulfill his purposes…an extraordinary ability to trust God.

Do you have the spiritual gift of Faith?

• Do you know God is faithful even when life seems impossible?

• Do you firmly believe God is active in our lives?

• Do your friends tell you you’re an “incurable optimist”?

• If you sense that God is behind a project or idea, are you able to support it even when others are doubtful?

• Does your personal experiences help you believe in the power of faith?

Suggestions for developing your gift of Faith

• Read and study some of the wonderful stories of faith in the Bible – Mark 5:25-34 (woman with a hemorrhage), Acts 27:21-25 (the storm at sea when Paul sails for Rome); Hebrews 11 (Faith’s Hall of Fame!).
• Record in your journal instances where you are sure God is at work. Reread them later to see what actually happened.
• Pray with other people who have the gift of faith or intercessory prayer.
• Consider how the gift of faith would manifest itself in your situation, on the job, at home, in your responsibilities in the church or community.

“No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Romans 4:20-21

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“We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity...”

Romans 12:6,8

Overview

A person with the Spiritual Gift of Giving has the ability to give or generate resources and material wealth freely, wisely and with joy to help support ministries and meet the needs of others. This may be lived out by radical generosity or the uncanny ability to discover and channel new sources of money, time, and energy.

Do You Have the Spiritual Gift of Giving?

• Is it easy for you to approach others and ask them to contribute their resources to a ministry or special project?
• Do you feel a sense of ownership in the ministries and projects you support financially?
• Have you had ideas that have helped you (and your family) contribute more financial resources?
• Do you handle/manage money well in order to free more of it for other people and causes?
• Do you view your treasures, talents, and time as on loan from God and not your own?
• Do you often give generously and joyfully?

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF GIVING

• Read: Consider these biblical illustrations of people and churches with this gift: The widow (Mark 12:42-43), Tabitha (Acts 9:36), Barnabas (Acts 4:34-37), and the Macedonian church (2 Corinthians 8:1-2).
• Research: Research the ministries that interest you and how you might free up financial resources to support them.
• Pray: Be committed to praying about needs and whether you might be called to help meet those needs.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”  Luke 6:38

• Content from https://svpc.us, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

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