God has given every believer a spiritual gift to serve others and help build up the body of Christ. You may wonder, What has God equipped me to do? How can I discover and use my spiritual gifts?
As a local church pastor, one of my greatest responsibilities, privileges, and joys is helping believers in Jesus Christ learn how God has equipped them to serve the Lord in the church.
Paul explains that Christ gave leaders to the church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–12). Pastors and teachers are not called to do all the ministry while everyone else watches. We prepare and encourage God’s people to do the work of ministry so that the church grows toward unity and maturity in Christ (vs. 13).
Preaching, praying, developing leaders, and overseeing the church’s ministry all contribute to that calling. Few things bring me more joy than watching someone recognize how Christ has equipped them and begin using their gifts to help others.
Christ Gives Gifts to His Church
Paul writes,
“Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7).
In the context of this Bible passage, grace refers to an ability Christ gives each believer to serve Him and help His church grow.
A spiritual gift is a God-given ability that enables a believer to serve others and help build up the Body of Christ.
The New Testament gives several examples.
- Romans 12 mentions prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy (vv. 6–8).
- First Corinthians 12 includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation (vv. 8–11).
- Ephesians 4 identifies apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (vs. 11).
- First Peter 4 groups gifts broadly into speaking and serving (vv. 10–11).
These lists show the many ways God works through His people. They don’t appear to be exhaustive. God gives His people different combinations of abilities and opportunities. He can work through abilities we already possess, though their usefulness in ministry depends on His grace, His strength, and our submission to Him (Rom. 12:6–8; 1 Cor. 12:4–6; 1 Pet. 4:10–11).
Gifts Are Given for the Good of Others
The point isn’t simply that Christians have different gifts. God gives them for the good of others. First Corinthians 12 says that the Spirit distributes gifts to each believer “for the common good” (vs. 7). Peter calls us stewards of God’s varied grace and tells us to use whatever gift we have received to serve one another (1 Peter 4:10).
The Corinthian church had plenty of spiritual gifts, but its members compared themselves, competed for attention, and treated some gifts as more spiritual than others. Paul reminded them that the church is one body with many parts. We need one another. An eye cannot say to a hand, “I don’t need you,” and the head cannot say that to the feet (1 Corinthians 12:21).
Discover Your Gifts by Serving
How do we discover what Christ has given us? We usually discover our gifts by serving.
Spiritual-gift inventories or assessments can begin a helpful conversation, but we should hold their results loosely. Our answers may reflect what we enjoy, what we think we do well, or how we want others to see us. A result does not entitle us to a position, leadership role, or invitation to serve. Gifts become clearer over time as we humbly serve and allow others to observe the fruit.
We also should not use giftedness to avoid ordinary acts of obedience. The church often has legitimate needs outside our preferred areas of service. We may not feel especially gifted to welcome a guest, care for a child, clean up after an event, visit someone who is lonely, or share the gospel. Love is willing to serve where help is needed.
Spiritual gifts help us understand where we may contribute most effectively. They do not limit where we are willing to serve.
See a need and step in. Join a ministry team. Welcome someone who is new. Help a child understand Scripture. Visit someone who is hurting. Open your home. Pray with someone. Encourage a discouraged friend. Lead a small group. Offer practical help to a family carrying a heavy burden.
Often, I see people wait to serve until they know their gift but serving is often how God shows it to us.
As you get involved, pay attention. What needs do you notice before others do? What kind of service brings you joy, even when it requires sacrifice? Where have people been helped through your efforts? What do Christians who know you well say you do effectively? Where have you seen God use you?
Let Others Help You Recognize Your Gifts
People who know us and have watched us serve may recognize our gifts more clearly than we do. Our enjoyment alone doesn’t establish giftedness, and neither does our personal opinion. We need the encouragement, observation, and honest counsel of other believers.
Paul’s letters to Timothy show how this can happen within the church. Timothy’s gift had been recognized and affirmed by church leaders (1 Timothy 4:14). Paul later told him to “rekindle the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6). Timothy had received an ability from God, but others saw it and encouraged him to keep developing it.
Sometimes frustration offers a clue. You may keep noticing a ministry that no one seems to be doing or a need that others overlook. Perhaps you are noticing it because God has equipped you to help meet it.
That doesn’t mean every frustration proves that we are gifted or called to take charge. We can see a problem and still misunderstand what is needed. But before criticizing what isn’t being done, we should ask whether God may be calling us to help.
Develop What Christ Has Given You
As we serve, we will find that some forms of ministry fit us better than others. Someone gifted to teach often enjoys helping people understand Scripture and can explain it clearly. Someone gifted in mercy notices the person who is hurting or alone. A leader sees where people need direction and helps them move forward together. A giver recognizes needs that others miss. An encourager knows how to help someone take the next faithful step.
Gifts also need to be developed. Teachers grow through study and practice. Leaders learn through experience, correction, and humility. Encouragers become more helpful as they learn to listen. Those who show mercy need wisdom and healthy boundaries. God gives the ability, and we are responsible to use and strengthen it.
We still obey the commands God gives every Christian. A person who doesn’t have the gift of giving is still called to give. Someone who isn’t especially gifted in mercy must still show mercy. All believers are called to serve, encourage, share the gospel, and love one another.
Ephesians 4 brings these ideas together. Christ gives leaders to equip His people, and His people do the work of ministry As “each individual part” does its work, the whole body grows and builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:16).
Use Your Gifts in Love
A gift exercised without love may attract attention, but it will not build up the church or bring glory to God. We can teach without caring about the people we teach. We can lead because we want control. We can give because we want recognition. We can serve while resenting the people we serve.
The late Warren Wiersbe, a pastor, Bible teacher, and author, said,
“Gifts are not toys to play with. They are tools to build with. And if they are not used in love, they become weapons to fight with.”
First Corinthians 13 says that impressive gifts, great knowledge, sacrificial giving, and mountain-moving faith accomplish nothing of eternal value without love (vv. 1–3). Love governs how and why we use every gift Christ gives us.
Don’t wait until you have perfectly identified your gift mix. Ask God to show you where someone needs help. Serve alongside other Christians. Listen to their counsel. Pay attention to what God blesses. Develop what He has given you.
Use what Christ has given you in love and by faith, “so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything” (1 Peter 4:11).
Follow me…as I follow Jesus Christ.