“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”  (Romans 12:4-8)

God has given each of us gifting for His purpose and glory. As good stewards of what God has given us, we should exercise our spiritual gifts for His glory and the benefit of others. We invite you to discover your dominant gift(s).

In Romans 12:4-8, we read that all believers have at least one spiritual gift. Regardless of what you may think, God’s Word teaches us that every Christian has a spiritual gift. The same truth is expressed by Paul in Romans 12:6 and 1 Corinthians 12:7. At the point of salvation, when we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, we become members of the body of Christ by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit who places us into union with Christ. According to the analogy portrayed in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, each believer becomes a gifted member, like an arm, or a foot, or an eye with ability and a function to perform. This is a matter of grace and the sovereign work and choice of the Spirit, never our merit or works (1 Cor. 12:4, 11, 18).

Peter also teaches us that gifts are given for “serving one another.” They are for the common good of the body of Christ as an expression of love (1 Corinthians 13) and never for personal gain or selfish agendas (1 Corinthians 12-14). The apostle Paul defines the common good by such things as edification (building up the body of Christ), exhortation, consolation, instruction, and pursuing spiritual maturity in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:3-5, 17, 19, 26, 31; Ephesians 4:11-16).

No one gift is more important than another; rather they are all complementary. And when we each identify and operate within our gifting, our churches and communities are edified, encouraged, and blessed. So, we invite you to take NVF’s Online Spiritual Gifts Assessment Survey.  This will help us as the body of Christ, to be more effective in service to each other, our community, and world.