Gift of Hospitality (I Peter 4:9)

This gift is the ability to reach out to others and welcome them into your home and life in a loving, warm manner, while providing food and lodging, such that the guests feel “at home” in your presence.

• This gift is not clearly delineated with other gifts and may be a specific application of the Gift of Service. (I Peter 4:9-11)
• All believers are to exhibit hospitality. (Hebrews 13:2)
• Hospitality in general is a qualification for spiritual leadership (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8) and for widows who are supported by the church. (I Timothy 5:10)
• This gift is to be used to provide for itinerant ministers (missionaries, etc.). (III John 5-8)
• The people with this gift need to see themselves as an extension of their guest’s ministry and, therefore, as accountable for their guest’s teachings.

Biblical Examples:

• Acts 16:15 — Lydia
• Acts 21:4,7,8,16 — Paul’s accommodations
• Romans 16:23; III John 5-8 — Gaius
• Philemon 2:22 — Philemon

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• You often pray that God will use your home to accommodate visitors.
• You enjoy meeting new people.
• You enjoy having visitors in your home, and often have people staying with you.
• You enjoy preparing meals for guests.
• You are relaxed entertaining people in your home and enjoy having people over who you do not know well.
• You are quick to invite people you have just met to your home.
• People feel very comfortable in your home and do not feel as if they are imposing. They often “kick off their shoes” and find it easy to relax.
• You are not upset if your home is not in perfect order when someone drops in.
• Many people just stop by.
• You often open your home for Bible studies and social functions.
• You enjoy asking neighbors over.
• Others see you as a friendly and open person.

Common Support Gifts:

Service, Mercy, Encouragement

Possible Ministries:

• Guest Services (Greeting, Guest Hospitality, Café, Hosts, Food Service for Events and Special Programs, Event and Lobby Party Planning Team)
• Administrative Support (Office Assistant)
• Missions (Local Missions Volunteer, BRIDGES Missionary Care Team)
• Student Ministries (Hospitality Team)
• Life Group (Use my home to host a Life Group)

Gift of Giving (Romans 12:8)

This gift is the ability to give liberally to meet the needs of others and support God’s ministry with that which God has entrusted to you.

• This gift is not to be associated only with wealthy people. (II Corinthians 8:1,2)
• This gift is to be exercised with “liberality.” The word means “simplicity” or “sincerity” or “purity.” (Romans 12:8)
• The use of this gift will many times be used at considerable cost to the giver. (Luke 21:1-4)
• This gift should be used in secret as much as possible. (Matthew 6:2-4)

Biblical Examples:

• The purposes for which this gift is to be used are:
  • To meet the needs of believers within your local assembly. (Ephesians 4:28; Galatians 6:10; I John 3:17)
  • To meet the needs of believers in other assemblies. (Romans 15: 25,26)
  • To meet the needs of those who labor in preaching and teaching. (I Timothy 5:17, 18; Philippians 4:10)
  • To meet the needs of non-believers.

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• You have an inner sense of unrest when you see someone in financial or material need.
• You have a reluctance to let the person helped know where the help came from.
• You sense real joy when giving to meet someone’s need.
• You have the ability to make wise purchases and investments.
• You are burdened because you do not see others sacrificing financially to meet needs you see to be important.
• You want to be a part of the work or project to which you give.
• You do not need to be pressured to give.
• You avoid the spotlight that sometimes comes to those who give significant amounts of money.
• You willingly live a life of personal sacrifice so that others may have their basic needs met.
• You are sometimes taken advantage of by people in need.
• You tend to think about others before you think about yourself.
• You realize that all of what you have belongs to God and that you are only a steward of what you “possess.”
• When giving, you do not think about tax advantages before deciding to give to something.

Common Support Gifts:

Discernment, Mercy, Administration

Possible Ministries:

• Giving (Special Project Giving, Christmas Blessing Tree, Local Missions Volunteers, Short Term Missions Trip Team, BRIDGES Missionary Care Team)

Gift of Faith (1 Corinthians 12:9)

This gift is the ability to envision with clarity and confidence God’s future direction and goals for the Body of Christ..

• Everyone should manifest faith in their daily living. (Colossians 2:6; II Corinthians 5:7)
• This gift involves seeing both short- and long-term goals which will enable the Body of Christ to accomplish its divine purpose. (Philippians 3:12-17)
• The visionary nature of this gift requires a significant number of supporting gifts (helps/service, administration, giving, encouragement, etc.) to actually accomplish the envisioned goals. (II Timothy 4:9-13, 21-22)
• The few with this gift face the danger of expecting others to see with similar clarity and confidence what God wants the Body to accomplish and having little empathy when they do not. (Galatians 3:1; Acts 15:38)
• This is one of the primary gifts needed by the leadership in large growing churches.

• Biblical Examples include Acts 27: 13-44 — Paul and the shipwreck.

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• Your prayers include many future goals and projects for the work of God.
• You find yourself much more interested in the future than the past.
• You are a positive thinker and are frustrated by negative people.
• You are goal-oriented and enjoy challenges involving new horizons.
• You are not daunted by obstacles or problems.
• You are non-traditional in your approach and find significant difficulty in working within a “traditional system.”
• You find yourself dreaming of what God can do in the future but lack the desire to attend to all the details to bring His plan into existence.
• You become irritated by those who lack your vision and criticize you.
• You are seen as a courageous person because of your confidence that God is with you.
• Sometimes people see you as too self-assured.
• You find others often are “infected” with your vision if they spend time with you.
• You take risks and often are willing to pursue a vision at great personal sacrifice.
• You are not afraid to stand alone for God’s vision.
• You sometimes expect too much of others and cannot understand why they just don’t “live by faith” more.
• Trusting God comes easily for you.

Common Support Gifts:

Leadership, Wisdom, Knowledge

Possible Ministries:

• Creative Arts Team (Brainstorming Team)
• Online Church
• Prayer Team
• Worship Team

Gift of Evangelism (Ephesians 4:11)

This gift is the ability to share the Gospel of Christ publicly or privately with unbelievers in such a way that people respond to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

• All Christians are called to evangelize. (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 5:42; II Timothy 4:5)
• It is an office of the New Testament church. (Acts 21:8)
• This gift not only evangelizes but also equips others to do it as well. (Ephesians 4:11)
• There are two aspects of this gift:
  • Public: Philip (Acts 8:5-13); Paul (Acts 17:19-34)
  • Private: Philip (Acts 8:26-39); Paul (Acts 16:25-33)
• It provides growth for existing churches and helps establish newly planted churches. (II Timothy 4:5; Acts 17:10-15)
• It normally does not include cross-cultural evangelism.

Biblical Examples:

• Acts 8:5-13; 26-39 — Philip
• Acts 16: 25-33; 17:19-34 — Paul

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• Your prayer life reveals a burden for those who do not know Christ.
• Your prayers contain the names of many people who are not Christians or those you are training to share Christ.
• You have an inner unrest at the thought of people dying and going to hell.
• You enjoy meeting people and make new friends easily.
• You feel comfortable with strangers and talk easily about many different subjects.
• You are able to articulate your faith easily and people respond positively.
• You have a burden to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ publicly or with individuals.
• When with non-Christians, their position with Christ inevitably comes up.
• You have the ability to move conversations in a direction of the other person’s relationship with Christ.
• You are able to persuade or help people reach decisions to commit their lives to Christ.
• You are not satisfied with “superficial commitments;” you want people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
• People enjoy being trained by you to share their faith.
• You have the ability to motivate and train others to share their faith effectively.

Common Support Gifts:

Discernment, Prophecy, Wisdom

Possible Ministries:

• Creative Arts Team (Social Media Moderator)
• Guest Services Team (all positions)
• Online Church
• Life Groups (Life Group Leader, Young Pros Life Group Leader, College Age Life Group Leader)
• Missions (Local Missions Volunteers)
• Sports and Rec (Coaches)
• Women’s Ministry (Women’s Ministry, Legacy MOMS, Widows, Seniors)
• Men’s Ministry (Men’s Ministry, Seniors)

Gift of Encouragement (Romans 12:8) 

This gift is the ability to counsel, model, and encourage people through your personal testimony, life, and scripture so that people are comforted and encouraged to action. If you have the gift of encouragement, you:

• The major way through which God works in the Body to encourage each of us to live practical Christian lives.  
• Admonish people to pursue some specific course in the future (I Thessalonians 4:1).
• Comfort with the comfort you have received from God.
• Are able to encourage someone for something they are going to face in the future. 

Biblical Examples:

• Barnabas – “Son of Encouragement” 
• Acts 4:36, 37 — Helped needy saints 
• Acts 9:27 — Endorsed an unwelcome convert 
• Acts 11:19-24 — Accepted alien behavior 
• Acts 11:25, 26 — Enlisted a promising teacher 
• Acts 13:2, 13 — Developed gifted assistant 
• Acts 15:39 — Restored a youthful deserter 

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• You find yourself spontaneously encouraging or affirming people. 
• You enjoy sharing aspects of your life with others believing God will use it to help them. 
• You feel free to counsel others into certain courses of action. 
• You enjoy sharing a life-changing verse of scripture with others. 
• You have personally faced many different situations in your life that God has used to help you grow in specific areas. 
• You are able to identify with the feelings and emotions of another. 
• You accompany biblical truth with practical steps of action. 
• You can see how God is using difficulties in people’s lives to produce new levels of maturity. 
• You find yourself emotionally drained after ministering to someone because of your ability to identify with another’s difficulties. 
• People are drawn to you to receive help with problems with which they are wrestling. 
• People like to be around you because you tend to cheer up people. 

Common Support Gifts:

Shepherd, Mercy, Discernment, Wisdom

Possible Ministries:

• Guest Services (Greeters, Hosts, Café)
• Online Church
• Life Groups (Life Group Leader, Young Pros Life Group Leader, College Age Life Group Leader)
• Missions (Local Missions Volunteers, Short Term Missions Trip Team, BRIDGES Missionary Care Team)
• Prayer Team
• Legacy Buddies (Special Needs Ministry)
• Student Ministry (Small Group Leader)
• Worship Team
• Sports and Rec (Coach)
• Men’s Ministry (Men’s Ministry, Seniors)
• Women’s Ministry (Women’s Ministry, Legacy MOMS, Widows, Seniors)

Gift of Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10) 

This gift is the ability to perceive the motives of others and the sincerity within relationships concerning the Body of Christ. Or in other words, it is the ability to know if something is from God, a demonic source, or if it simply reflects human opinion.

• All Christians should be able to distinguish between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:14; I John 4:1).
• This gift involves insight into circumstances which ordinarily could not be known, so that motives may be ascertained (Acts 5:1-10).
• At times, this gift will reveal a person’s sincerity in the course of a conversation (Acts 8:23).
• Satan easily counterfeits this gift (Luke 4:33, 34: Acts 16:17).
  
• Biblical examples include Matthew 9:4.

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• Your prayers often consist of asking God what you should do with your intuitions. 
• You are very observant to what people say. 
• You tend to notice “body language” that is not consistent with what the person is saying. 
• You almost have a sixth sense about what is being said or is happening which cannot always be explained. 
• Your intuitions are often correct. 
• You hesitate to speak to others of their motives because they may not be receptive. 
• You sometimes gossip about a “feeling” you have with regard to a person rather than confront the person involved. 
• Certain events often confirm a premonition you have had. 
• You have an analytical mind. 
• People see you as a very perceptive person. 

Common Support Gifts:

Wisdom, Leadership, Prophecy, Encouragement 

Possible Ministries:

• Creative Arts Team (Brainstorming Teams, Social Media Moderator) 
• Guest Services (Seating Host, Safety Ministry Team) 
• KIDS (Teacher, Helper) 
• Life Groups (Life Group Leader)
• Administrative Support (Ministry Assistant)
• Missions (BRIDGES Missionary Care Team, Short Term Missions Trip Leader) 
• Prayer Team 
• Student Ministry (Small Group Leader) 
• Worship Team
  

Gift of Apostleship (Ephesians 4:11) 

This gift is the ability and calling of God to be sent as a messenger to bring the Gospel to places where it has previously not been acculturated. 

• Jesus was the ultimate apostle. (Hebrews 3:1)  
• The word APOSTLE means “one sent,” and refers to a special emissary who goes with the full authority of the one who sent him.  
• The Bible mentions two kinds of apostles:
  1. The Apostles with a capital A (the 12 plus Paul) along with the prophets laid the foundation of the church by receiving and conveying to us the direct revelations from God which eventually became scripture. To be an Apostle with a big A you had to be an “eyewitness to the resurrection” (Acts 1:22) and demonstrate the “signs of an apostle” (2 Cor. 2:12), which was a special spiritual gifting to heal and do miracles.
  2. The apostle – with a small “a” are called the apostles of the church. Men like Barnabas and Silas sent out as missionaries, to preach the Gospel and plant new churches. 

Biblical Examples of Other Apostles:

• Romans 1:1; I Corinthians 1:1 — Paul 
• Acts 14:4, 14 — Barnabas 
• Galatians 1:19; I Corinthians 15:7 — James (Jesus’ half-brother) 
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:6 — Silas and Timothy 

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• Your prayers often include requests for people groups who have little or no exposure to the Gospel. 
• You have the ability to share Christ with people in terms they can understand and relate to. 
• You sometimes become frustrated with others’ apparent lack of burden for lost souls all around you and the world. 
• You enjoy learning from people vastly different from you.
• You have an unusual ability to survive difficult situations.
• You have a real burden for sharing the Gospel in places that it has not permeated. (Romans 15:20).
• You have the ability to learn other languages easily. 
• You feel at ease with others despite vast cultural differences with them. 
• You can live with situations which are uncertain. 
• You easily adapt to other cultures. 
• Being separated from extended family and friends does not inhibit your ministry. 
• Your family also survives well in other cultures. 

Common Support Gifts:

Wisdom, Prophecy, Evangelism, Faith

Possible Ministries:

• Missions (Global Missionary, Domestic Missions Volunteer, Local Missions Volunteer, Short Term Mission Trip Team)

GIFT OF ADMINISTRATION (1 CORINTHIANS 12:28)

This gift is the ability to develop, articulate, and execute effective and specific plans in the accomplishment of the long– and short-range goals of the Body of Christ. 

• The word for this gift is derived from “captain” or “pilot” of a ship. (Acts 27:11, Revelations 18:17). It implies keeping the ship on a predetermined course, not determining the course).  
• This gift is implementing plans and programs consistent with the purpose and goal of the Body.  
• This gift is not necessary for leaders, but they must have someone with this gift close by to execute plans. (Acts 15:40)  
• This gift if often used to continue ministries started by others. (Acts 17:15)
  

Biblical Examples:

• Acts 15:22-35; 17:14-15 — Silas 
• Acts 17:14-15, I Thessalonians 3:1 — Timothy 

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

• You enjoy working with intricate details to make everything work together. 
• Your prayers often consist of asking for God to bring many different factors together to accomplish a given task for His kingdom. 
• You are a very organized person and use outlines or flow charts to develop a plan. 
• You often work from a list. 
• You are a logical thinker and able to keep several projects on target. 
• You enjoy working with people to enable them to work together smoothly toward a common objective. 
• Others see you as a very pragmatic person.
• You enjoy working on and within systems. 
• You may feel comfortable working with or around computers. 
• You are very loyal to your goals.
• You tend to be a perfectionist and often expect the same of others. 

Common Support Gifts:

Service, Giving, Wisdom

Make Disciples Who Make Disciples

The “Disciple’s Pathway” is Legacy Christian Church’s definition of a “True Disciple.” It is a journey not only for new believers, but for all of us who are in a continuing pursuit to grow deeper in our faith.

As you journey on the Disciple’s Pathway, your faith will mature as you grasp the meaning of the five steps and grow deeper in each area. The overarching goal of this multi-dimensional growth is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, allowing you to be a True Disciple, Living the Word.