# Gifts of the Spirit > [!summary] Our stance We believe all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active today. God gives them to empower the church to do the work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ. ## Why God Gives Gifts Spiritual gifts are not trophies or status symbols. They are tools for serving others. > [!quote] 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. > [!quote] 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. Christ gave leaders to the church "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV). Ministry is not just for pastors. Every believer is gifted to serve. ## The Gifts in Scripture |Passage|Gifts listed| |---|---| |Romans 12:6-8|Prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, mercy| |1 Corinthians 12:8-10|Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues| |1 Corinthians 12:28|Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, administrating, tongues| |Ephesians 4:11|Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers| |1 Peter 4:10-11|Speaking gifts and serving gifts| These lists vary, which suggests they are examples rather than a complete catalog. ## Key Truths About the Gifts - **Every believer has at least one gift** (1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:10). - **The Spirit decides who gets what** (1 Corinthians 12:11). No gift makes someone more spiritual than another. - **Not everyone has every gift.** Paul asks, "Do all speak with tongues?" and expects the answer no (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). - **The body needs every part** (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). ## Guardrails for Using the Gifts Scripture gives clear boundaries so the gifts build the church up instead of dividing it: 1. **Love comes first.** Without love, gifts are just noise (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). 2. **The goal is building others up** (1 Corinthians 14:12, 26). 3. **Everything should be orderly.** "All things should be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40, ESV). See also 1 Corinthians 14:27-33. 4. **Test everything.** "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, ESV). See also 1 John 4:1. 5. **Scripture is the final authority.** No word, impression, or experience overrides the written Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). For more on one gift in particular, see [[Speaking in Tongues]]. ## Other Views - **Cessationists** believe the miraculous gifts (such as tongues, prophecy, and healing) ended with the apostles. They often point to the apostles and prophets as the church's foundation (Ephesians 2:20), the role of signs in confirming the apostles' message (Hebrews 2:3-4), and church history. - **Continuationists** respond that the New Testament never says these gifts will stop before Christ returns, and that 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 links their end to seeing "face to face," which most read as Christ's return. That is the view we hold, while respecting believers who see it differently. ## What This Means for Us - Every member has a place to serve. - We welcome the work of the Spirit and use the gifts with wisdom and order. - We help people discover, develop, and deploy their gifts for the good of the church and the mission of God.