Living by F.A.I.T.H.: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts for the Mission of Christ

A Teaching and Application Guide for Agape Life Fellowship

​1. The Gift Within Every Believer“ At the moment of salvation when the Holy Spirit comes to live within you, He brings a gift with Him.”
— Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Every believer in Christ has been uniquely equipped for service. Scripture declares:
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:4, 11
Your spiritual gift is not earned or chosen; it is given by the Spirit for the building up of the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10). The purpose of that gift is simple yet profound: to serve.
Many Christians struggle to identify their specific spiritual gift, but that should never keep anyone from serving. The best way to discover your gift is through faithful participation in ministry. As you serve, the Spirit confirms and clarifies your gifting.
J. I. Packer reminds us: “The most significant gifts in the church’s life in every era are ordinary natural abilities sanctified.”

​Your gift may not look miraculous, but when surrendered to God, it becomes a powerful tool for His glory.

2. Understanding Spiritual Gifts The New Testament provides several representative lists of gifts (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 28–30; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:9–11).
Motivational Gifts (Romans 12:6–8) Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy
Manifestation Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8–10)Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Tongues, Interpretation
Ministry Gifts (Ephesians 4:11)Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers
Each gift contributes to the unity and health of the church. Though some sign gifts (such as tongues and healing) served a specific foundational purpose in the early church, the principle remains: every believer is empowered by the Spirit to build up the body and advance the mission of Christ.

3. Defining the Gifts Below is a summary of key gifts active in the life of the church:
GiftPurpose / DescriptionScripture ReferenceLeadershipDirects and motivates others toward God’s purposes.Romans 12:8
Administration organizes and implements vision and goals.1 Corinthians 12:28
Teaching clearly communicates and applies the truth of Scripture.Romans 12:7
Knowledge Understands and communicates deep truths of God’s Word.1 Corinthians 12:28
Wisdom applies biblical truth to real-life situations.1 Corinthians 12:28
Prophecy boldly declares God’s truth for instruction and encouragement.Romans 12:6
Discernment recognizes truth from error and guards against deception.1 Corinthians 12:10
Exhortation Encourages others to live faithfully and grow spiritually.Romans 12:8
Shepherding cares for and nurtures the spiritual health of others.Ephesians 4:11
Faith trusts God for what seems impossible and inspires others to believe.1 Corinthians 12:9
Evangelism shares the gospel with clarity and boldness.Ephesians 4:11
Apostleship expands the kingdom through church planting and missions.1 Corinthians 12:28
Service/Helps Meets practical needs with joy and humility.Romans 12:7
Mercy shows compassion and care to the suffering.Romans 12:8
Giving joyfully and sacrificially meets financial or material needs.Romans 12:8
Hospitality creates a welcoming environment and builds community.1 Peter 4:9
4. Spiritual Gifts and the Mission of the Church Jesus gave His church one overarching mission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
— Matthew 28:19–20
Every spiritual gift is given to fulfill that mission — to build up believers and reach the lost. At Agape Life Fellowship, our mission can be summarized in the acronym F.A.I.T.H.:

F – Fellowship Scriptural Vision: Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24–25; Romans 12:4–5
Mission: Build unity, encourage one another, and strengthen the body of Christ through shared life and service.
Gifts that fulfill this calling:

• Hospitality – Welcoming others into the family of God
• Service/Helps – Meeting practical needs
• Mercy – Comforting the hurting and lonely
• Shepherding – Caring for spiritual well-being
• Administration – Organizing fellowship and ministry opportunities

Application:

• Form ministry teams where gifts complement each other.
• Use hospitality and mercy to make everyone feel known and loved.
• Leaders and administrators coordinate to sustain unity and involvement.

A – Agape Love Scriptural Vision: 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:7–10; Colossians 3:14
Mission: Reflect the love of Christ to one another and to the world.
Gifts that fulfill this calling:

• Mercy – Extending compassion to those in need
• Giving – Meeting needs generously
• Exhortation – Inspiring others to love and serve boldly
• Faith – Demonstrating confidence in God’s love through trials

Application:

• Launch a “Love in Action” ministry (like the 111 Project) combining mercy, giving, and faith.
• Share testimonies of how God’s love transforms lives.
• Keep love as the foundation of all ministry.

I – Instructed by the Word of God Scriptural Vision: 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Colossians 3:16; James 1:5
Mission: Ground our faith in Scripture and grow in wisdom and truth.
Gifts that fulfill this calling:

• Teaching – Explaining Scripture clearly
• Knowledge – Uncovering deep biblical insights
• Wisdom – Applying truth to daily life
• Prophecy – Speaking God’s timely word
• Discernment – Protecting against false teaching

Application:

• Develop small groups led by teachers and mentors.
• Empower those with discernment to help guide church direction.
• Encourage prophetic voices to bring spiritual encouragement and correction.

T – Transformed by the Power of the Holy Spirit Scriptural Vision: Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; Galatians 5:22–23
Mission: Live Spirit-empowered lives that reflect the character of Christ.
Gifts that fulfill this calling:

• Faith – Believing God for transformation
• Exhortation – Motivating obedience and growth
• Shepherding – Guiding others in discipleship
• Leadership – Modeling Spirit-led living

Application:

• Offer discipleship pathways or “growth tracks.”
• Pair those with faith and exhortation gifts for prayer partnerships.
• Leaders model humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

H – Hope through the Cross Scriptural Vision: 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 5:1–2
Mission: Proclaim the gospel and live as people of eternal hope.
Gifts that fulfill this calling:

• Evangelism – Sharing the good news of Christ
• Apostleship – Launching new ministries and missions
• Prophecy – Calling people to repentance and faith
• Giving & Service – Supporting outreach efforts
• Wisdom & Faith – Strengthening hope amid trials

Application:

• Mobilize evangelism teams and mission projects.
• Use giving, service, and administration to resource outreach.
• Keep the cross central in every ministry expression.

5. A Body Working in Unity“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit… and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:4, 11
When each believer faithfully uses their gift:

• Fellowship grows stronger
• Agape love deepens
• Instruction in the Word multiplies
• Transformation by the Spirit increases
• Hope in the cross shines brighter

Every believer matters. Every gift counts.
Together, we fulfill the mission of Agape Life Fellowship — living by F.A.I.T.H.

Want to know your own gifts? Check out the link for more information! https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/women-leadership-spiritual-gifts-growth-service