Table of Contents

Introduction

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. [4] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:3-5 NIV

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, [5] so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. [6] 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. [7] If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. [8] 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 NLT

Talents are gifts from God, gifts he has given us the faith to use. Romans 12:3-5 tells us to look at ourselves with both faith and sober judgment, recognizing that we are different from other people, and these differences are purposeful. Our unique gifts, as listed in Romans 12:6-8 can be used to advance God’s purposes and change lives.

Use these questions to reflect on what your gifts are and how you can use them to help others! Each result will provide an avatar for each gift listed in Romans 12:6-8, along with further study and practical ways to use your gifts to love God and others.

Note: As always, these quizzes are simply designed to be fun tools that help us reflect on what our talents are and how we can use them. Some of these questions or results might not 100% apply to you, and that’s okay! Use it as a tool to brainstorm ways you can help others rather than a label on who you are.

Take the quiz

You are the Visionary!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 4

In Romans 12, this is the gift of prophesying. 

…So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

Romans 12:6 NLT

In the Bible, prophets were tasked with helping people keep their eyes focused on God. Sometimes this was through divine predictions of the future, but it was perhaps just as often that the prophets would tell people the truth, challenge and sharpen them, and keep them looking ahead to the future God had planned. As the Visionary, you have the opportunity to help those around you find and move forward towards their God-given purpose. 

Further study for the Visionary

What can I do as a Visionary?

  • Learn how to be a leader in the church. Start small, and ask other leaders around you how you can grow in speaking and leading small groups or Bible studies. 

You are the Servant!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 5

In Romans 12, this is the gift of serving. 

If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well…

Romans 12:7 TLB

The greatest among you must be a servant.

Matthew 23:11 NLT

Jesus calls being a servant one of the greatest things we can be. In the Bible, people who served were not ones who called attention to themselves or asked for praise, but who worked behind the scenes to make the lives around them great. These were the ones who saw overlooked people and unmet needs and decided they were meant to meet them. As they worked to serve, God took notice and people’s lives were changed.

Further study for the Servant

  • Study: The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Heart, Not Habit
  • Character(s): Ruth and Naomi. Read the book of Ruth to discover the incredible story of two ordinary women who served and took care of each other. Their seemingly small acts of service had powerful ripple effects, leading to King David and eventually Jesus being born.

What can I do as a servant?

  •  There are lots of essential ways to serve behind the scenes. Ushering, decorating, and volunteering are all vital roles for the growth of the church.

You are the Coach!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 6

In Romans 12, this is the gift of teaching. 

…If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching.

Romans 12:7 CEB

When looking at our own growth, many of us can think back to a specific person or group of people who taught and mentored us. This may have been an actual teacher, a coach, or simply someone in our life who looked out for us and showed us who we were capable of becoming. Mentors matter, and Romans 12 tells us to devote ourselves to this task. A teacher dedicates themselves to helping others become the best version of themselves, helping them master the skills they need to get there. This requires persistence, sticking with people, and refusing to quit on people, even if they’ve quit on themselves.

Further study for the Coach

  • Study: How to Not Quit When Everyone Else Is Quitting
  • Character(s): Moses. In Deuteronomy 31 and 34, Moses raises up Joshua to lead Israel. All throughout Exodus and Deuteronomy, we see moments of Moses training and mentoring Joshua along the way, which led to Joshua becoming a powerful leader in his own right.

What can I do as a Coach?

  •  Get involved in teaching or mentoring in the church. There are many ways to do this, from teaching a children’s ministry class on Sundays to mentoring someone younger than you in a specific area of their lives. 

You are the Advocate!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 7

In Romans 12, this is the gift of encouraging. 

If you have been given a voice of encouragement, then use it often…

Romans 12:8 Voice

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. [14] For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 3:13-14 NLT

To encourage someone is to “give support, confidence, or hope to them.” Amidst the loud voices of discouragement and doubt, we all need a voice of encouragement to pierce through the noise. Hebrews 3 tells us we’re meant to encourage each other every day, otherwise we become deceived by sin and harden our hearts. Advocates encourage their friends both through reminding them of their strengths and through challenging them to grow. The encouragers of the Bible kept their friends, who would’ve otherwise faltered, faithful to God and able fulfill their purpose. 

Further study for the Advocate

  • Study: How Do I Strengthen My Friend’s Faith?
  • Character(s): Jonathan. In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan rallies the troops to fight whether they have many soldiers or few. In 1 Samuel 17-23, we see David rise to fame, run from Saul, and struggle to endure the hardships he goes through. Through it all, Jonathan shows up at just the right times to encourage his friend, leading to the whole nation changing for the better.

What can I do as an Advocate?

  •  Be a prayer partner. Meet regularly with a friend and help each other grow by sharing scriptures with each other. 

You are the Giver!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 8

In Romans 12, this is the gift of giving. 

…Whoever has the gift of giving to help others should give generously…

Romans 12:8 ERV

…The one giving should do it with no strings attached…

Romans 12:8 CEB

In the Strong’s Concordance definition of “giving,” it says “the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy,” and “not self seeking, openness of heart manifesting itself by generosity.” Givers are those who are generous — they are generous with their hearts, their time, their energy, their money, and their homes. Open and wholehearted, givers have the gift of making anyone feel welcome, connected, relaxed, and at home. They reflect the generous heart of God, who loves giving to us freely, with no strings attached.

Further study for the Giver

What can I do as a Giver? 

  • Host a small group or help with a larger events in the church. Look for ways to contribute to making things warm, encouraging, and excellent. 

You are the Captain!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 9

In Romans 12, this is the gift of leading. 

…Whoever has the gift of leading should work hard at it…

Romans 12:8 ERV

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly-not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

1 Peter 5:2 NLT

The best captains of sports teams are those who know the members of their team inside and out — they know their weaknesses, their strengths, and what motivates them. Captains are not out for their own glory or benefit, but for the benefit of the team as a whole, and they work hard to make sure everyone is excited to live out their role. When we do our work willingly and eagerly, we get to watch God build something of our team together that we could have never been alone (Romans 12:5 Voice).

Further study for the Captain

  • Study: Who Was Nehemiah in the Bible? 3 Lessons From a True Leader
  • Character(s): Nehemiah. If you read the book of Nehemiah, you find he rarely worked alone — he was constantly building a team. He was always aware of what the weak points were, what strengths people had, and what people needed to keep fighting and having faith.

What can I do as a Captain? 

  • Every ministry or program of the church needs leadership, from young adult ministries to children’s ministries to inclusive ministries. To grow, even those ministries that have existing leadership will need more leaders.
  •  Think about a ministry or program of the church that you are passionate about. Talk to those who are currently involved to find out what the needs are and how you can help.

You are the Uplifter!

What Are My Spiritual Gifts, and How Can I Use Them for Good? 10

In Romans 12, this is the gift of mercy and kindness. 

…And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Romans 12:8 NLT

…he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.

Romans 12:8 AMPC

As the Uplifter, you are capable of being a breath of fresh air for people around you. You notice needs and love to meet them. The Uplifters of the Bible didn’t just show kindness or mercy to others, they enjoyed doing it, and this joy was contagious. It was this genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness that brought others out of despair, motivated them to change their ways, and inspired them to grow into their own God-given gifts. Even when the kind acts seem small, their impact is long-lasting.

Further study for the Uplifter

  • Study: From Feeling Insignificant to Making an Impact
  • Example in Bible: Barnabas. In Acts 4, we are introduced to Barnabas, someone who encouraged others and gave everything he owned to those who needed it. In Acts 9, we find he was the only one who believed in and stuck by Paul (Saul at the time) when everyone else doubted him. In Acts 11, he brought Paul along with him to strengthen other disciples, uplifting him as a leader and spreading joy wherever he went.

What can I do as an Uplifter? 

Be a champion of serving the underserved. Jesus went around doing good (Acts 10:38), and we make God known as we follow his example. Get involved in existing community service programs or help start a new one.

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This article was developed by the Deep Spirituality Editorial Staff.

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This article was developed by the Deep Spirituality Editorial Staff.

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