After the Tables

Gifts from Christ

Week 8 ~ October 12, 2026

As Paul begins to develop what the church should be, he reveals that Christ gives gifts to those who follow Him. He does not, however, provide a description of or a complete list of these gifts. He emphasizes the gifts given to those designated as leaders within the church because that meets the purpose of this section of the letter.

While we need to recognize that God has established gifts with whe He specifically equips leaders to equip others to use the gifts that they have been given, we also need to know what gifts God makes available within His church. So let’s take a look at the other two places where Paul mentions these spiritual gifts – Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12.

Romans 12:6-9 (NKJV)
⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul provides this list of gifts: grace, prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, and leadership. Two of these (prophecy and teaching) also appear in Ephesians. I think this shows that in Ephesians Paul is emphasizing the offices in the church that correspond to those gifts, but one does not have to hold a church office to be gifted with and use that gift within the church.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV)
⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Here’s the list that Paul gives the Corinthians: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. These gifts are a lot different than those listed in Romans. Although we have the gift of prophecy repeated in Ephesians the rest of the gifts are unique.

Suffice it to say that the Corinthian believers were enduring some situations in their church that required a bit more emphasis on more intellectual and exotic gifts, some of which I believe are no longer manifested today. Much like the gift of apostleship not continuing after the death of the last apostle, some on this list may have been intended for specific purposes during the early years of the church’s development.

I want us to consider the gifts. Read the texts provided, and you discover the point that Paul has in all three letters, which is everyone has spiritual gifts ordained by God, provided by Christ, and developed by the Holy Spirit. They are given to us for the encouragement of the church and the furtherance of the kingdom. Although the gifts are different, the goal is the same.

You are in at least one of those lists. God has gifted you. Which gifts do you have? Ask God. Ask others. Look for ways to use your gifts.