Anatomy of the Body of Christ

The Various Parts and Functions

Administration Apostleship Creative Arts

Faith Giving Helps

Hospitality Knowledge Leadership

Mercy and Compassion Music Pastoring

Prophecy Service Teaching

Tongues and Interpretation Wisdom

Administration

Description: The ability to provide organization for the goals of the body of Christ by designing and executing an efficient plan of action. This includes a strong understanding of how all people can best be utilized to meet these goals.

Meaning: to pilot/steer a ship. The person who actually gets us where we want to go.

Key traits: Thorough; objective; responsible; organized; detail-oriented; efficient; conscientious.

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals

· assist ministries to become more effective and efficient

· create order out of organizational chaos

· manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task

· organize people, tasks, or events

… and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May rely on their well-organized plans rather than the Spirit and prayer

· May be too careful and block the overall vision with their many specific details.

· May be unresponsive to suggestions and changes in plans they have made.

· Could use people simply to accomplish goals without being concerned for their growth in the process.

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:28, Acts 6:1-7; Ex. 18:13-26

Examples: Nehemiah

Apostleship

Description: The ability and passion to start, build spiritual foundations, and oversee the development of new churches or ministries in order to expand the ministry and scope of the Church. One with a vision to go somewhere or do something new to proclaim the Truth of Christ. These are the “marines” of the Church.

Meaning: One who is sent.

Key Traits: Adventurous, persevering, adaptable, risk-taking, entrepreneurial, visionary.

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Pioneer and establish new ministries or churches

· Adapt to new and different surroundings

· Communicate to unbelievers and believers, drawing each person into a greater depth of understanding and relationship with Christ.

· Oversee various ministries and functions within a developing community.

· Demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the Church

… and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May develop problems with power and control

· May be competitive with other ministries or leaders.

· May mistake personal ambition for the move of the Spirit.

· Can become over self-reliant in ministry.

· May want to move on to the next project before the present one has a sufficient foundation.

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:28-29; Eph. 4:11-12; Rom. 1:5; Acts 13:2-3

Examples: Peter; Paul

Creative Arts

Description: One who has the passion and ability to relate/communicate truth or worship God through creative expressions of physical mediums. One who expresses spiritual truths in creative ways, whether that is art, drama, or dance.

Meaning: an artist

Key Traits: creative, open, insightful, skilled, perceptive, explorator

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Communicate spiritual truths through creative means

· Creatively organize various mediums for the uplifting of the soul

· Express verbally inexpressible concepts

· Delight in newness

· Be able to transcend established patterns or styles

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· Impatient with less “creative” people.

· Can become easily bored.

· Must persevere in communities which are not set up to respond to this gift.

· May overly de-emphasize the foundational truths or concepts of the faith

· May be too independent.

Scripture: Ex. 31; 35:30-36:6; Ex.15:20; Gen. 1

Examples: Bezalel, Miriam , God

Discernment

Description: The ability to determine the source of a particular presence or teaching, to understand whether something or someone is being influence by Good, Evil, or human sources.

Meaning: to differentiate

Key Traits: perceptive, insightful, sensitive, intuitive, truthful, humble

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure

· Help discover possible spiritual sources of a problem

· Determine whether a word or message is actually divinely inspired

· Feel a profound sense of the spiritual realm, sensing things good and bad that others may not

· Identify spiritual inconsistencies

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May struggle in understanding how to express intuitive perceptions

· May become an overzealous “heresy-hunter” or become overly critical.

· May confuse personal feelings with spiritual insights

· Should find confirmation from others before acting on insights.

· May feel frustrated that others do not feel, understand, or share perceptions.

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:10; Acts 5:1-4; Matt. 16:21-23

Examples: Paul, James,

Evangelism

Description: The passion and ability to relate the truths of Christ to those who do not know about him, and help bring them into His body. One who wants to bring all people into the kingdom. The “recruiters” of the church.

Meaning: to bring good news.

Key Traits: candid, open, confident, influential, sincere, committed

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction

· Understand with a passion that God desires all people to be saved.

· Consistently, persistently, and sensitively share the Good News to those who do not know Christ.

· Seek and find opportunities to build relationships with those outside of the church

· Adapt their presentation in order to best connect with an individual.

… and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May become obnoxious if not led by the Spirit.

· May become prideful for their visible results.

· May become overly dependent on a certain “technique”.

· May see people as “targets” rather than as people.

· May discount the importance of the work of the other gifts.

Scripture: Eph. 4:11; Acts 8:26-40; Luke 19:1-10

Examples: Philip, Paul, Billy Graham

Exhortation

Description: The ability and passion to present truth so as to strengthen, comfort, or urge to action. Able to provide wise and timely counsel, and help point people to the right Spiritual track.

Key Traits: motivating, challenging, positive, affirming, honest, trustworthy, supportive.

Meaning: To come alongside. Also known as Counseling or Encouragement.

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Encourage and motivate others to practical application of specific Biblical truths

· Come alongside those who are troubled and bring encouragement

· Motivate spiritual growth

· Encourage people to discover who they really are and what they can become

· Emphasize God’s perspective for the present situation of the community

… and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· Can be overly optimistic or overly critical

· May struggle with follow through

· May be insensitive to longer term needs

· May be too direct

· May jump to conclusions before fully understanding situation

Scripture: Rom. 12:8; Acts 11:22-24; Acts 15:30-32

Examples: John, Paul

Faith

Description: The ability and passion to trust completely in God’s faithfulness during any and all circumstances, and relay this confidence to others. This gift builds perseverance and strength especially during trying circumstances.

Meaning: To trust, to believe. The rock of the community.

Key Traits: confidence, hope, content, assured, prayerful, humble

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Trust God to work in supernatural ways

· Believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same

· Act in complete confidence of God’s ability to overcome obstacles

· Be willing to yield to God’s will rather than trust or rely on human capability.

· Move forward and keep moving forward at all times.

… and enjoy doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May be impatient or harsh with those who do not share this faith.

· Blind faith may lead to failure

· May be stubborn or unwilling to listen to counsel

· May see criticism about their vision as a criticism about God rather than fair questioning.

· May have faith without love.

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:9; 13:2; Heb. 11:1; Rom. 4:18-21

Examples: Paul, Abraham, Moses

Giving

Description: The ability to gather resources and willingness to provide those resources to needy organizations/activities/people. These people support the activities of the church by providing the basic needs such as financial or material support.

Meaning: to share.

Key Traits: humble, responsible, resourceful, loving, gracious, charitable

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· wisely manages their finances and lifestyle so as to be able to commit their resources to others.

· Often be quiet and confidential in their giving

· Meet tangible needs which enable spiritual growth

· See money and possessions as a gift from God to be given back when asked.

· Understand needs and will respond apart from being asked.

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May want to overly control how the money or resources are used

· May neglect their family’s or their own basic needs

· May expect everyone to give as they do

· May not hold recipient responsible.

· May feel prideful for providing needed resources for others.

Scripture: Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 6:8; Luke 21:1-4

Examples: Joseph of Arimathea

Helps

Description: Ability and passion to minister to all people through the provision of physical needs or services Communicates Christ through practical acts of love. Sees meeting physical needs as part of the Good News of Christ.

Meaning: to take the place of someone.

Key Traits: generous, caring, compassionate, active, loving, practical

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· see the vital nature of meeting people’s needs today

· make the Good News be really good in a practical way

· Be often active outside of the specific church in order to work directly with those in need.

· Be an advocate for various social causes and seeks to address these

· Minister to the whole person, not just a spiritual side.

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May become overextended physically and/or emotionally

· May find it difficult to say “no”.

· May not properly address root spiritual or psychological problems.

· May feel isolated in pursuing their causes.

· Must be continually refocused on the theological foundations of the faith.

Scripture: Isaiah 1:7; James 1:27; Acts 6:1-7

Examples: Jesus, the ‘Seven’ of Acts 6

Hospitality

Description: The ability to help people feel welcome, involved, and comfortable. This may include hosting in one’s own home, or helping to create a welcoming atmosphere in any environment.

Meaning: to be welcoming

Key traits: open, “others”-focused, inviting, kind, caring, social, practical.

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· make a person feel welcome in any environment

· create an environment in which people’s needs are met and satisfied.

· Go out of their way to meet new people and help them feel included.

· Put aside personal comfort and convenience for the comfort and convenience of others

· Understand what is needed to be done in order to create the most inviting atmosphere possible and able to do it

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May begin to feel ‘used’.

· May not set appropriate boundaries.

· May feel too much responsibility for others

· May not allow for personal space or time

· May sacrifice depth or challenge for the sake of comfort and peace.

Scripture: Rom. 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:10; Heb. 13:2

Examples: Jethro (Moses’ Father-in-law), Aquila and Priscilla

Knowledge

Description: The ability to receive and share revealed otherwise unknown knowledge, or the ability to understand in a unique way Scriptural truths. One who understands complex things easily and may understand things without knowing how or why.

Meaning: to know.

Key Traits: intuitive, inquisitive, observant, receptive, honest, insightful

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· have a clear sense of receiving messages from God.

· Understand truths about people, situations, or Scripture which may not be “naturally” acquired

· Have distinct words, visions, etc. which are timely and clearly expressed.

· Have a response or understanding rise out of them during times of prayer

· Have an unusual understanding or depth of insight which edifies the community

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May confuse personal thoughts and passions with God’s intended message

· May develop sense of pride or power in expressing words of needed insight.

· Should learn orderly and effective ways of communicating these insights.

· May inappropriately say in public what is a personal message.

· Needs to remember that with the increasing of knowledge comes the increasing of pain. Knowledge can be a burden.

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:8; Mark 2:6-8; John 1:45-50

Examples:

Leadership

Description: The ability and passion to develop a vision, motivate, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish tasks.

Meaning: to stand before.

Key Traits: influential, visionary, trustworthy, diligent, motivating, see the big picture

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Be able to take responsibility for direction and decisions

· Provide vision and direction

· Model the values of the ministry

· Motivate others to do what they are best at doing

· Be someone who people actually follow

…and enjoys doing it.

Cautions/liabilities:

· May become overly dominant

· May become prideful and see the group as their own rather than God’s.

· Bad, poor, or misdirected leadership can have disastrous consequences for the entire community.

· May lead the group to personal interests/goals/passions rather than listening to the Spirit and the community.

· Must make sure they are exemplifying a disciplined Spiritual life of their own.

Scripture: Rom. 12:8; Heb. 13:17; Luke 22:25-26

Examples: James, Peter, John, Paul

Mercy and Compassion

Description: The ability to show great compassion for those who are suffering and to seek to come along side them and help to alleviate this suffering. The person who really cares for those in need.

Meaning: to have compassion.

Scripture: Rom. 12:8; Mat. 5:7; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 10:25-37.

Characteristics: This is a person who can…

· Be sincere in kindness and love for all people

· Find joy in comforting those who are sick, suffering, or going through a trying circumstance.

· Be willing to come alongside the suffering without recognition in order to help alleviate the suffering.

· Reveal their faith in acts of love towards the hurt in the community

· Able to be patient in their willingness to comfort others.

…and enjoys doing it.

Key Traits: empathetic, caring, responsive, sensitive, kind, loving

Cautions/liabilities:

· May be too reliant on emotions in dealing with situations

· May have trouble saying “no”.

· May find themselves being unappreciated by those who are helped.

· Must find their strength and value in God not in helping others.

· Suffering can be addictive.

Scripture: Rom. 12:8; Mat. 5:7; M