What Are the Seven BODY GIFTS in the Church?

Published: 8th August 2025

Led of the Spirit, Paul cited seven gifts in the body of Christ:

4For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your ^a faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, ^b do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:4-8

Every member of the worldwide Church has at least one of these gifts and should be operating in it on a regular basis. Let’s examine all seven…

1. Prophesying

Believers who have this gift shouldn’t be equated with occultist fortunetellers. The root word for prophesying (prof-ay-TIH-ah) is prophétés (prof-AY-tays), which means “an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will.” A prophetic word includes the interpretation of tongues and is encouraging. It’s able to touch believers in that specific area where they need ministered. For example, Acts 15:32 says, “Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.” This is the purpose of the prophetic gift in the Church and reveals why it is so necessary — it encourages and strengthens believers. If you are ever in the spiritual doldrums, a strategic prophetic word is just thing to break you out of the malaise and spur you forward.

The difference between this “body gift” and the fivefold minister who functions in the position of prophet, is the level of anointing and scope of ministry.

2. Serving

The Greek word for this gift is diakonia (dee-ak-on-EE-ah), which stems from the root dee-AH-koh-nos (dee-AK-on-os). It means:

To attend to someone
Offer charitable aid

This is obviously where we get the word deacon. All official deacons in an assembly function in this gift, but not every believer who has the body gift of serving is a deacon in the official sense of the position. Official deacons function as ushers, secretaries, sound operators, security guards and so forth. Those with the “body gift” of serving perform similar services, such as greeting visitors and helping them to feel comfortable in the fellowship or getting a cup of coffee for the pastor or visiting minister and so forth. They’re just not official deacons and operate in a sort of “behind-the-scenes” capacity.

3. Teaching

The Greek word is the verb didaskó (did-AS-koh), which means to impart knowledge, instruct or “cause to learn.” Believers with this gift have a knack for understanding the Scriptures and explaining them to others, making a verse “come alive” with interesting insights.

As with the gift of prophesying, the difference between believers who function in this “body gift” and fivefold teachers is the level of anointing and scope of ministry.

4. Encouraging

This is self-explanatory. The Greek verb is parakaleó (pah-rah-kah-LEH-oh), which means:

To give help
To exhort; that is, urgently counsel, spur forward or admonish
To comfort

5. Giving

This gift is also self-explanatory. It means to support someone or a group of people financially or materially. Every official ministry in the Church will have key givers who offer considerably more than tithing congregants. Those who have this gift have a knack for making money, sort of like a “Midas touch.” After all, you can’t give money or anything else unless you first have it or make it. Are you following?

This gift is vital because effective ministry costs money. I’m not just talking about the cost of getting God’s Word out to people and the technology and mediums necessary to do that (sound systems, books, tracts, websites, hosting, maintenance, etc.) but also the money and housing for fivefold ministers to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word as opposed to working a secular job to pay the bills. See Acts 6:1-4 to get my drift.

6. Leading

The Greek verb is proistemi (pro-IS-tay-mee), which means “to maintain, be over, rule.” Hence, believers with this gift have the grace to oversee others. You could say they’re “naturally born leaders.” It’s the gift of oversight.

We looked at the gifts of prophesying and teaching above. Just because someone has the ability to prophesy or teach, it doesn’t mean they have the grace of oversight. For instance, I’m a teacher and can teach on hundreds of topics effectively, as this website illustrates, but I have little interest in overseeing believers. By contrast, all group leaders, pastors and apostles (or those called to these positions) will have this gift.

It’s a good and necessary gift in the body of Christ, as long as the person is walking in the spirit. If not, head to the hills.

7. Showing Mercy

The Greek verb for this gift is eleeó (el-eh-eh’-o), which means to have and show compassion in word or deed. Like most of these gifts, it’s pretty self-explanatory.

What is your gift? Search you’re heart in prayer. Whatever it is, please operate in it on a regular basis. The body of Christ needs it… and you.

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