SubjectFree lesson

Spiritual Gift

ClassNotes Team 4 MIN READUPDATED 16 JUN 2026

Christian Religious Studies SSS 1 Second Term

Week 2

Topic: Spiritual Gift

Performance objectives

Student should be able to:

1. Define spiritual gifts and talents.

2. Mention the uses of spiritual gift

3. State the differences between spiritual gift and talents

Content

Spiritual gifts and talents

Spiritual gifts are the special spiritual endowment given by the Holy Spirit to the various members of the church for the common good of the church community. All spiritual gifts are from God. The purpose is to enhance the church growth and well-being.

Talents are natural abilities or acquired skill. The way one makes use of his/her talent shows how much grace such person has received. To make use of one’s spiritual gift, one has to identify his talents. Christians should make use of their talents to the best of their ability, using all resources at their disposal.

Functions of Spiritual Gifts to the Church

1. They are meant for the good of the entire church community.

2. They are to promote good relationship among Christians in the community of faith.
3. It helps to make the church remain united.

4. They are given to the church to glorify the name of God.

Values/distribution and use of spiritual gift

Making Use of Individual Talents (Romans 12:3 – 8)

Paul, in his teachings on the use of individual gifts, enjoined individual members of the church to use the gift for the betterment of the church as the body of Christ and to the glory of God. People should be sober and exercise high sense of humility in their dealings with one another. People’s gifts differ according to the grace given to them by God.

Paul said; “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who extorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of Mercy, with cheerfulness.”
People should endeavor to serve humanity with the gift of God has given them to the best of their ability and knowledge, all to the glory of God.

Ways Individual Talents Can Be Applied in the Churches

1. Those that possess the gifts of good voice for singing are specially endowed by God to praise Him in songs and Psalms; they are given special honor in the church to perform with this gift to the glory of God.

2. The art of teaching is also a special talent from God. Those that have the talent of teaching should organize Bible lectures with the approval of the church leaders.
3. Those endowed with wealth can contribute meaningfully to the projects of the church.

Differentiate between spiritual gift and talent (I Corinthians 12:7 Ephesians 4)

s/n	Talent	Spiritual gift
1	It is natural or learned	It is spiritual
2	It is possessed before conversion	It is possessed after conversion
3	It can be used for personal gain	It should be used strictly to edify the church

The Significance of Spiritual Gifts

1. Since the human body is one so are we who have been baptized by one Spirit into the body of Christ, the church should therefore act and behave as one united by the church.

2. In the church, there should be no discrimination of people’s contribution in the overall good of the church.

3. No member should feel proud for his talent or contribution in the overall good of the church.

4. There should be no racial discrimination in the church; no black, no white, no Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo, all the people should be seen as one in the body of Christ.