Spiritual gifts are the endowments of the Holy Spirit given to every believer for the good of the church. Paul's word charismata is built on charis (grace) — every spiritual gift is a gift of grace, not a reward for worthiness. Four passages list gifts, and they overlap without being identical. Romans 12:6-8: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, administration, tongues. Ephesians 4:11: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor-teachers. 1 Peter 4:10-11: speaking gifts and serving gifts as the two broad categories. Several principles: (1) Every believer has at least one gift. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Not some Christians — each one. (2) The Spirit distributes sovereignly. "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (12:11). You do not choose your gift; it is given. (3) Gifts are for the church, not for personal display. Paul confronts the Corinthians for using gifts showily. "Seek to excel to the edification of the church" (14:12). (4) Love is greater than any gift. The famous chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13) sits in the middle of the discussion of gifts: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (13:1). Gifts without love are noise. Christians disagree about whether all the gifts continue today (continuationism, held by charismatics and Pentecostals) or whether some gifts ceased when the canon of Scripture was completed (cessationism, held by many Reformed). Both positions are held by faithful Christians. What all agree on: the Spirit still gifts His people, the church still needs those gifts, and love is still the more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 — "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."
1 Corinthians 12:11 — "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."
Romans 12:6-8 — "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; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering..."
Ephesians 4:11-12 — "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."
1 Peter 4:10 — "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."