Unwrapping Your Child’s Spiritual Gifts
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” III John 1:4
“What makes me special in God’s Kingdom, and how can I best serve God with my gifts?” Those might be questions that are intergenerational. You may have asked them (if not, why not?) and most definitely, your child will be asking these questions as they grow spiritually. A big part of spiritual growth is experienced then a child discovers some burgeoning spiritual gift and starts using them with the Holy Spirit’s power. Our job as parents is to teach our children how to recognize their own special gift or gifts and then guide them into applying them in service mode for their Savior.
It is not always easy for us as parents to see our children as God sees them. While we might easily identify our children as mischievous, sweet, caring, naughty, immature, stubborn, or smart, in God’s eyes, He sees them as a significant player in His Kingdom. God highly values youth and children and He does not exempt any age from having a spiritual gift. In fact, according to the twelfth chapter of the book of First Corinthians, it is clear that any believer who has come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, no matter the age, has been given at least one spiritual gift. As part of the Body of Christ, each saved person has a significant role in His Body. God’s will desires that each one exercises their gifts for the common good of the Church and His people.
How do we as parents help our children discover their spiritual gifts and provide opportunities for their gifts to be used for God’s glory? Here are five valuable guidelines to help us as parents help our children discover their motivational gifts so they can experience the Holy Spirit’s joy in using them to serve the Lord faithfully and grow into spiritual maturity.
Pray for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” God is the one who has endowed our child with at least one spiritual gift—Who best to ask to show us how our children are gifted.
Dig into God’s Word. Together, do a Bible Study made for kids on this subject, or just read through passages such as I Corinthians 12, Romans 12, I Peter 4 and Ephesians 4 together to discover the spiritual gifts that are mentioned in the Bible and to show that spiritual gifts are real gifts from God. There are also Bible characters that help illustrate each spiritual gift such as Philip THE EVANGELIST who leads others to Christ, John the Baptist THE PROPHET who boldly proclaims God’s truth, Aquila and Priscilla THE TEACHERS who clearly present the truth of God’s Word, Barnabas THE EXHORTER who motivates others to action, Timothy THE SHEPHERD who oversees, trains, coaches, and leads others in their spiritual life, Tabitha THE SERVER who provides practical physical and spiritual help, the Good Samaritan THE MERCY-SHOWER who comforts those in need, the Widow who is The GIVER who gives of his resources to further the work of the Church, and Moses THE LEADER/ADMINISTRATOR who organizes, administers, promotes, and leads.
Explain spiritual gifts and how they work. Our children will not know there are such things as spiritual gifts unless we teach them, so mention them on a regular basis. Explain that God wants to build up the Body of Christ by using the spiritual tools He has placed in each person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior. Remind them that since God’s work is spiritual, the tools He gives must also be spiritual. More than the natural, intellectual, or physical abilities like singing or excelling in math, spiritual gifts are an exhibition of the Holy Spirit’s power in our children’s lives so that others will be blessed.
Give your child a spiritual gifts survey (take yours before you give them theirs—you might be surprised of what gifts God is developing in you!) Please don’t rely on these surveys, but they can be a tool to help narrow down or demonstrate a gift that may be hidden.
Provide service opportunities. The best way, I think, to help our children discover their spiritual gifts is to let them serve or shadow other family members in a variety of ministry situations. Notice that you are involved, too. As you see your child assisting in the nursery, greeting people on Sunday mornings, helping younger children learn their Bible verses, setting up tables or chairs or cleaning up after a church meal, visiting the sick or shut-ins, collecting donations for food pantries, organizing children’s events, and so many more—note how they best serve and what emotional and behavioral traits they display. Note how they interact with people and how they participate in these activities. Discover what excites them and talk to them about their feelings and thoughts after each new ministry opportunity.
As you help guide your child to discovering his own spiritual gift, you may well discover yours!
Because Kids Matter to God,
Shari Coelho
Children’s Ministry Director