SHEPHERDS OF THE LOST

Spiritual Gift: Helps

WHAT IS The Gift of HELPS?

The gift of helps is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to invest the talents they have in the life and ministry of other members of the Body, thus enabling those others to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR this Gift

Tap each verse to read it. Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are in the English Standard Version.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:28

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

MARK 15:40-41

There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

LUKE 8:2-3

and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

ACTS 9:36

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

ROMANS 16:1-2

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.


IN THE GREEK

DIAKONEO, DIAKONIA, DIAKONOS, ANTILEPSIS

Strong's Numbers: 1247, 1248, 1249, 484
There are several Greek words in the Bible translated help, service, ministry, etc. The Greek word used in connection with the gifts or motives is diakonia. The one in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is antilepsis, which is mentioned nowhere else in the New Testament.


SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

  • Readily recognizes practical needs and is quick to meet those needs.
  • Keen memory, remembering people’s likes and dislikes.
  • Deep joy in serving, especially when it releases others to get more involved in their ministry (Romans 16:1-2).
  • Will stay with a project until it is completed.
  • May be detail-oriented; perfectionist.
  • More interested in meeting needs of others than in own needs.
  • Enjoys working on projects with immediate goals instead of long-range goals; wants to see a job finished.
  • Would rather serve than lead others or projects; is not bothered by being behind-the-scenes.


SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

  • May become pushy or interfering in own eagerness to help.
  • May neglect own family's needs by being too busy helping others.
  • Critical of others who do not detect and meet obvious needs.
  • Hard to accept being served by others.
  • Easily hurt when unappreciated.
  • Can become over-occupied with serving, even overlooking personal health.
  • Real difficulty in saying “no.”

SUGGESTED WAYS TO SERVE BASED ON THIS GIFT

  • Committee Member
  • Teacher's Aide
  • Meal Coordinator
  • Usher
  • Greeter
  • Worker in:
    • Men's/Women's Ministry
    • Youth Ministry
    • Children's Ministry
    • Nursery
    • Conferences
    • Camps
    • Events
    • Administration Office
  • Information Booth Coordinator
  • Worker Appreciation Coordinator
  • Prayer Group Member
  • Building Maintenance/Repair
  • Worship Musician
  • Audio/Visual Technician
  • Photographer
  • Social Media Administrator
  • Bus/Van Driver
  • Building Security
  • Preparation of:
    • Baptismal
    • Communion
    • Special Events

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

MARTHA & TIMOTHY

RETURN TO FULL GIFT LISTING

*The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016).
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.