CHARIS - GOD’S GRACE GIFTS

A SPRITUAL GIFTS STUDY

DAVID O. HARRISON

David O. Harrison

Χάρις

Charis

God’s Grace Gifts

ISBN: 979-8298092784

© David O. Harrison 2025

Published By Thrive! Books

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CONTENTS

About the Author

Cover Image

Charis—God’s Grace Gifts

Genesis 2:7

1. Skill, ability, and knowledge in craftsmanship

2. Leadership (Guidance)

Appendix 1 – Gifts and the Church

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in England, David Harrison immigrated to Canada in 1973 at the age of 21. Life took a decisive turn when, at 35, he became a follower of Jesus Christ—a shift that would shape everything to come.

For 25 years, David was active at a Brethren Bible Chapel in Scarborough, serving ten of those years as an elder. At the same time, he ran a thriving audiovisual integration business in Toronto, equipping universities, law firms, and financial institutions with cutting-edge communication technology.

In 2006, David launched Bus Stop Bible Studies, a national outreach that placed Scripture-based messages on public transit systems across Canada—it’s estimated that those messages were seen more than 1.25 billion times, each offering the hope of God’s Word. He also served as Board Chair for Daystar Native Christian Outreach on Manitoulin Island for a decade.

“Retired” in name only, David and his wife Wendy host guests at their award-winning Airbnb in Muskoka, Ontario—recognized as Ontario’s Most Hospitable Hosts in both 2021 and 2023. They attend Muskoka Community Church in Port Sydney.

The man who once failed English in school has since discovered a calling he never expected: writing. To date, David has authored ten original titles and published six group study guides. He is also passionately working on a lifelong project to “translate” the entire library of C.S. Lewis into everyday English—seven volumes completed and counting, three of which became Amazon bestsellers. Yet among all his works, he considers this book, FRESH START—CHURCH, GOD’S WAY, to be his most important to date; a heartfelt call for the Church to recapture the simplicity, clarity, and vitality of the early believers.

To my dear wife, Wendy,

who has humbly used her gift of wisdom

to bless others⁠¹

1 A word of wisdom must not only be heard, it must be received in order for it to bear fruit.

COVER IMAGE

The Charis cover was designed to capture one truth⁠—

God’s grace is the most beautiful gift you’ll ever unwrap.

CHARIS—GOD’S GRACE GIFTS

Dear Reader,

I may have set myself an almost impossible task—to define charis. In Greek, Paul uses the word charis—grace—to describe what we now call spiritual gifts. From it, we get charismata, the root of our word charismatic. But its meaning reminds us that these gifts are not trophies for hard work or rewards for personality. They are grace gifts—unearned, undeserved, divinely given. Perhaps we would understand them better if we stopped calling them anything else and simply named them for what they are.

And we must never forget their importance. Grace gifts are not secondary to the church’s mission; they are essential to its health and vitality.

But what happens when these gifts are overlooked, dismissed, or even silenced—when the church forgets to function as a body? The consequences are more than a few empty seats or quiet corners. The church begins to hobble along, aching where it was meant to be strong, weary where it was meant to be vibrant. Like joints stiffened with arthritis, movement is possible, but the joy of freedom is gone. Yet God does not leave His people in this condition. The same Spirit who breathes gifts into the church also brings renewal, loosening what has grown rigid and restoring strength where weakness has taken root. When every member offers their Spirit-given part, the body no longer limps—it rises, runs, and reflects the fullness of Christ Himself.

When members drift away—or worse, are never invited to use the gifts God has entrusted to them—the whole church suffers. Each neglected gift leaves a gap. Each silenced voice diminishes the harmony. The Church was never designed to rest on the shoulders of a few. It was created to flourish when every believer is alive, engaged, and contributing their Spirit-bestowed grace.

Paul’s image of the church as Christ’s body is more than a clever metaphor—it is living theology:

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” Romans 12:4–5

Picture your own body trying to function without a leg, without sight, or without speech. Survival might still be possible, but thriving would not. And yet, all around the world, churches limp along as if vital organs were missing. We claim belief in the Spirit’s power, but too often ignore—or even suppress—the very gifts that make His presence visible.

The purpose of this book is to help you discern the grace gift God has already given you, and to discover the joy of using it. Confusion in this area is common, and the signs of misalignment are easy to spot. It feels like trying to walk in shoes that don’t fit—too tight, and they pinch with every step; too loose, and you stumble and trip. You can still move, but only with discomfort and discouragement. Those shoes were never meant for you.

But when you find the shoes that fit—designed for your feet alone—everything changes. Walking feels natural, almost effortless. You stop thinking about every painful step and begin to enjoy the journey. In the same way, when you begin serving in the place of your true giftedness, you discover energy instead of exhaustion, joy instead of drudgery, purpose instead of frustration. The right fit doesn’t just make life easier—it allows you to flourish as God intended.

God’s grace gifts always harmonize with your character and often complement your natural abilities. They are like shoes crafted by the Master Shoemaker Himself—perfectly fitted for both comfort and endurance. When you walk in the gift He has given, it feels right and it looks right, because it is right.

Scripture lists 32 distinct grace gifts. We don’t get to pick and choose among them, but Paul does urge us to

…eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way” 1 Corinthians 12:31

At first glance, that sounds contradictory—how can we desire gifts that are not ours to select? But perhaps the confusion lies in the chapter division between 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. And it would have been even more helpful if Paul had used a colon after ‘gifts’. But the colon ( : ) as we use it in English is not part of ancient Greek punctuation. If the chapters flowed as one, we would see that Paul is pointing us not to specific gifts but to a greater posture.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Faith, hope, and love—these are the gifts given to every believer, regardless of the others God may choose to bestow. They are the “greater gifts” Paul tells us to pursue. You might even find yourself praying:

Lord, give me deeper faith to trust You and Your Word. Give me stronger hope that clings to eternal life no matter my circumstances. Give me greater love so that I may reflect Your heart in tangible, selfless ways.”

There are many tools designed to help you identify your spiritual gifts, and some can be useful. But perhaps the most reliable way is through the eyes of others. Ask mature believers who know you well—especially those with discernment and wisdom—What do you see as my defining spiritual gift? What part of the body am I in our local church? Ask more than one person, and listen carefully for the common threads in their answers.

Some people divide spiritual gifts into “charismatic” and “non-charismatic,” but Scripture never makes such a distinction. Every gift is charis—a grace gift. The gift of mercy is no less vital, no less Spirit-breathed, than the gift of healing. Paul himself places administration right alongside various kinds of tongues. Side by side, equal in origin, equal in purpose. A body is never complete when even one part is missing. How much more so when most of the parts are ignored? If a church highlights only two or three gifts while neglecting the rest, it risks overlooking the richness God intended. The result can feel flat, even lacklustre, because the full harmony of grace is silenced when only a fraction of the instruments are playing.

The truth is this: God has entrusted you with a gift of His Spirit. And when you discover it, nurture it, and use it for His glory, you strengthen the whole church. More than that—you become part of the radiant testimony of Christ alive in His people.

But, more critically, ask God to affirm your giftedness. As you read through the list of grace gifts presented here, ask Jesus,

Lord Jesus, by your Spirit, affirm in me my charis, the gift(s) that have my name on them. Let me not doubt, regardless of how incredible they may seem in the moment, to know that these are ‘my shoes’—made especially for me to follow you in.

And then, Lord, help me to use my charis for your glory, help me to use my charis to build your church, to do even greater things than You!—because that is what You promised me, and, here and now, I am claiming that promise!⁠¹

Jesus, I also dare to ask that you will use me to accomplish ‘the seemingly impossible’, because I am asking in your name, and that is where my power is!

Thank you.

P.S. Lord, when you do use me to do the ‘greater things’, help me to remain humble, so that you receive ALL the glory.

In the perpetual wonder of grace,

David O. Harrison, Author    

dohauthor@gmail.com

1 Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

GENESIS 2:7

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

1

SKILL, ABILITY, AND KNOWLEDGE IN CRAFTSMANSHIP

It somehow seems fitting that creativity should be the first grace gift we encounter in Scripture. It flows naturally from Genesis 1:1, where the Spirit hovered over chaos and breathed order and beauty into existence. Proverbs reminds us,

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” (24:3–4).

From the very beginning, creativity has been part of God’s character and His gift to His people.

Exodus 31:3–5 gives us one of Scripture’s most surprising portraits. A man named Bezalel is filled with the Spirit of God—not to preach, lead an army, or part a sea, but to craft beauty. God says,

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.”

We often assume the Spirit is reserved for prophets, priests, and kings. Yet here, God anoints a craftsman. This is not mere talent; it is Spirit-saturated creativity.

Bezalel’s skill was not the product of raw human genius. It was the Spirit’s outworking—the same Spirit who formed the heavens and earth. In the wilderness’s barrenness, God poured His Spirit into a man so that gold could be shaped, stones set, and wood worked into the dwelling place of the Most High. It was as if God were saying, “My presence is not confined to the pulpit—it gleams in the artistry of those who work with their hands.”

This moment reminds us that artistry is no afterthought in God’s Kingdom—it is a calling. Every carved detail and woven thread in the tabernacle was a sermon in color and texture, drawing Israel’s eyes toward the glory of God. In the same way, your creative work—whether painting, designing, baking, coding, writing, or building—can become a sanctuary. When yielded to the Spirit, it is more than hobby or interest; it is worship. Your craft becomes a tool in God’s hands, shaping environments where His beauty and truth are revealed.

If you are searching for your own spiritual giftedness, Bezalel’s story offers a path of reflection. Do you find joy in bringing beauty and order out of chaos? Do you sense God’s pleasure when you create something that blesses others? Do people encounter encouragement, hope, or awe when they engage with what you’ve made? If so, you may share Bezalel’s calling.

Artistry in the Spirit is never “just decoration.” When Spirit-led, creativity carries the fragrance of Heaven into a weary world. It whispers of Eden and previews the beauty of the New Creation. This is permission for your gifting—whether with words, paint, music, fabric, code, or stone—to become Spirit-led worship. It is a reminder that beauty is not trivial; it is testimony.

Bezalel’s calling assures us: the Spirit is not limited to the sacred tasks we often elevate. Every skill, when surrendered to God, becomes holy ground. And when He fills you with His Spirit for your work, you are not merely making things—you are making room for His glory to dwell.

2

LEADERSHIP (GUIDANCE)

Romans 12:6–8 includes this calling:

…if it is to lead, do it diligently…”

The gift of leadership, sometimes rendered administration, is a Spirit-given capacity to guide, organize, and inspire God’s people toward a shared mission with clarity, wisdom, and care. It is more than managing tasks—it is shepherding people toward God’s purposes with intentionality and vision.

The Nature of the Gift

The Greek word translated “lead” here, proistēmi, means “to stand before” or “to preside over.” In a spiritual sense, it carries the image of someone who goes ahead, setting direction while caring for those who follow. In 1 Corinthians 12:28, the related idea of “administration” (kybernēsis) comes from a nautical term for steering a ship. This captures both sides of the gift—providing guidance and ensuring safe, purposeful navigation.

Leadership in the Kingdom is servant-hearted. It is not about personal power or control, but about faithfully stewarding people and resources toward God’s vision. Those gifted in this area often see the “big picture” and can break it into achievable steps while fostering unity and cooperation.

Recognizing This Gift in Yourself

If you are discerning whether you have the gift of leadership, consider:

Do you naturally take initiative in organizing people and projects to accomplish meaningful goals?

Do others trust your guidance and follow your direction willingly?

Are you able to keep a group focused on the mission, even through challenges or distractions?

Often, those with this gift find joy not only in casting vision but also in seeing people grow as they work together toward it.

The Purpose of This Gift

Leadership in the body of Christ ensures that God’s work is pursued with order, intentionality, and care for people. It keeps ministries moving in alignment with God’s mission, prevents wasted effort, and creates an environment where other gifts can flourish. Spirit-led leadership guards against chaos and provides stability in times of change or difficulty.

When exercised in love, this gift draws out the strengths of others, giving them space to use their gifts effectively. It also reflects Christ, the Good Shepherd, who leads His people with both authority and compassion.

Walking in the Gift

If you sense this gift in your life, lead with diligence, as Romans 12 instructs. This means showing up consistently, doing the unseen preparation, and making decisions prayerfully. Stay anchored in God’s Word so that your leadership reflects His heart and values. Invite accountability from trusted believers, knowing that spiritual leadership is best carried in community.

True leadership in the Spirit is not about being at the top—it’s about being out front, paving the way, and sometimes carrying the weight so others can move forward. When you walk in this gift, you’re not simply steering a ministry—you’re helping steer God’s people toward His will.

APPENDIX 1 – GIFTS AND THE CHURCH

The following chart illustrates how God’s grace gifts function within the church as described in Scripture. While the Bible does not give a single chapter outlining church structure in detail, a clear picture emerges when we gather insights from across the New Testament. A few caveats are important to prevent misunderstanding.

First, there is significant overlap between equippers and elders. Nothing in Scripture suggests that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds), or teachers cannot also serve as elders. Likewise, elders are required to be able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2), but this is not the same as the uniquely gifted teacher described in Ephesians 4:11.

Second, the role of pastor (shepherd) requires careful clarification. In the New Testament, pastor comes from the Greek poimēn (“shepherd”), a word used in Luke 2:8, Ephesians 4:11, and elsewhere to describe the work of elders and overseers rather than to identify a separate office. In the early church (1st–4th centuries), leadership was exercised through episkopoi (elders/overseers) and presbyteroi (mature elders), with shepherding as a function of their care. By the Middle Ages (5th–12th centuries), however, the Latin pastor had become a common term for clergy responsible for the “care of souls” (cura animarum), particularly parish priests. During the Reformation (16th century), reformers such as Luther and Calvin recovered the biblical imagery of shepherding and applied “pastor” as a title for those called to preach and equip the church. By the 17th century, particularly in Protestant and free-church traditions, “pastor” had become the dominant term for local church leaders, marking a shift from its original biblical sense of function to the more familiar modern use as an office or title.