THE Redemptive Gifts List: The 7 Gifts of Romans 12 and the Awakened by Design Series

Twelve free articles on the seven gifts of Romans 12:6–8, and where to start if you don't yet know yours.

When I first encountered the Redemptive Gifts, I was so excited.  Finally, the missing pieces came together.  For years I've studied, trained and coached on behavioural and personality profiles which although good as a starting point in helping us understand our design, for me had left more questions than answers.  The Redemptive Gifts give language and form to our design.  They answer the questions that behavioural profiles are unable to.  They answer the questions about the design that God Himself created as the very foundation of every single one of us at conception.  What a thought!

But, as I dove in, I found myself getting side-tracked by many side warrens of information, exploration and I jumped from one gift to the next.  I resonated with them all in some way.  And this is true of so many believers who I've worked with over the years. 

It took me a long time to find out my redemptive gift - I think it was two years - and I only know for certain because Father God visited with me in a dream one night, showing me my servant design, a beautiful, flowing vision in a golden yellow ball-gown who I recognised but didn't realise was me to begin with.  God is so good in His patience with me.  He built me to slowly realise things so that I can fully appreciate them!  For a long time I thought I was just slow.  That's the journey we are all on.

And in the years that have followed, I've learnt and grown and failed and been stretched so many times.  The journey is sometimes quiet, at others filled with excitement because God visits with crystal clear visions or words, instructions.  Our adventures varied as they are always to bring life and greater understanding of our God.

I created this series as a starting point for those of you who want to understand your design.  You may have come across Arthur Burk's wonderful work and you may have felt like me, amazed but unsure of how to organise and make sense of all that he teaches about the gifts.  Like me, you may need some concrete steps and a framework to help you process, work through and get to your own conclusions.  That is the starting point of these articles.

This page gathers all twelve articles in one place. If you're new to the redemptive gifts, start with the first two. If you already have a sense of your gift, go straight to it. Follow the breadcrumbs, and notice what resonates.

To your success in Christ!

Start here

• Why You Need to Know Your Redemptive Gift: what a redemptive gift is, how to tell natural from learnt, and whether you can have more than one.
• Are Redemptive Gifts Biblical? What Scripture Really Says: where the seven gifts sit in Scripture, and why the framework is a lens, not a second Bible.

The 7 redemptive gifts, one article each

1. Prophet: the spiritual architect, who discerns design and brings clarity, alignment and truth.
2. Servant: the presence-maker and peace-carrier who holds people and purposes together.
3. Teacher: the stabiliser, who grounds people and decisions in wisdom and truth.
4. Exhorter: the encourager, who moves people toward their God-given potential.
5. Giver: the steward and multiplier of time, money and wisdom.
6. Ruler: the builder, who brings divine order and sustainable systems.
7. Mercy: the healing presence, who senses emotional and spiritual needs and responds with compassion.

Going deeper

• Breaking Generational Curses in the Bible: the patterns each gift can inherit, and the freedom the cross makes possible.
• Redemptive Gifts in Creation: how the seven gifts show up in land, cities, institutions and seasons.
• How to Carry All Seven Gifts: one dominant gift in your soul, all seven portions in your spirit.

How do I FIND my redemptive gift?

Reading about the seven gifts can leave you seeing yourself in all of them. The free Redemptive Gifts Quick-Discernment Grid puts the seven side by side, so you can notice which one reads like home (your natural gift) and which ones are armour (how you've learnt to protect yourself) you've picked up along the way.

It starts with a short scene. A tray of cups smashes on the floor at morning tea, and seven people react in seven different ways. You choose the reaction that sounds most like you, and then the guide shows you why your first instinct may not be your gift at all.

After that, there is one page for each of the seven gifts, with the Scripture it comes from. Each page describes what the gift may look like on a good day and what it may look like when you’re under pressure, so you can see yourself in both. It won’t tell you your gift with certainty (no short guide can), but it gives you a place to begin. Follow the breadcrumbs, and notice which page/s resonate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the full redemptive gifts list?

Prophet, Servant, Teacher, Exhorter, Giver, Ruler and Mercy: the seven gifts Paul lists in Romans 12:6–8.

Are redemptive gifts biblical?

Yes. The seven gifts are listed in Romans 12:6–8, but Paul never uses the label "redemptive gift"; later Bible teachers added it. The name and the frameworks built on it are a lens to test against Scripture, never a second Bible.

Can I have more than one redemptive gift?

Your soul carries one dominant gift. Your spirit has seven portions, one for each gift, which can heal and mature over time. Article 11 explains the difference.

How are redemptive gifts different from the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12?

Redemptive gifts are the seven gifts of Romans 12:6–8, which describe how God designed a person's motivation. The gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, such as healing, tongues and words of knowledge, are manifestations of the Holy Spirit for a moment and a need. I've personally found that Holy Spirit will give you the gifts if you ask for them, whereas the Redemptive Gifts are built into you by Father God, as part of your design and purpose.

How do I find my redemptive gift?

Start with the free Quick-Discernment Grid, then read the article for the gift that resonates. For the full process, Designed for Destiny includes a Joy Test, a Friction Test and a Wound Check for each gift.

Where this teaching comes from

The Redemptive Gifts framework we explore in this series has a rich history. I am indebted to the foundational work of several contributors, including the initial concepts delineated by Bill Gothard, the insightful discovery of scriptural parallels by Judy Lee, and the extensive popularization of the framework by Arthur Burk.

My focus in these articles is to examine the biblical integrity and transformative power of the teaching itself. I aim to present this powerful tool for understanding your God-given design, acknowledging its historical development while centering on the timeless truths of Scripture.