Body, Soul, & Spirit: Biblical Gifts to Transform Your Family

From Battlefield to Mission Field: Understanding the Body, Soul, and Spirit in Your Family

Have you ever felt like your home has turned into a battlefield?
Arguments over chores. Tension at the dinner table. Hurt feelings piling up like laundry in the corner.
It’s exhausting, and sometimes it feels like you’re just trying to survive until bedtime.

But God’s Word paints a different picture for your family. Your home doesn’t have to be a war zone.
It can be a mission field — a place where love is planted, spiritual gifts flourish, and the Kingdom of God advances.
And one key to that transformation is understanding how God designed each of us: body, soul, and spirit.

The Three Parts of the Human Being

"So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

If God is 3 parts: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and we are made in His image. Then we are also made in 3 parts.

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23

Scripture shows us that we are made in three parts:

• Body – our physical life and actions (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

• Soul – our mind, will, and emotions (1 Thess 5:23)

• Spirit – our connection to God and the spiritual realm (Romans 8:16)

Each of these parts is important. But here’s what’s often overlooked:
God gave specific gifts to each part — and understanding them can change the way you see yourself and your family.

1. Gifts for the Body – Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:11–12 tells us that Jesus gave gifts to the body of Christ: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
These are leadership and equipping gifts that build up the physical church — the tangible community of believers.

When we understand these gifts, we see how God has placed certain roles in our family life too.

• Apostolic parents pioneer new ways to lead their home.

• Prophetic voices keep the family aligned with God’s truth.

• Evangelistic members share the Good News with boldness.

• Pastoral hearts care deeply for everyone’s needs.

• Teachers bring clarity and understanding.

In the home, these gifts shape how we serve, teach, and guide each other physically — through our actions, rhythms, and decisions.

As parents we are called to lead and serve our families, before we even focus on ministry outside the home. As outlined in 1 Timothy 3's requirements for elders in the church: "He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?" 1 Timothy 3:4-5. 

2. Gifts for the Soul – Romans 12

Romans 12 lists the motivational gifts: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and mercy.
These gifts often show up in the way we think, feel, and choose — the soul realm.

The soul is our mind, will, & emotions. These affect a lot of what we do, because this is the place where we can be torn between the flesh vs. the spirit. This is what Paul is talking about in Romans when he says "For the good that I will to do, I do not do, but the evil I will not to do, that I practice." Romans 7:19-20. When we understand the way God designed us, it helps us understand how to interact with others and our family better. 

If your child is strong in mercy, they may cry easily when others are hurt.
If they are exhorters, they’ll naturally encourage siblings when they feel down.
When we recognize these gifts in each other, we start celebrating God’s design instead of clashing over differences.

Understanding soul gifts changes the way you respond:

• Instead of calling your “bossy” child difficult, you see the leadership gift God is shaping.

• Instead of getting frustrated at your sensitive child, you cherish their mercy as a reflection of God’s heart.

• Check out the FREE Redemptive Gift Quiz HERE to find out your Redemptive Gift. 

3. Gifts for the Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12 lists the manifestations of the Holy Spirit — wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation.
These are gifts that operate in our spirit through the power of God, which we all have access to at any time. 

While the Ephesians and Romans gifts may be part of our personality and design, these are supernatural tools for ministry and mission.

When a family begins to operate in these together, your home becomes a place of prayer, healing, and spiritual strength — not just survival.
Imagine your children learning to pray for a sibling’s headache and seeing God heal. Or your spouse receiving a word of wisdom that guides your family through a hard decision.

Why This Changes Everything in the Family

Most family conflict comes when we misunderstand each other’s design.
We expect everyone to think, feel, and act like we do.
But God has wired each of us differently in body, soul, and spirit.

When you learn to recognize these gifts:

• You stop fighting against each other.

• You start fighting for each other.

• Your home shifts from a battlefield to a mission field.

You begin to see your spouse, your children, and even yourself as God’s handcrafted team — each person vital for the family’s calling.

Start the Transformation

If you want to start nurturing these gifts in your kids and turning your home into a place of worship and mission, I’d love to help.
That’s why I created the Raising Kingdom Kids: Identity Course — a short, practical training to help you lead your children in developing a heart for God and a lifestyle of worship.

👉 Click here to get the $7 mini-course.

Your home doesn’t have to be a battleground.
With God’s design in body, soul, and spirit, it can become the most powerful mission field you’ll ever step into.