GIFTED SERMON 1

Gifted to Serve — Sermon #1
Gifted by God: Everybody Has a Gift
Bible Text: 1 Peter 4:10

As we begin a new year, I want us to begin a new series focused on a powerful and often misunderstood subject — spiritual gifts and how God uses ordinary believers to accomplish extraordinary work. I’m calling this series “Gifted to Serve,” and tonight’s message is simply this: everybody has a gift.
Before we talk about what we do for God, we must first understand what God has already done for us. Every believer is intentionally gifted by God through the Holy Spirit. These gifts are not rewards for spiritual maturity or special recognition for good behavior. We were not saved because we were gifted, but since we are saved, God desires to use us.
Our abilities, talents, passions, and burdens are not accidents. God places them in us so that we might serve Him and reach others with the gospel.
Our Main Text — God’s Expectation for Every Believer
1 Peter 4:10

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

There are two words in this verse that stand out.
First, the word “every.”
Peter does not say some have received a gift. He says every man. That means male and female, young and old, new believers and seasoned saints — every believer has been gifted by God and expected to use that gift in ministry to others.
Second, the word “manifold.”
That word carries the idea of something that is varied, multicolored, branching out in many directions. We serve a big God, and His grace shows up in many forms. He supplies different gifts to meet different needs, and those gifts are designed to work together, not compete with each other.
Different Gifts — Same Source
Often when we think about gifts in the church, we think only about visible roles such as preaching, teaching, and singing. Those are important, but what about:
Keeping the building clean and organized
Hospitality ministries like greeters and ushers
Administration and organization
Intercession and prayer
Encouragement and behind-the-scenes service
All of these matter to God.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

Our gifts may differ, but the source is the same God. Our gifts are given to every believer, and they are not meant just to benefit us — they are meant to profit others.
One Body — Many Members

Another passage that helps us understand how gifts work together is found in Romans.
Romans 12:3–6

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

From this passage we learn several important truths. Gifts require humility, no single ministry defines the whole body, and unity does not require uniformity. We do not all have to do the same thing to belong to the same body.
Just because another church does something does not mean we are called to do the same thing. God gives gifts according to His design, not according to comparison.
Grace to Match the Gift
Sometimes people hesitate to serve because they feel unqualified or incapable. But Scripture reminds us that God never calls us without also giving us grace to obey.

Ephesians 4:7

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

God gives grace in proportion to the gift. If He gives the gift, He supplies the strength. If He gives the calling, He provides the help.
Ministry is work. Service takes effort. It requires sacrifice. But when we are operating within the gifts God has given us, there will always be enough grace to match the responsibility.
However, when we try to serve outside of where God has gifted us, we may feel overwhelmed by the work and underwhelmed by the results. But when we walk in God’s design, His grace is sufficient for the task.
A Word of Caution About Man-Made Labels
In today’s world, we have personality tests, ministry quizzes, and spiritual gift surveys, and those tools can be helpful. They may help us better understand how we are wired.
But we must remember: God is the giver of gifts, not man.
Joseph did not fit in Egypt.
David did not fit in Saul’s armor.
Paul called himself the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners.
Yet God used every one of them mightily.
If ministry were based only on human profiles and perfect resumes, many of us, myself included, would have no business doing what God has called us to do. But God’s gift and God’s grace enable ordinary people to do extraordinary work that can only be explained by Him.

Questions to Ponder
As we begin this new series, let me leave you with a few questions to carry with you:

1. What stands out to you about how God distributes gifts?
2. Why do you think some Christians struggle to believe they are gifted?
3. How does comparing gifts hinder unity in the church or between churches?
4. In your heart and mind, what skills, passions, or burdens has God placed within you?

God has not saved us to sit.
He has saved us to serve.
And He has gifted every one of us to be part of His work.