Called to a Life of Service: Using God’s Gifts

Today, we took time to honor and pray for our veterans, recognizing the sacrifices they and their families have made for our freedoms. We also celebrated the ways our church family serves—through ministries like Operation Christmas Child, Life University, and ongoing men’s and children’s ministries. But above all, we turned our attention to the deeper callings that God places on every follower of Jesus, as revealed in 1 Peter 4.

We revisited the foundational callings: first, to a life of death—dying to self and the old ways of living; second, to a life of love—fervently loving one another within the body of Christ. Today, we focused on the third: the call to a life of service. Peter’s words are clear and direct: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” This is not a suggestion or an optional extra for the especially committed; it is the expectation for every believer. Each of us has been entrusted with gifts—spiritual, practical, experiential—not for our own benefit, but for the good of others and the glory of God.

We explored Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25, which powerfully illustrates that God gives to each according to their ability, and what matters is not the size or visibility of our service, but our faithfulness with what we’ve been given. The sobering reality is that God does not accept our excuses for withholding service. There may be seasons of rest or necessary adjustments, but the call to serve remains until our life here is done.

As we came to the Lord’s Table, we remembered that Jesus is the ultimate suffering servant—He literally served us to death. His body was broken and His blood shed so that we could be forgiven and set free. In light of His sacrifice, we are called to reflect on whether we are using the gifts He has entrusted to us for His glory and the good of others. This is the life of service to which we are all called, and it is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Service is a non-negotiable calling God’s Word makes it clear that every believer is called to serve, not just a select few. This is not a matter of personality, age, or convenience, but a direct expectation from God. Excuses may be understandable, but they do not exempt us from the responsibility to use our gifts for the good of others and the glory of God. [55:51]
• 2. Faithfulness matters more than prominence In the parable of the talents, the master’s praise was the same for both servants who invested what they were given, regardless of the amount. God is not impressed by the size or visibility of our service, but by our faithfulness. Whether our role is public or hidden, what matters is that we are faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us. [50:59]
• 3. Our gifts are for others, not ourselves The gifts, talents, and experiences God gives us are not for our own benefit or self-fulfillment. They are meant to be employed in serving one another, building up the body of Christ, and advancing His kingdom. True stewardship means recognizing that we are managers, not owners, of God’s resources. [44:55]
• 4. Jesus is our model of sacrificial service Christ’s ultimate act of service—His suffering and death—sets the standard for our own. As we remember His sacrifice at the Lord’s Table, we are reminded that serving others is not about convenience or recognition, but about following in the footsteps of the One who gave everything for us. [58:35]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Honoring Veterans and Prayer
• [03:10] - Greeting and Fellowship
• [05:00] - Operation Christmas Child Update
• [07:00] - Life University and Men’s Ministry
• [10:00] - Purpose of Gathering and Worship
• [13:00] - Gratitude for Church Encouragement
• [15:42] - Introduction to 1 Peter 4
• [19:55] - Review: Life of Death and Love
• [32:23] - Called to a Life of Service
• [34:46] - The Meaning of Spiritual Gifts
• [38:01] - Stewardship and Accountability
• [41:25] - Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25)
• [48:04] - Lessons from the Parable
• [53:32] - Addressing Excuses for Not Serving
• [55:51] - The Expectation of Service
• [58:35] - Connecting Service to the Lord’s Supper
• [61:09] - Reflection and Communion
• [73:59] - The Blood of the New Covenant
• [75:11] - Recap and Closing Remarks

Bible Reading

1 Peter 4:7-11 (ESV) — > 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
> 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
> 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
> 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
> 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV) – Parable of the Talents — (You may want to read this together as a group or summarize the story.)

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 Peter 4:10, who has received a gift, and what are we supposed to do with it?
2. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), what did the master expect his servants to do with what he gave them?
3. What is the difference in the master’s response to the servants who used their gifts and the one who did not?
4. The sermon said, “Service is a non-negotiable calling for every believer.” What reasons did the pastor mention that people often give for not serving? [[53:32]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Peter emphasizes that “each one” has received a gift? What does this say about who is called to serve? [[38:01]]
2. In the parable, the master gives to each servant “according to their ability.” What does this teach us about God’s expectations for us and the gifts He gives? [[48:04]]
3. The pastor said that God is not impressed by the size or visibility of our service, but by our faithfulness. Why do you think faithfulness is more important than prominence in God’s eyes? [[50:59]]
4. The sermon connects Jesus’ sacrifice at the Lord’s Table to our call to serve. How does remembering Jesus as the “suffering servant” shape our attitude toward serving others? [[58:35]]

Application Questions

1. The pastor said, “God is holding you responsible for your service” in the local church. If you consider your current involvement, would you say you are using your gifts for the good of others and the glory of God? Why or why not? [[41:25]]
2. Think about the excuses mentioned in the sermon for not serving (too busy, too old, too young, too tired, too stressed, “I’ve done my time”). Have you ever used one of these reasons? What would it look like to move past that excuse? [[53:32]]
3. The parable of the talents shows that the master’s praise was the same for both servants who invested what they were given, regardless of the amount. Are you ever tempted to compare your service to others? How can you focus on faithfulness instead of comparison? [[50:59]]
4. The sermon said, “Our gifts are for others, not ourselves.” Can you identify a gift, talent, or experience God has given you that you are not currently using to serve others? What is one step you could take to start using it? [[44:55]]
5. Jesus “literally served us to death.” When you think about His sacrifice, does it change your motivation to serve? How can you remind yourself of His example when serving feels hard or unnoticed? [[58:35]]
6. The pastor mentioned that there may be seasons of rest or necessary adjustments, but the call to serve remains. If you are in a season where your ability to serve has changed, what are some creative or new ways you could still serve the body of Christ? [[55:51]]
7. As you reflect on the Lord’s Supper, ask yourself: “Am I using God’s gifts to me for His glory and for the good of others?” What is one practical change you could make this week in response to that question? [[01:01:09]]