Discovering and Using Your God-Given Gifts
Summary
Today, we celebrated the incredible work God is doing in our church family, as nearly 40 people across all campuses are being baptized, publicly declaring their faith in Jesus. This is a powerful reminder that God is actively transforming lives among us. We are in a season of focusing on why we gather as a church, and today’s focus is on the truth that everyone has a gift to share. Each person, without exception, has been given a unique gift by God, and these gifts are meant to be used to serve others—both within the church and in our communities.
Serving is not just about filling a need; it’s about discovering purpose. When we step out to serve, even in small or humble ways, God often reveals our passions and the unique ways He has wired us. I shared the story of my son Andrew, who, through serving in worship and storytelling, discovered his calling and purpose. This is a pattern we see throughout Scripture: God gives gifts, and as we use them, we find fulfillment and joy, and we bless others in the process.
We also talked about the influence that comes with serving. Influence isn’t just for those with titles or positions; every act of service shapes the lives of others. Whether it’s through practical help, encouragement, or generosity, our actions have a ripple effect. The Bible calls us to be salt and light, influencing the world around us for God’s glory. Leadership, at its core, is simply using our influence to point others toward Jesus.
God doesn’t give gifts for our own benefit alone, but so that we can build up others and expand His kingdom. The parable of the talents reminds us that we are responsible to develop and use what God has entrusted to us. When we do, we not only glorify God but also experience personal growth and see lives changed.
This week, we have a tangible opportunity to put this into practice by serving at the Holdridge campus during Swedish Days. Let’s rally together, use our gifts, and make a difference in our community. Everyone has a gift to share—let’s discover it, develop it, and use it for God’s glory.
Key Takeaways
- Serving others is a pathway to discovering your God-given purpose. When you step out to help, even in small ways, God often reveals passions and abilities you didn’t know you had. Purpose is rarely found in isolation; it’s unearthed in the act of giving yourself away for the sake of others. [34:30]
- Every believer has a unique gift, and no one is a “gag gift” in God’s kingdom. Comparing your gift to others only leads to discouragement; instead, embrace the distinct way God has wired you. When you use your gift, no matter how ordinary it seems, you bring joy to yourself and encouragement to others. [39:17]
- Influence is not reserved for those with titles or positions—everyone has influence. Whether through friendship, advice, or simple acts of kindness, your life shapes the trajectory of those around you. The question is not if you have influence, but how you are using it to point others toward Christ. [44:40]
- God calls us to develop and multiply the gifts He’s given us, not to hide them away. The parable of the talents teaches that faithfulness with what we have leads to greater impact and deeper joy. Our responsibility is to steward our gifts well, for the glory of God and the good of others. [49:09]
- Serving is not just about meeting needs; it’s about growing in Christlikeness and expanding God’s kingdom. When we serve together—like the opportunity at Holdridge’s Swedish Days—we become a visible expression of God’s love to our community. Through serving, we see lives changed, families restored, and the gospel advanced. [54:23]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Baptisms and Life Change
[03:05] - Why We Gather: Our Values
[05:20] - Everyone Has a Gift to Share
[08:45] - The Humility of Being Served
[13:30] - Serving Stories: Moving and Life Groups
[17:50] - Men in Action and Practical Ministry
[21:40] - Giving and Kingdom Builders
[25:27] - The Power of Serving in Community
[30:20] - 1 Peter 4:10—God Gives Each a Gift
[33:00] - Discovering and Using Your Gift
[34:30] - Finding Purpose Through Serving
[39:17] - Embracing Your Unique Gift
[43:19] - Exploring Where You Belong
[44:40] - Serving as Influence and Leadership
[47:44] - Salt and Light: Influence for God’s Glory
[49:09] - Developing Your Gift: The Parable of the Talents
[54:23] - Serving at Swedish Days: A Call to Action
[55:55] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Everyone Has a Gift to Share
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### Bible Reading
- 1 Peter 4:10
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."
- Romans 12:6-8
"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."
- Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 4:10, who has received a spiritual gift, and what are we supposed to do with it?
2. In Romans 12:6-8, what are some of the different gifts that Paul lists, and how does he say we should use them?
3. The sermon mentioned that serving is a way to discover your purpose. What story did Pastor Jeff share about his son Andrew to illustrate this? [[34:30]]
4. In Matthew 5:13-16, what does Jesus say about being “salt” and “light,” and how does this relate to our influence?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God gives everyone a unique gift, instead of giving everyone the same abilities? How does this shape the way we see ourselves and others in the church? [[39:17]]
2. The sermon said, “Serving is not just about filling a need; it’s about discovering purpose.” How does serving help someone find their God-given purpose, according to the message and the story about Andrew? [[34:30]]
3. Pastor Jeff said, “Influence isn’t just for those with titles or positions; every act of service shapes the lives of others.” What are some ways ordinary acts of service can have a ripple effect in people’s lives? [[44:40]]
4. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25) was mentioned as a reminder to develop and use what God has entrusted to us. What does it look like to “multiply” your gift in real life? [[49:09]]
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### Application Questions
1. Pastor Jeff said, “Everyone has a gift to share.” Do you know what your gift is? If not, what is one small way you could start serving this month to help discover it? [[33:00]]
2. Have you ever compared your gift to someone else’s and felt discouraged? What would it look like to embrace the unique way God has wired you, instead of comparing? [[39:17]]
3. Think about a time when someone served you in a practical way. How did it impact you? Is there someone in your life right now who could use that kind of encouragement or help? [[25:27]]
4. The sermon challenged us to use our influence for God’s glory, not just in church but in our everyday lives. What is one relationship or situation this week where you can intentionally be “salt and light”? [[47:44]]
5. The parable of the talents teaches us to develop and multiply our gifts. What is one step you can take to grow or use your gift more intentionally this season? [[49:09]]
6. There’s a practical opportunity to serve at Swedish Days in Holdridge this week. What’s holding you back from jumping in to serve, either at this event or somewhere else? How can the group encourage or support you to take that step? [[54:23]]
7. Serving is described as a pathway to personal growth and blessing others. What is one area of your life where you want to grow in Christlikeness through serving? [[54:23]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person discover, develop, and use their gifts for His glory and the good of others.
Devotional
Day 1: Everyone Has a Gift to Share
God has given each person unique gifts, not just for their own benefit, but to be used in service to others and to build up the church and community. No one is left out—every believer is entrusted with something valuable from God’s great variety of spiritual gifts. The question is not whether you have a gift, but how you will discover and use it to serve others well. When you recognize that your gifts are from God, it shifts your focus from comparison or insecurity to gratitude and responsibility, empowering you to step out and make a difference in the lives of those around you. [33:00]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally use a talent or resource God has given you to serve someone else this week?
Day 2: Find Your Purpose Through Serving
Purpose is often discovered not in isolation, but through the act of serving others. As you step out and serve—whether in the church, your family, or your community—you begin to uncover passions and abilities you may not have realized you had. Serving is not just about filling a need; it’s about God shaping your identity and revealing your calling as you bless others. Even if you’re unsure where you fit, start somewhere, and let God guide you into greater clarity and joy as you serve. [39:17]
Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Reflection: Where is one area—inside or outside the church—where you can begin serving, even if you’re not sure it’s your “perfect fit,” and trust God to reveal more of your purpose as you go?
Day 3: Serving Is Influence
Every act of service is an act of influence, shaping the lives and faith of those around you. Influence isn’t just for those with titles or positions; it’s for everyone who interacts with others. Whether through friendship, advice, or example, your actions and words have the power to encourage, challenge, and inspire others toward Christ. Serving others is a practical way to let your light shine, making a tangible impact that points people to God and brings Him praise. [47:44]
Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can intentionally encourage or serve this week, knowing your influence could help them see God’s love more clearly?
Day 4: Develop and Multiply Your Gift
God entrusts gifts to each person not to be hidden or left unused, but to be developed and multiplied for His glory and the good of others. Like the servants in Jesus’ parable, we are called to steward what we’ve been given, investing our time, talents, and resources so that they grow and bless more people. When you step out in faith to use and grow your gift, you honor God and become a channel of His blessing to the world. [54:23]
Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to develop or multiply a gift God has given you, rather than letting it sit unused?
Day 5: Serving Grows the Kingdom and Transforms You
Serving is not just about meeting needs or accomplishing tasks; it’s about God developing something amazing in you and using you to expand His kingdom. When you step out to serve—whether in your church, your community, or beyond—you become part of God’s work to heal, restore, and bring people to Jesus. As you serve, God shapes your character, deepens your faith, and allows you to experience the joy of making an eternal difference. [55:55]
Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Reflection: Where is God inviting you to step out and serve in a new or bigger way this week, trusting that He will use your obedience to bless others and grow you in the process?
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