Everyone that puts their hope in Jesus Christ is given a spiritual gift, that is, a divine enablement to do certain things really well. God expects us to use these gifts for His purposes in the world. This message explores how God expects his followers to use these gifts to be a vital part of a local church and how this commitment to serve adds meaning to our lives.

Romans 12:1-8

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,

So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

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.

Luke 12:48

Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!

Luke 6:38

Give away your life; you’ll find a life given back, but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing.

Mark 8:35

Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.