How to Discover and Use Your Spiritual Gifts | 1 Peter 4:10-11

Our text today is 1 Peter 4:10-11:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 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. — 1 Peter 4:10-11

One year ago today, Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. Much of his public life had been spent speaking to students, inviting debate, building an organization, and mobilizing young people around deeply held convictions. His death was a sobering reminder that none of us knows how long we will have to use what has been entrusted to us.

Charlie clearly possessed unusual capacities for communication, leadership, organization, and influence—and he chose to put them to work.

Peter writes:

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Notice Peter's first words:

"As each has received a gift."

He does not reserve ministry for pastors, speakers, missionaries, or people with large platforms. Every believer has received grace from God that can strengthen someone else.

The word Peter uses for "gift" is charisma, which derives from charis, the Greek word for grace. A spiritual gift is not something we earn or create. It is grace entrusted to us so that God's grace can reach others through us.

A spiritual gift is grace with an assignment.

That is why Peter tells us to use it "to serve one another." Your gift was not given primarily to make you feel significant. It was given because someone else needs what God intends to provide through you.