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.

Peter also calls believers “good stewards.” A steward manages what belongs to someone else. Your gift is not your possession to hoard, compare, or use for self-promotion. It belongs to God, and He has placed it in your hands for a purpose.

This changes the way we think about gifts. A spiritual gift is not a spotlight. It is a stewardship.

Peter then places ministry into two broad categories: speaking and serving. Some believers communicate truth, teach Scripture, encourage faith, or proclaim the gospel. Others organize, give, show mercy, extend hospitality, meet practical needs, or quietly strengthen people behind the scenes.

One form may be more visible, but it is not more valuable.

The person speaking to thousands, like Charlie, and the person quietly encouraging one discouraged believer, like you and me, may both be faithful stewards of God’s grace.

Peter also explains how these gifts should be used. Those who speak must remain governed by God’s truth. Those who serve must depend on the strength God supplies. We do not merely work for God through natural energy. We allow Him to work through us by His Spirit.

And the goal is clear:

“That in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

This one-year anniversary of Charlie's assassination invites a personal question for suffering and exiled believers trying to live holy in a hostile world. Are you faithfully using what God has placed in your hands?

You may still be unsure how God has gifted you. That is worth discovering. An assessment cannot assign your calling or replace prayer, Scripture, service, and the wisdom of mature believers. But it can help you identify patterns of grace God may already be expressing through your life.

You can take my 80-question Spiritual Gifts Assessment and begin exploring how God may have equipped you to serve, lead, give, encourage, teach, or care for others. https://beresolute.org/sga/

An assessment may help name your gift.

Service will help develop it.

Fruit and faithful believers will help confirm it.

None of us controls how long we have to use what God has entrusted to us. So stop comparing your gift to someone else’s. Stop waiting for a larger audience, a perfect opportunity, or complete certainty. Begin serving the people God has already placed around you.

The gift comes from God. The strength comes from God. And the glory belongs to God.

DO THIS:
Take my Spiritual Gifts Assessment today. Then ask two mature believers who know you well, “Where have you seen God consistently use me to strengthen other people?” Choose one practical way to begin serving with that gift this week. https://beresolute.org/sga/

ASK THIS:
What patterns of service, leadership, encouragement, teaching, giving, or care has God consistently used in my life?
Am I using what God gave me to serve others—or waiting for recognition and a larger opportunity?
Where could I begin exercising my gift in God’s strength right now?
PRAY THIS:
Father, thank You for giving every believer a place in Your work. Help me recognize the grace You have entrusted to me and use it faithfully for the good of others. Guard me from comparison, pride, fear, and passivity. Supply the strength I need to speak and serve so that Jesus is honored and You receive all the glory. Amen.

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