Seriousness of Serving | 1 Peter 4:10-11

Introduction

As we go through these next 25 minutes, will you answer this question with me, “Am I willing to serve to glorify God?” Serving requires action, doing, going. Serving involves receiving a gift from God. Serving is apart of every Christian’s life.

One of my favorite memories when I think about the 9 years of attending Northside, are the opportunities of serving.

I was listening to one of Adrian Rogers amazing sermons, and he opened up with one of the greatest problems in Christianity, that I myself have been guilty of before. Sometimes we think that when we show up to church and sit in worship services, attend Life Groups, attend Wednesday nights, that we have done God a favor. Sometimes we confuse that our only responsibility to God is showing up to church. Attendance in church is vital and important, don’t miss this. Many times we forget (purposefully or accidently) to SERVE!

As we go through this passage, will you consider the gift God has given to you and commit to Christ to use it?

I hope you have found your place and please join me in reading 1 Peter 4:10–11 “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.”

Please be seated as we pray……

We have started in the middle of a chapter, towards the end of the book. Peter was writing to discouraged Christians who were facing persecution. This was a letter addressing the reality of persecution, but also a moment of inspiration. We are focusing in on Peter’s inspiring message to SERVE.

The first point I want to address is……

Stewardship of Serving (vs. 10)

We read in verse 10 that each has received a gift. We know this is a letter to the church, so “each” is not every person but every Christian has received a gift.

This gift was not earned, we’ve done nothing to earn it.

This gift was not bought, we could never afford it.

The gift was given, we do not have ownership.

The word “gift” (GK: charisma) is one of the few times in scripture it is not referring to the gift of salvation, but the gift of service. We have been given this gift because of the graciousness of God. God not only showed grace when Jesus paid our sin debt, but He continues to show us grace by offering a gift of service. God has shown so much grace that my simple sentences will never come close to describing the depth of His grace.

As God is so gracious to share a gift with each of us, the Bible says that we are a steward of this gift. We cannot boast of our gift, because that would contradict it gracious character. It would lead us to thinking that we merit its bestowal. The gifts are manifestations(display) of “God’s grace in its various forms.” {Thomas R. Schreiner}

The Bible says that we are stewards of these gifts. We have no ownership over them. We are entrusted to use them responsibly for the purpose they were given. Steward can also be translated as managers. We are to manage our gifts. When we are put in charge over something, we feel an obligation to take care of it. Each gift that God has given to us, we have a responsibility to use it for its divine purpose.

Last thing and then I’ll move on. We are to use these gifts to serve one another. Quit thinking about serving yourself. Quit thinking how you can benefit. Start thinking, what can I do for my brother and sisters in Christ? What can I do for Christ’s church? What can I do for the Kingdom of God?

Series of Serving (vs. 11a)

The next point addressed in this passage are the series of service. Peter addresses to kinds of service, but if you were to look in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, you would find a list of detailed gifts. Peter generalizes the gifts into two categories: speaking and service.

While I am not going to address the different series of service, I want to address the statements following each category in verse 11.

“Whoever speaks — speak as one who speaks oracles of God”

The oracles of God is the WORD that God has given to His people. We are to proclaim the very words of God. How easy it can be sometimes to assist someone with our own wisdom. Those who have been entrusted to teaching and preaching should be careful to ONLY speak God’s word.

“Whoever serves — serve as one who serves by the strength that God supplies”

When we serve with a gift from God, we must rely on strength from God. Have you reached a point of being tired or discouraged when it comes to serving God? Do you dread serving?

Quit trying to come up with your own words and accomplish it in your own strength.

When those who speak utter God’s words rather than their own and those who serve do so in God’s strength rather than their own, God through Jesus Christ receives the glory. God receives the glory because He is the one who has provided the wisdom and strength for ministry.

The provider is always the one who is praised. This brings us to the final point……

Source of Serving (vs. 11b)

The source of serving is that in everything God may be glorified! This is a reflection from the first point that Christ is the one who provided the gifts, therefore He is the one who receives the glory.

Matthew 5:16 “16 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.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” What is the source of serving for you? I started the sermon with a question for each of us to answer: “Are you willing to serve to Glorify God?”

Conclusion

Adrian Rogers: There is no such thing as inactive church member. Every church member is either building up or tearing down. You have the saints and you got the aints. You ask what the aints are? They say I ain’t got money for that; I aint got time for that, aint even gonna be there for that. Sounds like picked out prhases from a bad country song.

I think the aints are onto something. I aint got money and I aint got time, because it all belongs to Jesus. When they say they aint gonna be here for that. Well a time is coming when I aint gonna be here because I will be gone in the rapture.

Alright there aint no more aints in this sermon. Aren’t you glad you hired a highly educated youth pastor?

A short phrase from verse 10, I want to close with: “use it to serve one another.”

Matt 20:28 Christ did not come to be served but to serve.

Psalms 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness

Galatians 5:13 “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Colossians 3:24 “24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Story from this morning of missionary. Statement found in his Bible: no regrets I am serving God.

This is a lesson I have learned from those who have been in church longer than me: the devil wants us to distract the church by arguing over details, structure, organization, money, property, personal hurts, and misunderstanding. The devil tries to stop us from ever looking up at the glory of God. The devil knows if the body of Christ will look to the glory God, they will get a deep fire to serve one another to the glory of God. This new year will you look up with me to the banner in the sky, the glory of God.