In my BAG: Use Your Gifts

Intro/thank you

Pastor Carlon and Tamecha Lassiter

Bianca

Choir Ushers, Participants

Youth

Family and Rosalyn

Scripture read (Matthew 25:14-30)

Prayer

Sermon Series Title: In My BAG

Subject - Use Your Gifts

You Are Special

Matter fact … High five people around you and tell that person that they are special

Look at your finger prints

You are fearfully and wonderfully made

God made it so that you are the only person with those fingerprints

Statistic: To find someone with an identical print = Less than 1 in 64 billion people

Fingerprint -> Hands -> Gifts -> BAGs

“Bag” is commonly used for someone that has a lot of money or “gifts”

Commonly referenced throughout culture today in rap songs or sporting events

Future, Lil Baby, 21 Savage

Ja Morant, Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic

Your bag is more than just how much money you can spend or a crossover and jelly

Your BAG contains all your gifts

In this case throughout the series, I want to reference a bag as gifts

But first we have to understand what our gifts may be

Some of us may have ideas

Singing, dancing, a sport that we play, public speaking, presence, how you make someone feel, smarts,

Here are some ways to understand your God - given gifts in your BAG

Something that you enjoy doing

Receive a lot of compliments from others

Others can see it in you

Draws you and others closer to God

Summarize Matthew 25:14-30

Master goes on a trip

Before he leaves he gives his 3 servants some tasks to watch his wealth

Servant 1 = 5 bags

Servant 2 = 2 bags

Servant 3 = 1 bag

2 of 3 servants understood the assignment and doubled the wealth of the master

But Servant 3 said “nah, I’m good”

Master returns after a LONG time

Servants #1 & 2 have good news and are rewarded

Servant 3…not so much

A LONG Time

One thing to understand is that your gifts take time

Despite all the conveniences

Doordash

CFA

Amazon Prime

Social Media

“While I’m waiting, I’m working”

We see that this is what happens with Servant #3

The gift he had was not put to use and instead of using it he buried it

Some of us are burying our gifts

Ashamed/Embarrassed

Don’t know how to use them

Maybe we’re caught up with the wrong thing or people that are holding us back

Acronym: B.A.G.

B - Be active with your Gifts

Use your gifts consistently to continue to grow

Because if you don’t use it… you will lose it

It’s like exercise

If I don’t continue to build muscle or walk, I will eventually lose my conditioning

Taking a break from your sport during the offseason, when you return you have to work on your jumper all over again

Because you lose what you don’t nurture or work on

A - Appreciate YOUR Gifts

“Sock Story”

Helen - toy; Walter - art set; me - socks

We get so caught up with what the other person has

We march upstairs pouting without being grateful for the gifts we currently have

You may not have as many gifts as the person next to you

Focus on you

G - Gain Wisdom from Others

What was the Servant #3 thinking

Did Servants 1 & 2 give talk to him

Have like-minded people around you

Learn from their stories and experience

Get tips

What worked for them may not work for you

Use your gifts in YOUR way

Conclusion

Take a close look at your fingerprints

Take a look at your hand

Take a look at your bag

What special gifts has God assigned you for your bag?

What gifts do you have currently?

What Gifts are you burying?

Homework assignment

Write down your gifts you’re using/burying

Think about how you can use and grow your gifts for God?

Talk to someone about your unknown gifts..

Invitation

Doors of the church are open

Can’t figure out what’s in your bag,

maybe you are struggling with using your gifts.

Do you want to hear God say “Well done, you were faithful with few things, I will put you in charge of many”

Discover what other Gifts you have through Him

Give your life to Christ. Be a part of my life.

Become a member