We’re continuing in this series about purpose. Why are we here? What is the point of life? Why do I exist?
Well, if God is the Creator, and we believe that He is, then there is meaning to why He created us. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We can either pursue the purpose God created us for, or we can ignore it.
We've talked about how both worship and becoming more like Jesus are a part of what it means to fulfill the purpose that God has given to us. Today, I want to focus on the idea that you are saved to serve. God didn’t just save you for eternal life, He saved you to fulfill a purpose in this life, and part of that is learning to serve.
The Church is a lot like a team sport.
- Players on a successful team figure out what they’re good at.
- If a team doesn’t have everyone doing their role, they’re not going to be successful.
- As a church, we function like a team to accomplish God’s mission of making disciples by serving in our local church.
1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.”
Every Believer has a Spiritual Gift.
- You were given a spiritual gift at the moment of salvation.
- A spiritual gift is different than a natural ability.
- Only believers in Jesus Christ have spiritual gifts.
Every Believer is Gifted to Help the Entire Church.
- Spiritual gifts are used to benefit other people, and for the common good of God’s church.
- Some might feel like they can’t find their place, or they don’t belong.
- 1 Corinthians 12:16 – “If the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.”
Every Believer is Important and Necessary.
- When you’re not fulfilling your role on the team in the body of Christ, the whole body suffers.
- It’s unnatural to see a body part not attached to a body – that’s what it’s like to be a Christian who is not attached to a local church body. It doesn’t feel right.
- God designed you to make a contribution and gave you specific gifts to fulfill a role.
- Every single gift is vital to the success of the church.
What Does God Want You to do with Your Spiritual Gift?
1. Discover it.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1 – “Eagerly desire spiritual gifts.”
- Learn what you’re gifted at by taking an assessment, a class, or by trying different ministries.
2. Develop it.
- Just because you're gifted at something doesn't mean that you're going to be great at it on day one.
- 1 Timothy 4:14 – “Don't neglect the spiritual gift that is in you.”
- You are neglecting your gift when you’re not seeking to develop it.
3. Use it.
- 2 Timothy 1:6 – “Fan into flame the gift that God gave you.”
- Do the thing that you feel like you’re gifted to do.
- Commit to a church and God will use you in the church.
- Find that place of service to use the gifts that God has given to you.
- God saved you so that you would serve Him through His church.
