Using Your Gifts to Serve

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in each person. To each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Spiritual gifts are the way we do service in the church. Service is putting the needs of others ahead of your own.

There are benefits to service. The first benefit is knowing yourself. Until you do all kinds of stuff, you really don't know what you're good at.

The second benefit of service is community. As soon as you begin to serve in the church, you start to get connected to people.

The third benefit is fulfillment. Because when you serve, you see you're part of something that's touching people and changing people's lives. Even the simplest thing, like setting up chairs. You know that in that room, people's lives are being touched. You're just setting up the chairs. Somebody else is doing the music. Somebody else is preaching. But you're part of touching people's lives.

There are huge benefits to serving, but if you serve in order to get the benefits, it's not service. The reason for service is because Jesus served you, and if He hadn't served you at infinite cost, you'd be spiritually dead. And because He's done that, you turn around and begin to serve.

And when you serve, not to get your needs met, but just to serve, you get all kinds of needs met.

Use the gifts God has given you. See a need, meet a need. You will be blessed, those you serve will be blessed, and Noble Avenue Baptist Church will be blessed.

Grace and Peace,
Brian Frank