(The following are sermon notes from Ed Stetzer's message.)

All Have Gifts … God Intends ALL to Use … for Which He Empowers Us … to Bring God Glory (1 Peter 4:10-11)

1.  All Have Gifts (v. 10a)

• “Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others,” (1 Peter 4:10).
• Remember, this is written to Christians, not unbelievers.
• Great churches attract consumer of greatness.
• Passive spectators rather than active participants mission of God.
• Then you come and watch the show rather than join in community and service.
• Consumers and not colaborers.
• This verse says, “each one.”  That’s everyone.

“A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

• This is beneficial of for the common good.
• Any system that disempowers and de-motivates the people of God is unhelpful and perhaps sinful.
• It destroys the common good. The gifts are given to the benefit of the whole church.
• Serve others does not just refer to the church member. “Serve” means any kind of service or ministry.
• Lay people… lay around.  Churches built like theaters.
• I know what you are thinking, glad he is talking about the lazy people—but later on we will talk about how we enable that.

2.  God Intends ALL to Use (v. 10b)

“… as good managers of the varied grace of God” (4:10-11)

Manager and steward ...

“But now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as He wanted” (1 Corinthians 12:18)

• We have made it acceptable to sit in church week after week and do nothing—and still call yourself a follower of Christ.
• Every member a minister and every member on mission. 
• Your job is not to pay, pray, and stay out of the way.
• But, hear me on this… when your church is growing and great, you attract customers who don’t become co-laborers.

3.  For Which He Empowers Us (v. 11a)

“If anyone speaks, his speech should be like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, his service should be from the strength God provides ...” (1 Peter 4:11)

• Two broad categories … speaking and serving.
• There are other lists in other places: Romans 12:1–13; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians. 4:1–16 (about 19 total in these lists).
• All believers are chosen, gifted, and called.
• Ross Perot: “The problem with America today is that too many people are riding in the wagon with just a few of us out front pulling it.” 
• That’s the problem in most churches.
• Why did people watch the Susan Boyle YouTube video? People know that there should be a time and place where the unappreciated and undervalued shine as God gifted them. For some, that is a shocking moment on YouTube, for us it should just be life in the Kingdom of God.

4.  To Bring God Glory (v. 11b)

All Have Gifts … God Intends ALL to Use… For Which He Empowers Us… To Bring God Glory (1 Peter 4:10-11)

“… so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11)

• God wants his glory. He is concerned with it. He created you for it. He gifted you for it.

Ephesians 4:11–13