DEVOTED: 🛠️ Spiritual Gifts are Tools, Not Trophies

April 28, 2024

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

–1 Peter 4:10, ESV

IN THIS EMAIL

Shout Out: Westside + DCC = Awesomeness

Try This: Demystifying Spiritual Gifts

Party Tricks: Just…WOW! (Church Volunteerism by the Numbers)

Cheat Sheet: Gifted to Serve

SHOUT OUT

Devoted followers of Christ at DCC

Shout out to our Westside Elementary Volunteers!

Westside is an outstanding Sun Prairie School with a vibrant student body and dedicated teaching staff who go above and beyond (Go Wildcats!). However, Westside is not without its challenges. Not only are the majority of students near the federal poverty line, but homelessness is an ongoing issue, both of which make learning tough.

A few years ago, some willing DCC volunteers and dedicated Westside staff began to team up to make a difference. Some of our ongoing efforts include:

Serve Night
Christmas family fun night
Reading mentors
Stocking the school food pantry
Teacher appreciation gift cards
Assisting families with car repairs
Providing emergency housing for unhoused families
Donating this greenhouse

So far this year, DCC has given 1,000 volunteer hours (not that anyone's counting, but I was told that is by far the #1 volunteer partner Westside has)!

Way to go DCC!

TRY THIS

Fresh ideas for spiritual growth

Ok. We need to talk about Spiritual Gifts.

Boy is there a lot of confusion out there!

New Testament teaching is clear; spiritual gifts are supernatural, God-given abilities for the building up of the church. Every believer has them, but not every believer uses them. Do you know what yours are?

Try this!

Marc Maillefer (our Pastor Emeritus) put together a fantastic, concise overview of Scripture's teachings on spiritual gifts that will not only shed light on what can be a daunting topic, but also equip you to discover the unique ways God has designed you to contribute to what He's doing in the world. Check it out!

PARTY TRICKS 🃏

Stuff your pastor paid big bucks to learn in Bible school

Church Volunteering By the Numbers

April 21-27 is National Volunteer Week. Let's just acknowledge this; church is only possible because of everyday people who have been gifted to serve. While it's tough to get precise numbers, we did some back-of-the-napkin math on church volunteerism, and just...WOW!

There are around 340,000 churches in America. The average church has only one staff for every 60 attenders.

Week in and week out...

10,000,000 ushers and greeters welcome 60 million attenders

750,000 children's volunteers teach 4 million children

500,000 youth volunteers teach 2.5 million students

30,000 musicians lead worship

Volunteers make 1 million gallons of coffee

2.5 million leaders facilitate small groups, classes and recovery groups for 24 million people

Some estimate the economic value of church volunteering at $123 billion per year!

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who make it happen every week!

MESSAGE CHEAT SHEET

Get more out of the message

GIVE

Gifted to Serve | 1 Peter 4:7-11

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In this series, we're reflecting on all that Jesus has given us in order to grow as a generous people.

WATCH: YouTube or Website

Download Cheat Sheet pdf.

The Big Idea

Persecution and trials were making it difficult for people to continue serving, but Peter encourages them…the end is near! In light of Jesus' glorious kingdom, your small acts of love and service matter more than you know.

Good to Know

The end of all things (vs. 7). "End" in Greek is "telos," which means culmination. Peter is not being doom and gloom here. He's saying, "Hang on! Jesus is coming again."

What should Christians do when it feels like we're living in exile? Peter says, here are four things that matter!

1. Keep a clear head so you can Pray (vs. 7). Christian prayer doesn't happen when you empty your mind (Eastern religion) or under the influence of intoxicating drugs (witchcraft), but rather when you fill your mind with Scriptural truth.

2. Love one another (vs. 8). The church is to be a community of earnest love. When that happens, it "covers a multitude of sins" meaning forgiveness and reconciliation trump backbiting and favoritism.

3. Be genuinely hospitable (vs. 9). It was culturally expected to be hospitable, but a lot of people rolled their eyes and complained behind their guests' backs. Peter says, "No grumbling!"

4. Discover and use your spiritual gifts (vs. 10). The Holy Spirit empowers every believer with some useful gift that builds up the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:8-12).

To Him belongs glory and dominion forever (vs. 11). When God's glory is unveiled, at Jesus' return, all the suffering and sacrifice will be worth it.

Group Guide

Following the series with your group?

Start with some icebreaker questions.
Read the passage together before you dive in.
Share any insights from the message. Use the questions below to get your conversation started.

Conversation Starters

1. In verse 7, Peter reminds us to be alert and sober-minded so we can pray effectively. What difference can a sharp, focused prayer life make in a church family?

2. In verse 9, Peter says to show hospitality "without grumbling." Describe your current attitude when it comes to serving.

3. What do you think Peter meant when he calls you a "steward" (think manager or caretaker) of God's grace?

4. How do your spiritual gifts relate to your volunteering?

5. Compare this passage to Paul's "gift lists" in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 and Romans 12:3-8. Which resonates with you? Which do you have questions about?

6. How does a vision of God's glory motivate you to serve?

Prayer Prompts

Pray that God would reveal the ways He has gifted people at Door Creek Church to serve one another.