September 13, 2026
1 Peter 4:7–11
Theme: Stewardship of Gifts and Talents
Have you ever opened a gift you didn’t expect ─ and realized it was exactly what you needed? God does that with us. He gives gifts we didn’t ask for, but gifts the world desperately needs.
In our Epistle reading, Peter writes to Christians facing pressure and uncertainty, reminding them that in challenging times the Church must stay prayerful, love deeply, and use every God-given gift to serve one another faithfully.
So, as we continue our September stewardship series, today’s passage from 1 Peter 4:7─11 invites us to think about stewardship not only in terms of money, but in terms of the gifts and talents God has placed within us.
Peter begins with a striking reminder: “The end of all things is near” v.7a. He is not trying to frighten the church. He is saying: Live with urgency. Live with intention. Live knowing that your life matters to God and to the world. Stewardship begins with that awareness ─ that our time, our abilities, our compassion, our creativity, our wisdom are not accidents. They are assignments given to us by God.
Peter then says, “Be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers” v. 7b. In other words, stay spiritually awake. Gifts grow when we stay connected to God. Talents flourish when we pray. Stewardship is not just about what we do; it is about who we are becoming.
Then Peter moves to our today’s theme: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” v. 10.
This is one of the most beautiful stewardship verses in Scripture. It tells us three things:
1. Every person has a gift.
Not just the clergy. Not just the vestry. Not just the people who speak or sing or lead. Everyone has a gift entrusted to them by God. Some gifts are visible ─ preaching, teaching, singing. Some gifts are quiet ─ listening, encouraging, organizing, praying. But all gifts matter.
2. Gifts are meant to be used.
Peter says, “Serve one another” v. 9. Gifts are not decorations; they are tools. They are meant to build up the body of Christ. When we hold back our gifts, the church becomes smaller. When we offer them, the church becomes stronger.
3. Gifts reveal God’s grace.
Peter calls them the “manifold grace of God” v.10d. That means God’s grace has many colors, many shapes, many expressions ─ and each of us carries one of those expressions. When you use your gift, you show the world a piece of God’s grace that no one else can show.
Peter continues: “Whoever speaks, do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies” v. 11. This means our gifts are not powered by our own strength. They are powered by God. Stewardship is not about trying harder; it is about trusting deeper.
And then Peter ends with the purpose of all stewardship: “So that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ.”
We use our gifts not for applause, not for recognition, not for our own comfort ─ but so that God may be glorified.
My dear friends in Christ, St. Paul’s is full of gifts. I see them every week ─ in your hospitality, your generosity, your care for one another, your willingness to serve, your love for worship, your commitment to mission. As we continue this stewardship month, I invite you to ask: What gift has God placed in me? And how can I offer it for the good of the church and the healing of the world?
Spiritual Direction for the Week ─ Acronym: G.I.F.T.
G ─ Give thanks: Begin each day by thanking God for at least one gift you carry.
I ─ Identify your gift: Name one ability, passion, or talent God has entrusted to you.
F ─ Find a place to use it: Ask God to show you one person or ministry that needs your gift this week.
T ─ Trust God’s strength: Offer your gift without fear, trusting that God will supply what you need.