Your Gifts and Talents Will Grow

God has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. 1 Peter 4:10

 Prop: can of silly string, table

 1 Peter 4:10 says, “God has given each of you a gift.”  That means that you have a gift from God.  It could be teaching, preaching, giving, serving, helping others or showing special kindness to people.  Whatever it is, God gave it to you to be a blessing to others.  Right now you may not think much of your gift.  You may not even know what your gifts or talents are.  But they’re there, just waiting to be used. 

            I was thinking about the gifts and talents in each of us and it made me think of silly string.  (Show can of silly string).  There is a lot more silly string in this can than it may appear.  (Begin squirting silly string onto the table in a circular shape and moving upward as you go, creating a tower effect).  Until I start squirting the silly string, I will never know what is inside of the can.  I’ll never know how much there is until I use it.  That is why it is so much like your gifts and talents.  You will never know how much God has given you until you start using your gifts and talents for Him.  It may not seem like much at first, but keep growing in your abilities.  If you feel like God has given you a special ability to pray for people, start praying for people.  That will grow and pretty soon you will be praying for many people, and seeing answers to your prayers!  If you believe your gift is teaching, start teaching.  You may only be teaching the kid who sits next to you at lunch, but your gift will grow.  God will help you get better and better at teaching.  You may be a musician, singer, or an extra friendly person.  Keep working at your gifts and talents and watch them grow.

            (Show pile of silly string).  Now look at all this silly string.  It’s bigger than the can it came in.  And God can use your gifts and abilities to do something greater and bigger than you are.  Use your gifts and talents for God.  Work at them so they will grow, and watch God work through you to do great things.