Sermon Title .

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts

Sermon Text.. Romans 12:1-22
Invocation Scripture. . 1 Peter 4:10
Main Idea :

God grants gifts, talents and abilities

to all people.

Objective : To challenge members to use their gifts,

talents and abilities for the Glory of God!

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts

Romans 12:1-22

Point I :

The Challenge.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom 12:1-2

Point II :

The Clarification. . . . . . . . . . . Rom 12:3-5

Point III:

The Calling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom 12:6-8

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts

Romans 12:1-22
Slide 1 Black Screen - Click when I begin to speak
We come today to the 4th Area in our study of
Christian Stewardship. We began our study on
Stewardship with the first sermon entitled, Stewardship
Foundation for Christian Living, and in this message
discovered 4 Key Principles of Stewardship the
principle of Ownership, Responsibility, Accountability
and Benefit or Blessing. We came to clearly see that
God is the only Owner, and ONLY the OWNER has
rights. The Steward has Responsibility. The Steward
will also be held Accountable at some point for how
they handled their Responsibility and finally, though a
Steward is Responsible and will be held Accountable,
the Steward still experiences GREAT benefit and
blessing because they are given the Privilege of utilizing
the Assets of the Owner, and enjoying the use of those
assets.
We then considered The Stewardship of Faith. One
of the most important learning times for me in recent
years! The Stewardship of the Faith is Critical and it
impacts every other aspect of our call as Stewards!
In that 3 week series that took 6 weeks due to snow,
we considered the critical importance of Embracing the
faith, Teaching the faith, Living the faith, and we
deferred Sharing the Faith to the end of this series as a
spring Board to learning G.R.A.C.E.
This leaves us with 3 more topics.... The Stewardship
of Talents, The Stewardship of Finances, and The
Stewardship of Time

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

Today, we are going to turn to the Stewardship of the

Talents, gifts and Abilities that God grants... I would like
for us to turn to Romans 12 for our text for this message,
but there are many Scriptures that are important to us as
we consider this topic.
Generally when we talk about Gifts, many Christians
might think only of the Spiritual Gifts, and in fact, that is
what this passage in Romans and the Similar passage in
1 Cor 12 speak of, and yet as we study the Bible, we
discover as early as Genesis, that it is God that has gifted
people in every area. In fact, before we get to our text,
take a moment and turn with me to Gen 4:16.
< < < Read: Gen 4:20-22 > > >
(Gen 4:20-22 NASB) And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he
was the father of those who dwell in tents and have
livestock. {21} And his brother's name was Jubal; he was
the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. {22} As
for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger
of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of
Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Jabal - Animal Husbandry
Jubal - The gift or talent of Music
Tubal-cain - Blacksmith, the art of Smithing
We see further gifts and talents mentioned as coming
from God directly in Exodus 31:1-5... Turn there...
< < < Read: Exo 31:1-5 > > >
You can continue to walk through the scriptures and see
many instances where it is clear that God is the one
gives, talent and ability, understanding and discernment.

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

For some reason, we just want to refuse to ascribe

glory to God for the gifts that He so freely and
generously grants to mankind!! I mean think about the
vast array of things that people can do. All of these
skills, abilities clearly come from God!!
Since that is true, then any gift or talent that one might
have, is literally Gods Gift, Gods Talent, and thus, it
would clearly come under the purview of Stewardship!
With those thoughts clarified, turn with me then to
Romans 12 and lets take at look at this important
chapter in the Bible and see what we can learn about The
Stewardship of Talents, Gifts and Abilities.
< < < Read: Romans 12:1-21 > > >
Wow!!! What an amazing Chapter! One principle, One
precept, one Command, one understanding after the
other!! We could spend a weeks here in this passage
alone! But lets look at 3 clear truths from this passage
regarding the Stewardship of Talents, Gifts and Abilities
here today... Look back at vss 1-2
Point I :

The Challenge.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom 12:1-2

(Rom 12 NASB) I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship. {2} And do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect.

Pauls statement is strong! He URGES every believe,

due to the incredible mercy of God, to realize that the
life, that they thought they owned... that was actually

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

headed to death and separation from God for all eternity,

was a life worth saving!! And so thats just what God
did through His Precious Son, Jesus Christ!! We read in
1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for
our sins.
The is a statement that reveals Pauls clear understanding
of the First Principle of Stewardship. He reminds the
Roman Christians that they do not own their own
bodies... Their bodies belong to God! We are soundly
reminded of this great truth!
(1 Cor 6:20 NASB) For you have been bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body.
But Paul takes it two steps further and reveals the truth
of our Responsibility to manage this life that God has
given us and... the Accountability that we face in the
management of this life!!! Look at the middle of vs 1
(Rom 12 NASB) ...present your bodies a living and
holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, (which is) your
spiritual service of worship.
WOW!!! We are to Present our Bodies to God... even
more we are to present them alive and as a HOLY
sacrifice!!! Something that would be acceptable to
God!!
Listen friends, our lives in Christ can not be like our
lives outside of Christ! Who we once were can not be
who we are now!! For the truth is, if our lives are like
they were before Christ and who we once were is who

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

we still are, then the TRAGIC reality is, WE HAVE NO

EVIDENCE OF SALVATION!! James, the half brother
of our Lord Jesus Christ is very Strong on this point...
James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is
dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Listen my friend, the Challenge before us as Stewards of
God in Christ Jesus, As Stewards of Family, Stewards of
Faith and Stewards of the Talents and Gifts God grants,
is to remember WHOSE we are and to Remember from
WHOM all things actually come! We must live by
Gods rules and standards not by mans....
But the reality of Accountability reside within these
verses also... look back at the end of vs 2...
(Rom 12 NASB) that you may prove what the will of
God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We are responsible to present ourselves in a specific way
to God, but also called to be accountable for doing this in
a way that is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE... and look at
it... read it... PERFECT! YES... in our better moments,
in those times where we are fully in the Spirit, moved by
the truth of the Word of God, that we can actually do
things that are in keeping with the PERFECT will of God
for our lives!
INCREDIBLE!!! AMAZING!!! EVEN
MIRACULOUS!!! Listen friends... The more we
embrace the Faith, the More we Study to show ourselves
approved unto God, workman that need not be ashamed
who handle accurately the Word of God, the more we

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

come in line with the Will of God through prayer and the
more we submit every aspect of our will, our way and
our walk to Christ, the more likely and more often we
will actually share with God in things that are in keeping
with His perfect will and eternal plan! A prime example
of this is the Missionary Eric Liddell... most of you may
not know him as a Missionary to China but may well
remember the movie Chariots of Fire, a movie based on
his life and in particular on his Christian convictions...
The Movie tells the story of this young Scottish man
who was dubbed, The Flying Scottsman because he
was so incredibly fast! Well, not only was he incredibly
fast, he was also incredibly committed to the Lord Jesus
Christ and to his faith!!! Eric went to the 1924
Olympics, knowing that the time trials for the race at
which he was best, were going to be held on Sunday and
he would not run on Sunday because it was his day of
rest and commitment to God! This forced him to have to
run races that he wasnt as good at, but when he stepped
up to the line for the 440 race, it is said that Jackson
Scholz, one of the American runners, who was moved by
Liddells conviction not to race on Sunday handed
Liddell a note which read...The Good Book Says , He
Who Honors Me, I will Honor, 1 Samuel 2:30. After he
read the note, Liddell held it in his hand while he ran and
won the race!
Liddel is quoted as saying... I believe God made me
for a purpose, but he also made me fast!
And when I run I feel his pleasure.
So the Challenge of the Stewardship of Talents, Gifts

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

and Abilities, is to remember whose we are! For when

we realize WHOSE we are we then and ONLY then can
keep proper understanding and focus with the Talents
Gifts and Abilities that God Gives!
But consider secondly this morning there in vss 3-5,
The Clarification
Point II : The Clarification. . . . . . . . . . . Rom 12:3-5
{3} For through the grace given to me I say to every man
among you not to think more highly of himself than he
ought to think; but to think so as to have sound
judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
{4} For just as we have many members in one body and
all the members do not have the same function, {5} so
we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another.
I think that every one of us here this morning
understands the truth that many who achieve places of
status, prestige and honor can become conceited and selfcentered. The pages of American History alone in the
sports arena and in hollywood are riddled with tragic
stories of peoples rise to fame and power and then their
demise to drugs, alcohol and ungodly life styles.
Paul challenges us to be careful that we dont what...
think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think!
Listen my friends... Fiath in Christ, brings Confidence in
Christ... Faith In Christ brings realization of who I am
without Christ and thus, how much I need Christ! Jesus
Christ is the answer to the problems we face with our

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

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sense of worth and value!

In fact, it goes back to what we just said in the last
point, it I sicritivcal that I know WHOSE I am because
when I know Whose I am , then I have a very clear
picture of WHO I really am, and when I realize, after
seeing my own desperate and dispicable reality, am
overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving that God
woul dlove me and Christ would love me and literally be
willing to give His life for mine!!
THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE THOUGHT!!!
So we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we
ought, to but we MUST think enough of ourselves to
have the confidence and courage to share with others
what God has done for us through faith in Jesus Christ!
Look back at the end of vs 3...
....but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God
has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Dont let it slip by you that the measure of faith. that
God grants is the KEY to sound judgement
Ponder that for a moment beloved... If FAITH is the
foundation to sound judgement, then the implication is
that those who do not have faith, will not have sound
judgment!! I believe I have seen the truth of that in my
life also!!!
But this proper sense of worth and value, this sound
judgement is for a reason, it is to hep us recognize that
we are not an island unto ourselves, that God has made
us creatures that need to marry, that are called to be
fruitful and multiple and live in family and in

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The Challenge - The Clarification- The Call

community! We discover very quickly in this reality that

no two people are alike, in fact, though identical twins
may look alike, they too are most often very different in
terms of their nature, their feelings and emotions, and
their preferences and tastes!
Look back at verse 4... what does it say?...
{4} For just as we have many members in one body
and all the members do not have the same function,
{5} so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another.
You see, we discover in this Clarification that there are
unique and special differences in everyone, and we
discover that the sum of these differences are critical to
the stable functioning of culture and society, of family
and community life!! This prepares us to be able to
accept the reality that God is not about making cookie
cutter people, but that He makeseach of us unique and
different so that we can fulfill His will and prupsoe in
our lives!
Point III:

The Calling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom 12:6-8

{6} And since we have gifts that differ according to the

grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if
prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; {7} if
service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his
teaching; {8} or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he
who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence;
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

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10

In these 3 verses, Paul spring boards off of the last

thought in verse 5, and points out the wonder and
importance of the gifts that God gives and of the fact that
God is the one who decides what He is going to give
And so we come to realize that it is not the gift that is
important and not the person even who is important, but
rather the one who gives the gifts, and who makes the
investment of time, energy and effort to teach others, so
that they may take up the mantel and continue the work!!
Notice to as you look at the middle and end of verse 6
that no matter what gift, talent or ability that you posses,
you are responsible to apply that gift in Kingdoms
service to the best extent that you can!!
But would you notice there in vs 6, if you are a
teacher or a preacher, you dont have to live up to my
standard of what I think a specific area of giftedness
should look like or be like!!
God has uniquely gifted us and uniquely empowered
us so that as we each fulfill His calling and purpose in
our lives, the necessary elements are present to
accomplish His ultimate will and purpose for Fellowship
Baptist Church!!
You see, just as we are each unique, marvelously and
wonderfully made, Gods call in each of our lives, is
unique! Marvelously and wonderfully unique!
He does not call me to act, move, think, respond or
live exactly like you! He expects me to act, move, think,
respond and live in such a way that my life reflects the
image of His precious Son Jesus Christ!!

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

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11

That my dear friends, is a FREEING and an

EMPOWERING thing for our lives!!!
I had toyed with the idea today of beginning the
sermon, by having my harmonica, my violin, my clarinet
and my saxaphone tucked behind the pulpit here. I was
going to grab my guitar and play a short intriquit cord
and picking pattern that sounded impressive, then I was
going to pick up my harmonica and play a few notes of
Amazing Grace, then my clarinet and play a few notes
from Peter and the Wolf, and then my Saxaphone and
play a few bars with a highschool marching band sound,
and finally my violin with a classical sound that ended in
a country twist. The point was going to be to represent a
variety of talents... But even more, to point out the fact
that when we see someone that is multi-talented, we tend
to marvel at them, be awed or amazed by them when in
reality, all of the talents that they have are a DIRECT
GIFT FROM GOD!!!
I was going to point out that you shouldnt be looking
at me and going... GOLLY , HE REALLY HAS A LOT
OF TALENT... but rather, you would think... Praise the
Lord for the talents and gifts that HE gives! And
perhaps even more.... Ponder the truth as to whether the
talents and gifts demonstrated, were being used for the
Glory of God!!! (Pause and look around for a moment)
I just wanted that to sink in for a moment...
NOW...
One final thought. Remember that in matters of
stewardship, there is the Owner who has the rights and

The Stewardship of Talents and Gifts - Romans 12:1-21

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12

gets to tell the Steward what to do and even how to do

what needs to be done. The owner makes the rules, the
Steward follows the rule. He or she is RESPONSIBLE
and ACCOUNTABLE... But remember I have added a
thought to that RESPONSIBLE aspect... As Gods
stewards we have a PRIVILEGED Responsibility, in
that we get to utilize and benefit from the Responsibility
we have to MANAGE as Good Stewards Gods
resources.
Penny slipped off to bed one night last week and I
grabbed my guitar and went and sat on the edge of our
bed and just played softly for a little bit. The smile on
her face was priceless, even with her precious brown
eyes closed... she softly remarked how much she loved to
hear me play.
She was blessed and I was blessed and in fact, the
musical gift that God has given has been a great source
of comfort, encouragement and an anchor point of sanity
and peace in my life in times of Great turmoil. Do I use
these gifts of music for the Lord??? YES... Every
chance that He gives me... but I also have a
PRIVILEGED responsibility in that I get to benefit from
the blessing of His giftedness in my life!
The Stewardship of Talents, Gifts and Abilities...
Are they His?. // YOU BET THEY ARE!
Are you then, using them for Him? IF so! PTL, if not,
Why not!
Be careful... HEAR ME... BE CAREFUL... there are too
many instances throughout the history of the world, that

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13

reveal the truth that if we use His giftedness and His

talents exclusively for our own end, they can and may
very well, be the death of us!
The Stewardship of Talents Gifts and Abilities!
Discover them
Employ them in His Service
Enjoy the benefit of their blessing
Give Him the Glory!
(Rom 12:6-8 NASB) And since we have gifts that differ
according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them
accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of
his faith; {7} if service, in his serving; or he who teaches,
in his teaching; {8} or he who exhorts, in his
exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads,
with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let us pray!