◄ 1 Peter 4:11 ►
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Study Bible
If anyone speaks
This phrase emphasizes the responsibility of those who communicate within the Christian community. The Greek word for "speaks" is "laleō," which implies not just casual conversation but a more formal or significant declaration. In the early church, speaking often referred to teaching or prophesying. The speaker is urged to consider the weight of their words, ensuring they align with divine truth.

he should speak as one conveying the words of God
The phrase underscores the sacred duty of speaking with divine authority. The Greek term "logia" refers to the oracles or utterances of God, suggesting that those who speak should do so with the reverence and accuracy befitting God's own words. This calls for a deep understanding of Scripture and a heart aligned with God's will, ensuring that the message is not tainted by personal bias or error.

If anyone serves
Service in the Christian context is a broad term encompassing various acts of ministry and support within the church. The Greek word "diakoneō" is used here, which is the root for "deacon," indicating a role of humble service. This service is not limited to formal church roles but includes any act of helping others in the name of Christ.

he should serve with the strength God provides
This phrase highlights the source of a believer's ability to serve. The Greek word "ischus" for "strength" implies not just physical power but also inner fortitude and capability. The emphasis is on reliance upon God's provision rather than one's own abilities, acknowledging that true service is empowered by divine grace.

so that in all things God may be glorified
The ultimate purpose of both speaking and serving is the glorification of God. The Greek word "doxazō" means to render or esteem glorious. This reflects the Christian's calling to live in such a way that God's majesty and goodness are evident to all, drawing others to Him.

through Jesus Christ
This phrase affirms that all glory to God is mediated through Jesus Christ. The preposition "dia" (through) indicates that Christ is the channel through which believers' actions are made acceptable to God. It is a reminder of the centrality of Christ in all aspects of Christian life and ministry.

to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever
This doxology ascribes eternal glory and power to Jesus Christ. The Greek word "doxa" for "glory" and "kratos" for "power" emphasize His divine majesty and sovereign authority. The repetition of "forever and ever" (literally "unto the ages of ages") underscores the eternal nature of Christ's reign and the perpetual praise due to Him.

Amen
This concluding word, derived from the Hebrew "āmēn," means "truly" or "so be it." It is a declaration of affirmation and agreement, sealing the truth of the preceding statements. In the context of this verse, it serves as a communal assent to the glorification of God through Christ, inviting believers to join in this eternal praise.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, is the author of this epistle. He writes to encourage and instruct believers in their faith and conduct.

2. Recipients of the Epistle
The letter is addressed to the "elect exiles" scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, regions in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

3. Jesus Christ
Central to the message of the epistle, Jesus is the one through whom God is glorified, and to whom glory and power belong forever.
Teaching Points
Speaking as God's Messenger
When we speak, we should do so with the awareness that our words can convey God's truth. This requires us to be diligent in our study of Scripture and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Serving with God's Strength
Our service should not rely on our own strength but on the strength that God provides. This means acknowledging our dependence on Him and seeking His empowerment in all our endeavors.

Glorifying God in All Things
The ultimate purpose of our speaking and serving is to glorify God. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centered motives to a God-centered life.

The Role of Jesus Christ
Recognizing that all glory and power belong to Jesus Christ helps us maintain a posture of humility and worship, acknowledging His lordship in every aspect of our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can you ensure that your words reflect the truth and love of God in your daily interactions?

2. In what ways can you rely more on God's strength rather than your own abilities when serving others?

3. Reflect on a recent situation where you had the opportunity to glorify God. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future?

4. How does understanding that all glory and power belong to Jesus Christ influence your approach to challenges and successes?

5. Consider the spiritual gifts you have been given. How can you use them more effectively to serve others and glorify God, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:11 and related scriptures?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 12:6-8
This passage discusses the use of spiritual gifts, emphasizing that each person should use their gifts according to the grace given to them, similar to the call in 1 Peter 4:11 to speak and serve with God's provision.

Colossians 3:17
This verse encourages believers to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him, aligning with the call to glorify God in all things.

Ephesians 4:29
This scripture advises believers to speak only what is helpful for building others up, which complements the instruction in 1 Peter 4:11 to speak as conveying the words of God.
Sermons
Christian SpeechJ.R. Thomson 1 Peter 4:11
Above All Things -- LoveF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
As and So -- the Method of MinistryW. H. M. H. Aitken, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Charity Covering a Multitude of SinsT. Ainger, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Charity Covering FaultsGreat Thoughts1 Peter 4:7-11
Christian SobrietyC. Vince.1 Peter 4:7-11
Christian StewardshipA. L. Simpson, D. D.1 Peter 4:7-11
Dissuasives from UncharitablenessH. W. Beecher.1 Peter 4:7-11
DutyHugh Ross.1 Peter 4:7-11
Duty in View of the Nearness of the EndR. Finlayson 1 Peter 4:7-11
Fervent CharityP. Witherspoon.1 Peter 4:7-11
Fervent CharityW. H. Hutchings, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
GiftsHomiletic Quarterly1 Peter 4:7-11
Gifts and ResponsibilityBishop of Lichfield.1 Peter 4:7-11
Gifts to be Communicated for the Good of OthersJohn Rogers.1 Peter 4:7-11
God Glorified by ChristF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
God's Gifts and Their PurposeCanon Vernon Hutton.1 Peter 4:7-11
God's Gifts and Their UseT. Griffith, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
How Christians May Glorify God1 Peter 4:7-11
In What a Variety of Ways We May Serve and Benefit OthersG. J. Zollikofer.1 Peter 4:7-11
Love Covereth All SinsJ. Vaughan, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Love Covers SinsF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Love Must be FerventJohn Rogers.1 Peter 4:7-11
Mutual ObligationsJ. N. Pearson, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Personal ChristlinessHomilist1 Peter 4:7-11
Receiving and MinisteringJ. Trapp.1 Peter 4:7-11
Reflected GloryA. Maclaren, D. D.1 Peter 4:7-11
Soberness and WatchfulnessD. Moore, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Christian StewardshipDean Alford.1 Peter 4:7-11
The End of All ThingsPulpit Studies1 Peter 4:7-11
The End of All Things At HandW. J. Armstrong.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Greatness of LoveP. H. Sharpe.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Idea and Duty of Human LifeW. L. Watkinson.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Import and Application of Glorifying God Through Jesus ChristJ. B. Beard.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Nearness of EternityG. S. Noel, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Nearness of EternityF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Oracles of GodW. G. Barrett.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Preaching of the WordAbp. Leighton.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Preeminence of CharityF. W. Robertson, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Warmth of HospitalityScientific Illustrations1 Peter 4:7-11
Uugrudging HospitalityF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Waiting for the EndH. J. Wilmot Buxton, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Watch unto PrayerG. F. Prescott, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Watchfulness and PrayerfulnessJ. T. Shedd, D. D.1 Peter 4:7-11
Watchfulness Associated with PrayerfulnessJ. Imrie, M. A.1 Peter 4:7-11
Watching for Answers to PrayerJ. Edmond, D. D.1 Peter 4:7-11
Watching in Relation to PrayerC. Vince.1 Peter 4:7-11
The Persecuted Christian Reminded of the Help of Brotherly LoveC. New 1 Peter 4:8-11
Christian Love as a ServiceU.R. Thomas 1 Peter 4:9-11
People
Peter
Places
Asia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus
Topics
Amen, Anyone, Belong, Christ, Dominion, Forever, Glorified, Glory, Power, Praised, Provides, Serves, Speaking, Speaks, Strength, Supplies
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Peter 4:11

     1105   God, power of
     1512   Trinity, equality of
     1690   word of God
     5630   work, divine and human
     5909   motives, importance
     5955   strength, divine
     7939   ministry
     8409   decision-making, and providence
     8634   amen
     8664   praise

1 Peter 4:10-11

     5556   stewardship
     7026   church, leadership
     7968   spiritual gifts, nature of
     8437   giving, of talents

1 Peter 4:10-13

     8440   glorifying God

Library
Christian Asceticism
'Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4. Wherein they think it …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

June the Twenty-Sixth Crucifying the Flesh
"Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." --1 PETER iv. 1-8. Let not the body be dominant, but the soul. Let me study the example and counsel of the Apostle Paul. "I keep my body under." Literally, I pummel it! If it is obtrusive and aggressive, its appetites clamouring for supremacy, I pummel it! Paul was not afraid of severe measures where carnality was concerned. He would fast a whole day in order to put the flesh in its place. And so should it be with all the Lord's children. We are …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Personal Experience
In conclusion I desire to add my humble testimony of a personal experience of the glorious work of entire sanctification. At the age of seventeen years I was converted. All who were acquainted with me had no reason to doubt the genuine, inwrought grace of pardon and the new life which at once began to bring forth fruit unto God. But the one to whom this mighty change seemed the most marvelous was myself. My poor soul, which for several years had been held under the terrible bondage and darkness of …
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The Old Man and the New.
"That we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness."--1 Peter iv. 24. The Psalmist sings: "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." (Psalm lxxxiv. 7) We must maintain this glorious testimony, altho our own experience often seems to contradict it. Not experience, but the Scripture, teaches us divine truth; nor is it as tho the procedure of the divine operation in our own heart could differ from the testimony of the Sacred Scripture, but that our …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Battle with Smallpox
Soon after we began work in the city, my brother George went out to assist in a meeting at Edgewood, Iowa. A mother desired prayer for her little girl, so my brother and another minister laid hands on her and prayed for her healing. The mother said that some one thought her child was taking smallpox, but that she was sure it was a mistake. The ministers saw a few little pimples on the child's lip and asked her if the same breaking-out was on other parts of her body. The mother's answer was, "None …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

A Nickname Accepted
'The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch' --ACTS xi. 26. Nations and parties, both political and religious, very often call themselves by one name, and are known to the outside world by another. These outside names are generally given in contempt; and yet they sometimes manage to hit the very centre of the characteristics of the people on whom they are bestowed, and so by degrees get to be adopted by them, and worn as an honour. So it has been with the name 'Christian.' It was given …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Of Avoiding of Curious Inquiry into the Life of Another
"My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.(1) For what is it to thee whether a man be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his thoughts reach. …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Some Other Writers of the New Testament
[Illustration: (drop cap L) Ancient engraving of man reading scroll] Let us now look at the rest of the books which make up the New Testament. In the days when Paul preached at Athens, the old capital of Greece, much of the ancient splendour and power of the Greek people had passed away, for the Romans had conquered their country, and they were no longer a free nation. Yet, although the Greeks had been forced to yield to Rome, their conquerors knew that the Grecian scholars and artists were far …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Wilderness State
"Ye now have sorrow: But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22. 1. After God had wrought a great deliverance for Israel, by bringing them out of the house of bondage, they did not immediately enter into the land which he had promised to their fathers; but "wandered out of the way in the wilderness," and were variously tempted and distressed. In like manner, after God has delivered them that fear him from the bondage of sin and Satan; …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Of the Power of the Church in Articles of Faith. The Unbridled Licence of the Papal Church in Destroying Purity of Doctrine.
1. The marks and government of the Church having been considered in the seven previous chapters, the power of the Church is now considered under three heads--viz. Doctrine, Legislation, Jurisdiction. 2. The authority and power given to Church-officers not given to themselves, but their office. This shown in the case of Moses and the Levitical priesthood. 3. The same thing shown in the case of the Prophets. 4. Same thing shown in the case of the Apostles, and of Christ himself. 5. The Church astricted …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Disciple, -- what is the Meaning and Purpose of the Cross...
The Disciple,--What is the meaning and purpose of the cross, and why do pain and suffering exist in the world? The Master,--1. The cross is the key to heaven. At the moment when by My baptism I took the cross upon My shoulders for the sake of sinners, heaven was opened, and by means of My thirty-three years bearing of the cross and by death upon it, heaven, which by reason of sin was closed to believers, was for ever opened to them. Now as soon as believers take up their cross and follow Me they …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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