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Sermon Series: We are currently going through a sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, we’re talking about how Jesus taught His disciples to be ready for His second coming.
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
In this part of God’s Word, we see a familiar parable, the parable of the talents. By taking a look at what Jesus teaches His followers in this passage of Scripture, we can learn how we too are to steward our lives.
In order to steward your life well:
- Remember whose you are
Matt. 25:14, 1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23, 1 Pet. 2:9
2. Think through what God has entrusted you with
Matt. 25:14-15, Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Pet. 4:10, 1 Cor. 12:7
3. Be content with what God has entrusted to you
Matt. 25:15, 1 Tim. 6:6-9, Col. 3:2, Heb. 13:5
4. Choose faith over fear
Matt. 25:18, 24-25, Is. 41:10, Josh. 1:9, 2 Tim. 1:7, Ps. 27:1
5. Think through how to best utilize and multiply what you have for God’s glory
Matt. 25:16-23, 6:19-21, Col. 3:23, 1 Cor. 3:2, Titus 1:7-8
6. Remember that you will be held accountable
Matt. 25:26-27, 12:36-37, Rom. 14:12, Heb. 4:13, Jer. 17:10
7. Be prepared to steward more
Matt. 25:28-30, Luke 8:18, 19:25-26, Mark 4:25, John 15:2
Reflecting on God’s Word
Getting Started
- Take some time to read over Matthew 25:14-30 and pray.
- Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it?
- What surprised you as we talked about it?
- How can you remember that your life is not your own, but that you are a manager of it for God?
- As you reflect on Jesus’ Words from this part of Scripture, in what area(s) do you need to work on?
Diving In
- Take some time and jot down all of the things that God has entrusted to you.
- Looking at your list from question #1, does it surprise you? Take some time, and think through how faithful you are in everything on your list. In what aspects do you need to work on being more faithful?
- Do you ever struggle with envy, or even just thinking that you would be more faithful if you had more? What can you do to be more content with what God has entrusted to you?
- Read Matthew 25:24-25. In this parable, the one with one talent didn’t put it to good use, because he was fearful. How does fearfulness hinder your faithfulness? Spend some time in prayer, asking that God would help you be less fearful.
- Again, looking to your list from question #1, how can you best utilize and multiply what God has entrusted to you?
- Read Matthew 25:23-29. Here, everyone who had been entrusted with something was held accountable. How does remembering that you will be held accountable help you to remain faithful?
- Read Matthew 25:30. Throughout God’s Word, we see that the person who is faithful, isn’t given less to do, but more to manage. How can you be prepared to manage more?
Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
- What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
- How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
- Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?