Matthew 25:14-30
- I Am Designed To Use Well What I’ve Been Given.
- Know what you’ve received.
“He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.” Matthew 25:15 (p.756)
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Romans 12:6a (p.866)
- Have the attitude of a servant.
“The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” Matthew 25:20-21 (p.756)
“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’” Matthew 25:24-25 (p.756)
- Faithfully invest your gifts.
“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Matthew 25:29 (p.756)
My Next Step This Week:
_____ I will understand the gifts God has blessed me with so I can find where I can use my gifts well by:
- Discover what I’ve been given and serve
- Use what I’ve been given to serve
Series Memory Verse: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Luke 6:31 (p.786)
Small Group Questions Part 4
One Thing: I Am Designed To Use Well What I’ve Been Given.
Key Verse: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Luke 6:31 (p.786)Bible References: Matthew 25:14-30 (p.756)
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
A “talent” was an expression in Jesus’ time used to describe a particular amount of money. A talent would have equaled about 6,000 denarii. A single denarii was the equivalent of a typical day’s wage during New Testament times. The talents, or bags of silver, described in this passage would have been a life-changing amount of money for each servant.
CONVERSATION STARTER
// What are your favorite hobbies? What is one talent that you wished you could learn or get better at?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
// Read Matthew 25:13-14 (p.756). Jesus wants us all to know that we all have received a valuable life.
- What would you do with that money?
- How can you use the life God has given you to multiply His kingdom?
// Read 1 Peter 4:10 (p.936). In this passage we are told that each of us have been blessed with different spiritual gifts.
- How do you feel God has gifted you?
- How can you use that to help others know Jesus?
// Read Matthew 25:20-27 (p.756). We are called to have the attitude of a servant.
- How can this paint a picture of the “kingdom of Heaven?”
- What does it look like to use your talents in God’s Kingdom?
// Read Romans 12:4-5 (p.866). This passage explains that we need to use our gifts and talents together as a united body.
- What happens if I don’t use the gifts that God has given me?
- How can your gifts actually benefit others?
// Read Matthew 25:29-30 (p.756). Jesus wants us to faithfully invest our gifts.
- What does it mean to invest?
- How could we invest what we’ve been given to benefit God’s Kingdom?
NEXT STEP
My Next Step This Week ____ I will understand the gifts God has blessed me with so I can find where I can use my gifts well by:
• Taking a spiritual gifts test
• Making an appointment with a pastor
DIGGING DEEPER
Read Matthew 20:1-16 (p.750). This parable explains the nature of the Kingdom of God, and how Jesus is a compassionate employer who gives each of us the same opportunity to know Him and be in relationship with Him.
Read Luke 19:12-27 (p.801). Here Jesus tells us another parable about how we are entrusted with valuable resources here on earth, and we are expected to use them well as we patiently wait for His eventual return.
Luke 16:1-13 (p.798), 1 Corinthians 12:4 (p.877), 1 Peter 4:9-11 (p.936), Mark 13:34 (p.775)