The Signs of the End – Wk 3

Matthew 25:14-30 NLT

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 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.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 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.’

21 “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!’

22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

23 “The master said, ‘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!’

24 “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. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 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. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Using what you have to help others multiples it.

THREE QUESTIONS TO SIMPLIFY DIRECTION:

1. What do you have?

• Time
• Money
• Skills
• Knowledge
• Family
• Friendships
• Current options

2. Who is nearby?

Matthew 9:35-38 NLT

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

3. How can you use what you have to help those nearby?

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: Using what you have to help others multiplies it.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read Matthew 25:14-19. What reasoning keeps people from doing something with what’s been given to them?

▶ Read Matthew 25:20-22. Of the items we all have in our “bags”, which one have you used well, and which one could use more attention?

– Time

– Money

– Skills

– Knowledge

– Family

– Friendships

– Current options

▶ Read Matthew 9:35-38. Who are some people nearby, your neighbors, that God may be prompting you to invest in?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Ask God to show you one specific way you can use what you have to help those nearby?

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Pray that God will help the people in our church, in each stage of life, to invest well what God has given them to steward.