Don't Waste Your Gift

Tell Them What You are Going to Tell Them

Introduction

The world is full of gifted people . Some people realize how gifted they are and they use their gifts in order to make their lives and the lives of others better . Some people who are extremely gifted squander their gifts . The athlete who isn't able to get it together an use their gifts and abilities. That gifted musician who fails to reach their full potential. The gifted entrepreneur who never seems to be able to reach their desired lever of success. The person gifted with charisma Who doesn't use their gift for good. Maybe as we examine our own lives we might find that there are times when we have not used our gifts as we should . God has made each and everyone of us a little different , and he has granted each of us gifts and talents and we want to make sure that we use those gifts and talents and that we do not waste them . As we continue in our examination of the Olivet discourse we're going to talk about not wasting our gifts. Now this brings up a question

Question: What does using our gifts have to do with the end times.

I'm glad that you ask that question , and i'm even more glad that you chose to ask it because now that gives me the opportunity to answer it, but before we answer that question let's go back and remember the overarching central message of the Olivet discourse and that is that no one but the father knows when Christ will return , therefore; it is our responsibility as Christians to be ready. Now once we remember this we can go back to the question of what using our gifts have to do with end times . The answer to that question leads us to the central message and main point of today's sermon which is , God has given each of us gifts and talents, do not waste them, Because good stewards will be rewarded and poor stewards will be condemned . The bottom line is that if we are good stewards of the gifts and talents that God has given us then we will be rewarded for that and those who are not good stewards of the gifts that God has given them will be condemned. Now this isn't just something that I'm coming up with this is supported by our text . So let's look at our text .

Series Central Message

Only the father knows when Christ will return , as Christians our responsibility is to be ready

Sermon Central Message

God has given each of us gifts and talents, do not waste them. Good stewards are rewarded. Poor stewards will be condemned

Main Point(s)

Each is given according to his ability

There is equality in value, but not equality if gifting.

Those who use there gifts well will be entrusted with more.

Growth is expected

Those who do not use there gifts will will lose what they have.

Hell is real

Tell Them

Matthew 25:15 NIV

To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

Each is given according to his ability

There is equality in value, but not equality if gifting.

Matthew 25:20–23 (NIV)

The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Those who use there gifts well will be entrusted with more.

Matthew 25:24–27 (NIV)

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

Growth is expected

Matthew 25:28–29 NIV

“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

Those who do not use there gifts will will lose what they have.

Matthew 25:30 NIV

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Hell is real

Question(s)

The last servant did not gain, but he did not lose anything. What is the problem.

Answer(s)

God expects growth . He expects us to grow spiritually. He expects us to grow closer to him. He expects us to be his representatives here on earth and as a part of being his representatives he expects us to through the power of the Holy Spirit to invite others into the family of God.

Application.

Don't waste your gifts use your gifts. Don't worry about the gifts that you don't have use the gifts that you do have, because your gifts are important, your gifts are needed.

Tell Them What You Told Them

Summation of points

Dive Home Big Idea

Conclusion