Made to Win More

Introduction

What is winning?

Michael Jordan Documentary The Last Dance

Ultimate goal: win.

Used to be clear: score the most points; die with the most toys

#winning

16.8 million IG posts

Great night Sleep

Having a great dinner

Finishing a workout

Like what I’m wearing

50k followers

Surviving cancer

Spending time with family

Jesus to Disciples: Be Ready to Win

Matthew 25:14–20 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 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.’

There is the sense for Jesus and his disciples that there is a close connection between the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age.

The in-between: Sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (but a time only known to the Father) Jesus will return to gather his people.

Time of Opportunity

Kingdom Opportunities

Kingdom - Rule, reign

KOG - the rule of Jesus Christ in the lives of people and nations. Rev 11:15 The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.

KOG at the very center of the message of the historical Jesus

It will be like…parable; simile

Talent (Gk) - in this case, money entrusted to them based on the decision of the master and their abilities

The sums entrusted to them are huge and given based on God’s purposes.

Opportunities of the kingdom.

Serve God’s purposes

We've been entrusted God's property - gifts, resources, Kingdom and it's Gospel.

Each person according to the purposes of the Lord.

The Guy Who Preferred Security

Problem with the third person who buried his money: failed to recognize his master's was giving him opportunity and substituted security for service.

Security = Fear, Play it Safe

oknros - idle, lazy, hold back, shrinking, timid, reluctant, hesitant;

Hide it, protect it, polish it, keep it to yourself,

Not taking initiative, risk

MSG: I was afraid I might disappoint you; fail

Like a boss you feel you have to navigate around.

Fear based Playing it Safe Discipleship is concerned with not doing anything wrong, not failing. It produces nothing.

No fruit = responsibility will be given to someone else.

Cast away = community lost.

The Servants (Service)

Were prepared; ready

Be Ready: Active, Responsible, Faithful

Being ready is not about not doing anything wrong or bad faithful in producing fruit; kingdom results with the opportunities and resources we’re given big or small.

How to produce Kingdom Fruit: They trafficked/traded/banked on the talents to grow them (make more).

Assessed what they had

Learned of the opportunities

Took a risk

No fear, no playing it safe

Rising to Positions of Influence and Responsibilities

When the master returned...

Faithfulness in a little = more kingdom responsibility; More kingdom responsibility = the Father's joy

Playing it safe is saying no to the Father's joy

Being given more kingdom responsibility is the joy of the Father.

You were made to experience God’s joy.

This is winning. We were made for more of it.

How to Win More

Will be doing this together:

Discover - Abilities, gifts, strengths, opportunities:

Beuchner - Your heart gladness and the world’s hunger meet

Develop - learn, practice

Deploy

Put them to use, take hold of the opportunities

Don’t hesitate - difference between listening and hesitating

Risk, more than showing up