A Saint Is Gifted
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Announcements
Matthew Bible study tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM. We will be discussing the crucifixion of Jesus and atonement.
Charge Conference will be Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes are due by next Sunday.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
O Lord, we gratefully acknowledge the gifts you have given to each of us for service in your world. Gifts of teaching, healing, inspiring, challenging and creating are all among the myriad of things you have placed in our lives. Direct our lives to use these gifts as we reach out to our neighborhood and nation, witnessing to your love and your healing mercy. We pray this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Bailey Opening Songs
“If We are the Body”
“You Never Let Go”
PG Opening Song
“If We Are the Body”
Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Gracious and generous God, you are always with us, offering guidance, healing and hope. We know that with things seem dark or are dazzlingly bright; when troubled times assail or peace reigns; there you are with us. Continue to guide and challenge our lives. Lead us in pathways of service and away from trails of fear and anxiety. Open our hearts to receive your healing transforming love that we might serve you more faithfully; for we ask these things in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Bailey Song
“Walk by Faith”
PG Song
“You Never Let Go”
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter 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 replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Hi! Smile! You can do it! Go ahead, look around and smile! What did you notice? Did someone smile back at you? Did someone laugh or giggle? You just completed an experiment. Most smiles are infectious! Someone might catch it and smile at someone else and before you know it the whole place is filled with smiles. That’s not the worst thing that could happen.
A smile — a simple gift! But what about other gifts? Some people have the wonderful ability to teach; others to preach; some to be in ministries of healing; some to be in construction and building; others in environmental studies; some in working with people who are troubled; others who work with businesses – the list can go on and on. Think about it for a minute! What gifts have you been given? I had a friend who had the ability to do very nice landscape paintings but because she felt she wasn’t the best at it or “even very good” as she would say, she didn’t let people know what she could do. Her paintings were lovely. You could feel her warmth and sweetness in her work. Finally we got her to show some of her work, which took a lot of persuasion, to someone who owned a little art gallery. He asked to show about five of her paintings and, lo and behold, they sold! She was surprised. She decided that maybe she could use her work to make people smile or be happy; but before that she thanked God for her gift and the love God instilled in her for painting — she vowed to give God a portion of the funds she received from the paintings in gratitude for the gift. I might say she did very well and the church that received this special gift from her was able to create an after-school art program for latch-key children. We provided space in the church for her group which met on Tuesdays. Blessing upon blessing her gifts brought children into the church, brought God’s word of love and introduced the children to the blessings they were given.
There are many more stories like this and I imagine you have many gifts that you can use to help others and for the glory of God.
1. A SAINT’S GIFTS ARE GIVEN BY GOD. (VS. 14-15)
1. A SAINT’S GIFTS ARE GIVEN BY GOD. (VS. 14-15)
14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
v14. The statement, "again it will be like", is probably a shorthand way of saying "for the kingdom of heaven will be like (can be compared to the situation where) a man, going on a journey", leaves his assets with three associates, expecting to return and share in the profits.
v15. A talent is a variable, but worth something like six thousand denarii, $300,000. Numerous meanings are suggested for the "talent", eg. God-given resources, the gifts of the Spirit, etc. The trouble is, this parable is not an allegory and should not be interpreted like one.
2. A SAINT’S GIFTS ARE TO BE USED FOR GOD’S GLORY. (VS. 16-27)
2. A SAINT’S GIFTS ARE TO BE USED FOR GOD’S GLORY. (VS. 16-27)
16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter 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 replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.
11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
v16-18. The faithful associates put the money to work, in the sense of using it in a business enterprise. The faithless associate buries it out of fear, laziness or plain nastiness.
v19-23. After a long time the master returns. The faithful associates, given graded resources comparable to their abilities, are equally rewarded with greater responsibilities and receive the master's "well done."
v24-25. On the surface, the third associate does seem to act carefully and with respect, even diligence, toward the master. Of course, it could be argued that his actions, in a sense, accused the master of being grasping. If he increases the master's capital he will not share in any of it, while if he loses any of the capital he will be held responsible. So, out of spite, he gives the master back what belonged to him, no more and no less.
v26-27. It could be argue that the third associate virtually condemns himself. He could have easily put the talent out on loan and so gained some income for the master. To act with such spite toward a "hard" master is only asking for trouble. It's worth noting that in New Testament times the distinction between "interest" and "usury" was well understood. Even Roman law set a maximum rate of 12%.
3. WHEN JESUS RETURNS, WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED ON HOW WE USED OUR GIFTS. (VS. 28-30)
3. WHEN JESUS RETURNS, WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED ON HOW WE USED OUR GIFTS. (VS. 28-30)
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books.
v28. The faithless associate loses his talent, along with everything else.
v29. This verse serves to apply the parable. Its logic is anything but logical to a Western mindset - God can add something to a full vessel, but adds nothing to an empty one. Joel Marcus explains the point nicely for the Western mindset; "if a person takes a tiny step toward God, God will more than match this movement." Of course, the opposite also applies. So, the person who has accomplished, who holds firmly to God's promises in Christ, that person will possess those promises in abundance.
v30. Jesus concludes with the language of judgment, of a coming day of reckoning.
Take a risk! Believe in the gifts God has entrusted to you. Begin with a smile — then see what else you can do. You might be surprised. God will be delighted! Blessings on you all, dear friends. AMEN.
Bailey/Pleasant Grove Closing Song
“Sanctuary”
Benediction
Benediction
Go forth into God’s world as children of the light, offering ministries of hope and healing to a hurting world. Go forth filled with God’s abundant love. Go forth in peace. AMEN.