Sermon Tone Analysis
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Little things
Make a __________ out of a mole hill.
Find a ___________ in a hay stack.
A ________ through the eye of a needle.
All of these sayings point to something small.
Small things can be hard to find, be blown out of proportion, or even make things impossible.
In many ways, Jesus warned us to be alert to the little things.
To even be faithful in them.
Today we are going to talk about this topic by looking at a few parables Jesus told.
Like a sliver in your finger, if you don’t take care of it, it can lead to pain, swelling, and even infection.
When we don’t pay attention to the little things they can have untold effects on our lives, our faithfulness, and our effectiveness for the kingdom.
Pray
Read
Parable #1
There are a few key principles to be aware of:
The first key: Jesus is coming back.
We need to be prepared for his return.
Paul writes this to the church in Thessaloniki.
This parable reminds me of the church.
Some attend church with hearts prepared.
They are devoting their lives, their wealth, their all to the kingdom of God.
Others are coasting.
Trusting in past mountain top experiences or spiritual platitudes to allow them to coast into the kingdom.
This parable is a strong warning to those who are not putting their all into the kingdom.
Walking with God is an all or nothing proposition.
Second Parable:
When Jesus returns their will be an accounting of all those who claim to serve him.
The second key: We all must ask ourselves, “What are doing with all that God has given us?”
Looking at individuals and individual churches, we must simply look at our ability and see if we are being faithful.
We don’t compare ourselves to others.
Their ability or capacity might be different than our own.
Third Parable:
A negative example of a positive principle.
What did the shrewd manager do.
He took what was available to him in order to influence others to be his friend after he lost his job.
The third key: In this parable Jesus encourages his disciples to use worldly wealth as a means to an end and to not view it as it’s own end.
He then asks a couple of questions that we need to answer.
How do we answer this?
Are we using our money and possessions as a vehicle for the gospel and eternal things?
What belongs to God?
Are we being faithful?
What are the little things that we are responsible for?
As stewards of what God has given us, we must ask if we are using for his kingdom or our comfort?
Are we taking care of them so that he will entrust us with true riches.
A Season of Stewardship:
I believe that God is calling us into a season of stewardship.
A time to care for the little things.
All we have belongs to him.
Yesterday a handful of hardworking people cleaned out the church.
We didn’t do this to just open up space.
We did it because our stewardship to this building was lacking because of it.
Hidden behind the piles of unused chairs, old props and decorations were walls in need of repair.
Rooms made useless.
Useful equipment buried beneath the broken.
By taking this step.
By building our shed.
By repairing our garage.
By honoring the lord’s gift of this property to us.
We are preparing for the the true riches.
The souls that God will entrust to us for generations to come.
As a church, we must be commited to this faithful service even as we look for those greater riches to flow into our fellowship.
It begins with each one asking:
Is your lamp filled with oil?
Are you using what you have been given?
Are you in love with God or does what he has given you have you trapped in comfort and sidelined in the mission of the kingdom.
God is ready to do great things.
Let’s get ready for him and for his kingdom.
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