Use Your Talents!

ME

I’ll never forget the first time I was asked to sing as a teenager.

Our youth pastor Gary got a college Student named Lindsey from Trevecca Nazarene University to come and direct our choir.

I didn’t want to be a part of singing in the choir because I was all into sports. (Although I did rap in the car to some Limp Bizkit and Eminem.)

But Lindsay came up to me at one of the practices and asked if I would sing a solo.

Now I had a little crush on her, and when she asked I thought she might be diggin’ me, so I was like “YUP!”

So I did the solo for our District and Regional TNT Choir.

I had the “rap” solo in an old song called “Testify to Love.”

I killed that solo bc I’m a boss at hip-hop.

We won at East TN district TNT… but lost at Regional TNT in Nashville.

I screamed and threw stuff at the judges bc they obviously got it wrong.

(NOT REALLY!)

But I didn’t sing again in church for 4 years...

Until Jesus saved my soul and filled me with His Spirit.

I wasted the gift that He had given me for a long time.

Check out this story about some guys who used their gifts, and one who didn’t...

GOD

Matthew 25:14–30 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.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

YOU

Some of y’all have hidden gifts that the God of all creation has given you… and you’re wasting them.

Maybe you’re a great singer or gifted musically.

Someone who loves to draw, paint or write poetry.

Maybe you’re great at math and solving problems.

You play guitar, keys, or you’re a great speaker.

God has given each and every one of you incredible gifts.

He made you ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE: TO GIVE GLORY TO HIM

This event called TNT could be the start for you in a lifetime of giving your gifts back to God as an act of worship and helping others find Jesus Christ because of what they see through you.

So for every one of you here: Don’t miss this opportunity that God has given you!

*Prayer*