Sermon Tone Analysis

Next Generation

Last week we talked about the children and youth of our church.

This week, I want us to focus on the next generation of our church.

Boomer, Gen X and Millenials.

Each generation changes our culture, and we need to make sure we are ministering those we are trying to reach.

Limiting the buyer pool.

The Parable of the Ten Minas is similar to the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30.

Some people assume that they are the same parable, but there are enough differences to warrant a distinction: the parable of the minas was told on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem; the parable of the talents was told later on the Mount of Olives.

The audience for the parable of the minas was a large crowd; the audience for the parable of the talents was the disciples by themselves.

The parable of the minas deals with two classes of people: servants and enemies; the parable of the talents deals only with professed servants.

In the parable of the minas, each servant receives the same amount; in the parable of the talents, each servant receives a different amount (and talents are worth far more than minas).

Also, the return is different: in the parable of the minas, the servants report ten-fold and five-fold earnings; in the parable of the talents, all the good servants double their investment.

In the former, the servants received identical gifts; in the latter, the good servants showed identical faithfulness.

Remember our ordination service,

I spoke of people who are called to positions where they accept more responsibility and more accountability.

This parable speaks to this as well.

Remember, they were given the talent count based on their ability.

I say that to head off an argument that sometimes gets made inside the church.

Yes, pastors and teachers have a greater responsibility but they do not have the only responsibility.

Remember that God did not just give the 5 and the 2, he also gave the one.

Who are you in this parable?

Every One of Us Is In This Parable

So, what do we need to learn?

The expected result is the same.

We have a job to do, a mission to accomplish.

The result is concrete.

Know the result

Feel good vs.

Do good

In one instance I do these 6:1 I do these things so I will be recognized, in the 5:16 I do them so God is recognized.

We In This Next Generation of First Baptist Church,

Have to Become Less I and more We.

We have to become less I and more He.

Surprising result of an impromptu survey.

We have to get out there,

Who we are

Who He is

Martha vs the 72

Martha worked well in the last generation of First Baptist

As you go will work better with this generation.

Less “welcome in” and “more as you go”

Use your talent

In this next generation, we all need to use our talent, we all need to look to double

My prayer for the next generation of First Baptist is that we will work for the Lord in a way that displays Him to others and yields Him a return on His investment.

Fish bowl

Let’s Make Him Known

Invitation then communion

Communion