Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV

Introduction:

[Message opens with a video from Napoleon Dynamite, where Napoleon laments about his lack of “great skills.”]

This week, we continue our three part series on giving, with a look at giving our talent.

We all have been given different talents.

Some of them are natural abilities in which we were born, others are learned skills, and still yet god grants us spiritual gifts.

I remember a time in my life where I felt very much like how Napoleon Dynamite felt in the scene we just watched.

See, growing up I had 3 brothers who were each born with natural athletic abilities.

My younger brother Chris whom I am closest to in age, was a ferocious soccer player, BMX Biker, speed skater, and hockey player.

I on the other hand was an intellectual computer nerd from a very young age.

I was dreadful at sports, was the last brother to have his training wheels taken off his bike, and the only outdoor activities I was ever good at was roller-skating ,and backyard wrestling, both of which took many years of awkward and uncomfortable practice as I beat myself to death.

Wow!

I still remember coming home from the skating rink or my friend’s backyard with a fresh set of bruises and my dad telling me “Now if any of your teachers ask, you got these playing football with your brothers!”

Yes, talent is a strange animal and if I’m perfectly honest, I’ve never been much for those people that seemed to be good at everything.

But the truth is that there are some who have many talents, some who have few, and some who have peculiar talents like we see in the next scene.

[Video from Mrs. Doubtfire where we see Robin Williams’ unique skill with voices.]

Thesis: Tonight as we look at Matthew 25:14-30, we will see that we each have unique talents and we are entrusted with their use.

Transition: Three Truths from the Parable of the Talents

I. We’ve each been entrusted with talents by God (Our Master)

a. Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven (the people of God) to a man who entrusts his property to three servants before travelling to a far country.

(vs.

14)

i.