Kingdom Responsibility
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: Parables of the Kingdom in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)
14 “For [the kingdom of heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 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.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’ 24 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, 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 answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 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. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Sermon Outline
Our kingdom responsibility…
What it is (v. 14-17)
What gets in the way (v. 18, 24-30)
How do we do it (v. 20-23)
Prayer of Confession
Our gracious God, you entrusted the world to us. You generously provided resources so that we might cultivate your kingdom. But we confess that we often live as though what we have is ours; not yours. We forget that we are your stewards. We misperceive you as valuing productivity more than faithfulness. We do not have reverent fear of you, but our fear paralyzes us. Forgive us. We need Jesus and his perfect work done for us. Free us from the bondage of productivity. Because of Jesus, may we remember your words to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant.“ Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?
If God has called us to be his stewards and has entrusted us his kingdom, how does that shape and influence your daily life?
What has God uniquely given to you that might be part of your kingdom responsibility? What skills, passions, experiences might contribute to his kingdom?
What do you think made the third servant be afraid of the master? Do you resonate with anything about him?
Describe when you might have misperceived God. How did that affect your life and outlook at the time?
If God values faithfulness, how might that change the way you live? What do you find freeing about this? What might be challenging?
Consider taking time personally and privately and listen to God’s words of affirmation to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Allow those words to saturate your heart and soul.
What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?