Awakening Potential: Stewardship and Faithfulness in Christ

Jun 22, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God-Given Potential Must Be Used, Not Buried

Every person has been entrusted by God with unique gifts, talents, and opportunities—potential that is meant to be invested, not hidden away. Like the servants in Jesus’ parable, we are called to steward what God has given us, not out of fear or comparison, but with faithfulness and courage. The Master is returning, and He desires to see that we have multiplied what He placed in our hands, not wasted it through excuses or fear. Today, consider what God has entrusted to you and how you might begin to use it for His glory, knowing that faithfulness in small things leads to greater things. [01:01:52]

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.’”

Reflection: What is one specific gift, resource, or opportunity God has given you that you have been hesitant to use? What is one step you can take today to invest it for His kingdom?

Day 2: Everything Belongs to God—We Are Stewards, Not Owners

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking we own our time, talents, and treasures, but Scripture reminds us that everything in the world—including our very lives—belongs to God. Our role is not to possess, but to manage faithfully what He has entrusted to us, recognizing that every good thing comes from His hand. When we shift our mindset from ownership to stewardship, we begin to see our resources as tools for God’s purposes, and our hearts become more open to His leading and generosity. [01:05:02]

Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been acting as the owner rather than the steward? How can you surrender that area to God’s control today?

Day 3: Trusting God With the First and Best—The Principle of the Tithe

God invites us to trust Him by giving the first and best of what we have back to Him, not because He needs it, but because it is a test of our trust and a pathway to blessing. When we honor God with our tithe, we acknowledge that He is our provider and that all we have is from Him. He promises to rebuke the devourer and pour out blessings we cannot contain when we put Him first, teaching us that 90% blessed is far better than 100% unblessed. [01:22:26]

Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Reflection: What is one area—financial or otherwise—where you have struggled to trust God with your “first and best”? What would it look like to take a step of faith and put Him first in that area this week?

Day 4: Stop Comparing—Your Potential Is Unique and Valuable

Comparison is a thief of joy and a killer of potential. When we focus on what others have, we devalue the unique gifts and opportunities God has given us, leading to envy, discouragement, or inaction. God has entrusted you with something special, and your value is not determined by how it measures up to someone else’s. Instead, celebrate what God has given you, and use it faithfully, knowing that your obedience and faithfulness matter to Him. [01:17:15]

Romans 12:6 (ESV)
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;”

Reflection: Where have you been tempted to compare your gifts, resources, or opportunities to others? How can you intentionally thank God for your unique potential and take a step to use it today?

Day 5: Faithfulness Unlocks More—Be Courageous With What You Have

God is not looking for perfection, but for faithfulness. When you are faithful with what you have—no matter how small it seems—God is able to entrust you with more. Fear, doubt, and the opinions of others can keep you from stepping out, but God’s grace gives you chance after chance to rise up and walk in your calling. Today, ask God to awaken the potential within you, to give you courage to act, and to help you be a witness to a world in need. [01:31:22]

Luke 16:10 (ESV)
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Reflection: What is one “small” area where you can practice faithfulness today, trusting that God sees and will multiply your obedience?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to lift high the name of Jesus, declaring together that He is holy—holy forever, above every throne, dominion, and power. In this sacred atmosphere, we interceded for our nation, our leaders, our military, and for the peace of Israel, recognizing the urgency of the hour and the nearness of Christ’s return. We asked God to awaken His church, to make us bold witnesses in a world desperate for hope, and to stir within us a hunger for souls.

The heart of our time centered on the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. This story is a powerful reminder that everything we have—our abilities, resources, and opportunities—are not our own, but entrusted to us by God. We are stewards, not owners. The measure of what we receive is not about fairness, but about the Master’s wisdom and our proven faithfulness. God gives each of us something, and He expects us to use it for His glory, not to compare or devalue our portion based on what others have.

We explored the difference between realized and wasted potential, using the stories of Michael Jordan and Len Bias as vivid illustrations. One maximized his gifts, while the other’s promise was tragically cut short. The greatest tragedy is not failure, but unused potential—gifts, dreams, and callings left buried. God’s grace is seen in His willingness to give us another chance, another opportunity to be faithful, no matter our past.

A key principle is that blessing comes when we surrender our potential to God first—whether it’s our finances, talents, or influence. When we honor Him with the first and best, He multiplies what remains. Fear, comparison, and excuses are the enemies of potential. Instead, faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibility and blessing. The time is short; Jesus could return at any moment. Now is the time to awaken dormant gifts, to stop comparing, and to courageously invest what God has given us for His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. God Owns It All—We Are Stewards, Not Owners: Everything we possess—our talents, resources, and even our very breath—belongs to God. Our role is to manage what He entrusts to us, recognizing that our plans must yield to His purposes. True freedom and blessing come when we release ownership and embrace stewardship, trusting the Master’s wisdom in what He gives and asks of us. [64:25]
2. Comparison Destroys Contentment and Potential: When we fixate on what others have, we devalue our own God-given gifts and miss the unique calling on our lives. Social media and culture tempt us to measure ourselves against others, but God’s measure is faithfulness, not quantity. The antidote to comparison is gratitude and a willingness to invest what we have, however small it may seem. [76:35]
3. Faithfulness in Small Things Unlocks Greater Blessing: The Master gives according to our ability, and our capacity grows as we prove faithful with what we have. Big dreams require big faithfulness; it is not enough to desire more if we neglect what is already in our hands. God’s grace often appears as another opportunity to be faithful, even after past failures or missed chances. [69:35]
4. Fear and Excuses Bury Potential: The servant who hid his talent was motivated by fear and a distorted view of the Master. Fear of loss, failure, or lack can paralyze us, causing us to bury our gifts rather than risk using them. God calls us to trust Him, to step out in faith, and to believe that He is good and worthy of our trust—even when obedience feels risky. [85:31]
5. Surrendering the First and Best to God Releases Blessing: When we honor God with the first portion—whether it’s our tithe, our time, or our talents—He blesses and multiplies what remains. The principle of the tithe is not just about money, but about trust and priority. What we refuse to surrender ends up owning us, but what we give to God becomes seed for a greater harvest. [80:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:22] - Exalting the Holiness of God
[39:40] - Interceding for Our Nation and Israel
[41:34] - The Urgency of Christ’s Return
[44:09] - The Call to Be Witnesses
[47:59] - There Is More Potential
[49:18] - Wasted vs. Realized Potential
[51:07] - The Example of Michael Jordan
[52:28] - The Tragedy of Len Bias
[54:23] - The Wealth of Unused Potential
[59:23] - The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25)
[63:06] - You Own Nothing—Stewardship Explained
[66:58] - God Gives According to Ability
[70:50] - Everyone Has Something to Offer
[75:14] - Demonstration: Investing Potential
[79:13] - The Principle of the Tithe
[83:08] - Are You Burying or Investing Your Potential?
[86:13] - Surrendering Your Gifts to God
[88:14] - Responding to the Call—Salvation and Awakening Potential
[92:43] - Closing Praise and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "There Is More Potential"

Bible Reading

- Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents)

Observation Questions

In the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 25, what did the master give to each servant, and how did he decide how much to give each one?

(see [59:23])

According to the sermon, what are some examples of “potential” that God gives us besides money?

(see [01:11:31])

What did the servant who received one talent do with it, and what reason did he give for his actions?

(see [01:00:40])

What was the master’s response to the servant who buried his talent?

(see [01:01:14])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “You own nothing. Everything you have belongs to God.” How does this idea change the way a person might view their abilities, resources, or even their job?

(see [01:04:25])

The pastor used the stories of Michael Jordan and Len Bias to illustrate realized and wasted potential. What does this comparison teach about the importance of using what God has given us?

(see [51:07] and [52:28])

The sermon points out that comparison destroys contentment and potential. Why is it so tempting to compare what we have to what others have, and what does the parable say about God’s measure of faithfulness?

(see [01:16:35])

The servant who buried his talent was motivated by fear and a wrong view of the master. How can fear or a misunderstanding of God keep us from using our gifts?

(see [01:25:31])

Application Questions

The pastor said, “God gives everybody something to use for his glory.” What is one specific talent, resource, or opportunity you have that you might be overlooking or underestimating? How could you start using it for God’s kingdom this week?

(see [01:11:31])

Think about a time when you compared your gifts or situation to someone else’s and felt discouraged. How did that affect your willingness to serve or step out in faith? What would it look like to replace comparison with gratitude in your daily life?

(see [01:16:35])

The sermon emphasized that faithfulness in small things leads to greater blessing. Is there a “small” area in your life where you sense God is asking you to be more faithful? What practical step can you take this week to show faithfulness there?

(see [01:09:35])

The pastor demonstrated that giving the “first and best” to God releases blessing. What is one area—time, finances, or talent—where you struggle to give God your first and best? What is one change you could make to put God first in that area?

(see [01:20:28])

Fear and excuses can keep us from stepping out. Is there something you feel God has asked you to do, but you’ve been holding back because of fear or uncertainty? What would it look like to trust God and take a step of faith this week?

(see [01:25:31])

The sermon said, “What you refuse to surrender ends up owning you.” Is there something in your life—an ambition, a possession, a relationship—that you need to surrender to God? What’s holding you back, and how can you begin to let go?

(see [01:26:13])

The pastor reminded us that “the time is short; Jesus could return at any moment.” How does remembering the urgency of Christ’s return affect your priorities and the way you use your potential?

(see [44:09])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to use their God-given potential, to surrender their “first and best” to God, and to be bold witnesses in the time God has given them.

Sermon Clips

“God wants us to realize our potential to maximize the potential he has given us. Miles Monrose once said this "The wealthiest place on earth is the cemetery." He said that because buried in the cemetery are books that'll never be written, buried in the cemetery is music that'll never be heard, buried in the cemetery are dreams that have died and gone with the people that went uh went went away.”

“It has nothing to do with the God-given potential that he's placed on the inside of every one of us amen you really do have potential in in you and if you in fact you c you cannot allow other people's opinions to stop the the potential that God has put on the inside of you.”

“A seed goes into dirt and that seed has to be broken before it ever becomes a harvest and so God was saying I understand I'm going to put potential in you but you're going to go through some things you're going to deal with some things in life and that seed's going to have to go through a breaking.”

“The first thing to understand about this potential is it's not yours it comes from the master it comes from God it's it's it in the story we see there's one master and three servants so quick quick quiz all right easy easy easy who's the master jesus god okay either one of those will work jesus God who are the servants we are.”

“Our relationship with God is not God following us and our plans our relationship with God is us following him and his plans for our life another important thing we see in the story is it was the master's potential to begin with it was his it was his to give he entrusted the servants with what he had.”

“When you understand that if you have anything in your bank account that's the goodness of God when you understand that if you have a house that's the goodness of God when you understand that you have a car to drive that's the goodness of God when you understand that you got breath in your body to breathe and walk in here today that's the goodness of God.”

“God gives everybody something everybody has something no matter who you are no matter where you are no matter how much money you have or don't have God gives everybody something to use for his glory and his kingdom have you ever thought about how your smile is a gift smile is a gift.”

“If my heart's not right I will always devalue what God has given me even though God gave me this I'm going to devalue this based on what other people have if I just focus and compare all the and that's what we do don't we let me see that yeah look at Look at that car man look at that house.”

“When we keep our eyes on what other people have we're going to devalue what God has given us because this is important but it doesn't look important when I look at what you have so you got to stop comparing look at your neighbor say "Stop comparing stop comparing stop comparing."”

“If this potential is going to be any good I have to give it to the master what does the master ask of our potential a tenth a tithe he said I just want you to give me a tithe so let me ask you a question what is a tithe of $100 $10 all right let me help you out.”

“When you give he will give back good measure pressed down shaken together and running over so so would you rather have n 100% of everything you have and it all cursed or 90% and it all blessed i'll take that 90% and all blessed any day amen all right now you can go.”

“Everything you bury and you don't give to God first you're going to lose every bit of it all right you understand this principle 10 in the Bible 10th are tied 10 in the Bible is associated with testing there are ten commandments to test to test to test thou shalt not kill thou shalt not murder thou shalt not thou shalt not put another god before you.”

“If you can't let it go you don't own it anyway it owns you it owns you it owns you so whatever it is you have today potential first thing you need to do is say "God I give it to you lord I give you my talents my abilities everything the first thing I do you can ask my wife before I walk out of here.”

“You will never realize your potential until you're in a relationship with God that's your first step maybe you would say this morning I haven't even taken that step pastor i need to do that today and I've been listening to what you're saying and I I need a relationship with God.”

“How pastor by being faithful with what you have you can change it you might have one but God says "I just want you to be faithful with what you have and I'll give you another one and be faithful with that and I'll give you another one and I'll keep giving until you have more than enough not just for you but for everybody around you that's being faithful.”

Ask a question about this sermon