Called to Stand Out and Maximize Our Gifts
Summary
The sermon series "Called" focuses on the biblical teachings that followers of Christ are called to do. The pastor emphasizes the importance of standing out and not conforming to the world, as Jesus calls us to be a city on a hill and be salt and light in the world. The pastor uses the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 to illustrate the importance of stewarding the gifts and talents that God has given to each individual. He encourages the congregation to recognize that their capacity and potential are gifts from God, and it is their responsibility to develop and maximize them for His purposes.
The pastor also emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with people who love God more than anything in the world. He shares his personal experience of spending time with pastors who have big dreams and a strong faith, which challenges him to believe for more in his own church. The pastor encourages the congregation to join serving teams and life groups at the church in order to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about following Jesus.
The pastor then discusses the importance of both prayer and action in following God's will and making our lives count. He encourages the congregation to pray like it depends on God, but also work like it depends on them. The pastor emphasizes the significance of daily habits in shaping our future and warns against drifting aimlessly. He also emphasizes the importance of seizing the moment and not wasting one's life, referring to the biblical story of Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and overthrew six nations and 31 kings.
The pastor shares a personal experience that changed his life and ministry. He emphasizes the importance of setting goals and writing them down, as the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory. He encourages the congregation to write down their goals for various aspects of their lives, such as marriage, finances, and relationship with God. The pastor concludes by reminding them that change requires more than just wishing for things to be different, but actually doing things differently.
Key Takeaways:
- As followers of Christ, we have been called to be different and not conform to the world. We are called to stand out, be a city on a hill, and be salt and light in the world. ([1:15])
- The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 illustrates the importance of stewarding the gifts and talents that God has given to each individual. It is our responsibility to develop and maximize these gifts for His purposes. ([8:45])
- Surrounding oneself with people who love God more than anything in the world is crucial. By being around people who are passionate about Jesus, individuals will be inspired and motivated to pursue God's will for their own lives. ([15:30])
- Both prayer and action are important in following God's will and making our lives count. We should pray like it depends on God, but also work like it depends on us. ([22:10])
- Setting goals and writing them down is important, as the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory. We should write down our goals for various aspects of our lives, such as marriage, finances, and relationship with God. ([35:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
2. Matthew 25:14-30: This passage contains the Parable of the Talents, where a master entrusts his servants with his property according to their abilities. Two of the servants invest and double their money, while the third buries his portion and is rebuked.
3. Joshua 1:6-9: "Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the key differences in the actions of the servants in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30?
2. In Romans 8:28, who does the scripture say all things work together for good for?
3. What are the instructions given to Joshua in Joshua 1:6-9?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 teach about the use of gifts and talents?
2. How does Romans 8:28 relate to the concept of being called according to God's purpose?
3. How does the command given to Joshua in Joshua 1:6-9 apply to the idea of seizing the moment and not wasting one's life?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own gifts and talents. How are you currently using them for God's purposes? What is one step you can take this week to better steward these gifts?
2. Can you identify a situation in your life where you saw things working together for good because of your love for God and commitment to His purpose? Share this with the group.
3. Think of a time when you had to be strong and courageous in your faith journey. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
4. What is one goal you have for your spiritual growth? Write it down and share it with the group.
5. Identify one person in your life who loves God more than anything else. How can you spend more time with them to grow in your own faith?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Divine Distinctiveness
As followers of Christ, we are called to be different, to stand out, and not conform to the world. We are called to be a city on a hill, and be salt and light in the world ([1:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=60s)). This divine distinctiveness is not just about being different for the sake of it, but about reflecting the character and values of Christ in our daily lives.
1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Reflection: How can you live out your divine distinctiveness today? Can you think of one specific way you can be salt and light in your world today?
Day 2: Stewarding Our God-Given Talents
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 illustrates the importance of stewarding the gifts and talents that God has given to each individual. It is our responsibility to develop and maximize these gifts for His purposes ([8:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=510s)). This stewardship is not just about using our talents, but about investing them in ways that honor God and bless others.
1 Corinthians 12:7 - "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
Reflection: What is one talent or gift that God has given you? How can you invest this talent in a way that honors God and blesses others today?
Day 3: Cultivating Godly Relationships
Surrounding oneself with people who love God more than anything in the world is crucial. By being around people who are passionate about Jesus, individuals will be inspired and motivated to pursue God's will for their own lives ([15:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=915s)). These relationships are not just about mutual encouragement, but about spurring each other on towards love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Reflection: Who are the people in your life who inspire you to pursue God's will? How can you cultivate deeper relationships with them?
Day 4: Balancing Prayer and Action
Both prayer and action are important in following God's will and making our lives count. We should pray like it depends on God, but also work like it depends on us ([22:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=1315s)). This balance is not just about praying or working, but about integrating prayer and action in our daily lives.
Colossians 4:2 - "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Reflection: How can you integrate prayer and action in your life today? Can you think of one specific situation where you can pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you?
Day 5: Setting and Pursuing Godly Goals
Setting goals and writing them down is important, as the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory. We should write down our goals for various aspects of our lives, such as marriage, finances, and relationship with God ([35:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlxnu26WV2Y&t=2105s)). These goals are not just about what we want to achieve, but about aligning our desires with God's will for our lives.
Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reflection: What is one godly goal you have for your life? How can you take a step towards achieving this goal today?
Quotes
"As followers of Christ, we have been called according to his purpose...we have been called to be different...we're supposed to stand out, be a city set on a hill that cannot be hid." #!!00:54!!#
"We are called to make our one life on this planet count...to be stewards over the talents or money entrusted to us, to invest and multiply it for the glory of the master." #!!02:05!!#
"You need to surround yourself with people that love God more than they love anything in this world... find some people who speak Faith." (source: #!!32:27!!#)
"We're going to pray like it depends on God and then we're going to get up and work like it depends on us because that's what God has called us to do." #!!21:42!!#
"Life is going to happen and it's going to either happen by default or design. If you let it happen by default, you ain't going to like how it turns out. It's going to have to happen by design." #!!22:17!!#
"You are going to need more than hope. Hope is amazing, but hope is not a strategy. You are going to have to embrace responsibility, make a plan, live with purpose, and change your daily habits." #!!22:47!!#
"Zig Ziggler once said that the weakest ink is better than the greatest memory...sometimes you got to write it down and you need to be able to see it in black and white." #!!24:24!!#
"If we're going to pursue God's dreams, if we're going to make life count, if we're not going to waste our lives, if we're going to do something great for the glory of God, there will come a moment that it will come down to this very simple reality - you're either going to trust what God said or you're not." #!!41:15!!#
"I'm not going to waste my life, I'm not going to piler away this moment. It's a moment in time and God, through your instructions, I'm going to maximize this moment." #!!45:57!!#
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?