How Then Shall We Live? (June 28, 2026)

Jesus tells a story about a rich man leaving town and entrusting a huge amount of money to three managers. The talent is not a small coin; it is almost an exaggeration of value. The first two managers invest what was given to them, deal with other people, and double its value. The third manager hides it in a secure place, even though safe options were available, and the rich man calls him lazy and evil because he did not manage what had been entrusted to him.

The parable presses spiritual responsibility into plain view. Christ is away, and his people have been given gifts, resources, opportunities, and kingdom work. Faith is not shown by hiding what God has given, or by keeping it safe for the sake of comfort. Faith acts as though Christ really will return, and faith invests in the growth of God's kingdom while waiting.

The parable of the sheep and the goats makes the same point from another angle. Christ identifies himself with people in need. Compassion toward the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the poor honors Christ. Disregard for those same people dishonors him. When Christ returns, he remembers how he was treated through those in need, and reward or judgment follows.

Jesus' words leave a real question: how is the church to live? Norridge thinks of itself as wholesome, but Jesus calls goodness to be defined by God, not by reputation or by what the world happens to admire. Norridge is capable and accomplished, but Jesus calls capable people to prayerfully pause, get out of the driver's seat, stop being backseat drivers, and ask God what God's best is before rushing to fix things.

The life of the local church depends on shared gifts. Every person in the body is there for a reason, and when something seems lacking, the answer may already be present in someone who has not yet been given space to step in. The neighborhood church is also called to actual neighbors, their childcare, lawns, loneliness, sickness, poverty, and souls. If the Holy Spirit really transforms lives, then the church naturally wants neighbors to experience that power.

The call gathers into trust: total devotion, righteous living, unity in the church, sharing the good news, and trusting God. Whether Christ returns tomorrow or in two thousand years, Christ's people are called to live every day as if he is coming.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith invests what God entrusts The talent in Jesus' parable is not pocket change, and that matters. God gives gifts, opportunities, and responsibility with real kingdom weight, not so they can be buried in fear or comfort. Faith treats Christ's return as real by putting what has been given to work for his purposes. [15:50]
• 2. Goodness needs God's definition A church can be known as wholesome and still need to ask whether that wholesomeness has been shaped by Scripture or by respectability. Jesus does not call his people merely to look good in the world's eyes. Righteous living becomes witness when God, not reputation, defines what is good. [20:40]
• 3. Pause before taking charge Capable people often move quickly because they know how to solve problems. The call to faith interrupts that instinct and asks for a prayerful pause before action. Trusting God means asking for God's best, not simply baptizing the first workable answer that comes to mind. [22:07]
• 4. Every gift belongs in the body The local church does not lack because only a few people are gifted. The body may lack because room has not yet been made for hidden gifts to step forward. Ministry becomes healthier when each person's calling is taken seriously as part of Christ's provision for the whole church. [23:04]
• 5. Neighbors need body and soul care A neighborhood church cannot love the idea of neighbors while ignoring the actual people living nearby. Childcare, lawn mowing, friendship, hospitality, sickness, poverty, and spiritual hunger all matter. If the Holy Spirit truly transforms lives, then sharing good news is not pressure; it is love taking the neighbor's soul seriously.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:50] - The Parable of the Talents
• [16:33] - The Lazy and Evil Manager
• [17:01] - Investing in Kingdom Growth
• [17:28] - Compassion Honors Christ
• [18:12] - Ready for Jesus' Return
• [18:33] - Go Forth and Multiply
• [20:13] - How Is the Church to Live?
• [20:40] - Letting God Define Good
• [21:42] - Prayerfully Pausing Before Action
• [22:34] - Sharing the Load Together
• [24:04] - Loving Actual Neighbors
• [25:14] - Living for Christ, Not Self
• [26:52] - Living Ready Every Day
• [30:05] - TRUST: Five Marks of Faithfulness

1. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), what did the first two managers do differently from the third, and how did the master respond to each?
2. According to the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46), how does Jesus identify himself with people in need?
3. What example did Reverend Michael Eden’s church in England give about applying the Parable of the Talents? [18:33]
4. How does the sermon connect the idea of "wholesomeness" to God’s definition of goodness rather than the world’s standards? [20:40]

1. Why might the third manager in the Parable of the Talents have chosen to hide the money instead of investing it, and what does this reveal about his view of the master?
2. In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, why does Jesus emphasize actions toward others as a reflection of faith in him?
3. The sermon warns against capable people rushing to solve problems without pausing to seek God’s direction. What risks might arise when we rely solely on our own abilities instead of inviting God into our decisions? [21:42]
4. How does the idea that "every gift belongs in the body" challenge a church’s approach to addressing needs or gaps in ministry? [23:04]

1. What is one specific gift, resource, or opportunity God has entrusted to you that you could actively invest in for His kingdom? What practical step could you take this week to begin using it?
2. Think of a recent situation where you felt tempted to "take charge" quickly. How might you create space to prayerfully pause and ask, “God, what is Your best for this?” before acting? [22:07]
3. Who is one actual neighbor (physically nearby) you could intentionally serve this month, either through practical help (e.g., childcare, yardwork) or spiritual care? How will you follow through? [24:04]
4. The sermon highlights that "goodness" must be defined by God, not reputation. What’s one area of your life where you might prioritize looking "wholesome" to others over obeying God’s call to radical love or humility?
5. The church in England multiplied their funds by trusting God’s provision. If you were given $20 to grow for God’s work, what creative, relational, or unexpected way would you use it? [18:33]
6. How can you encourage someone in your church community to step into a role or share a gift they’ve been hesitant to use? What would it look like to affirm their value in the body this week? [23:04]