Bible Reading
Matthew 25:14-30 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
[33:00]James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
[43:26]John 13:1-17 “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
[50:49]Observation questions
- In Matthew 25:14–30, what different actions do the three servants take with what the master entrusts to them? [33:15]
- What reason does the servant with one talent give for hiding it, and what does this reveal about how he sees the master? [34:25]
- What is the master’s response to the first two servants, and what invitation does he give them after they have been faithful? [33:49]
- In John 13:1–17, what does Jesus do for his disciples, and how does that action challenge common ideas about what a king or leader does? [50:46]
Interpretation questions
- The talents in the parable are entrusted by the master rather than earned by the servants. How does that detail shape the way believers should view their abilities, resources, opportunities, and responsibilities? [38:41]
- Why might fear cause someone to treat God’s gift as a possession to protect rather than a gift to share? What are some ordinary ways this can show up in a believer’s life? [41:12]
- Both faithful servants receive the same words of welcome despite being entrusted with different amounts. What does this suggest about faithfulness and comparison in God’s kingdom? [54:57]
- Jesus gives himself away and serves others, even washing his disciples’ feet. How does Jesus’ example redefine power and success for those who belong to his kingdom? [49:33]
Application questions
- What has God entrusted to you in this season—perhaps time, relationships, compassion, a skill, a voice, resources, or a place to serve? Which of these gifts is easiest to overlook or minimize? [53:47]
- Where does fear most tempt you to “bury” a gift from God? Is there an opportunity to serve, encourage, give, lead, create, or care for someone that you have avoided because you might not do it perfectly? [40:21]
- Comparison can make another person’s gift feel like a loss for us. When have you recently found yourself thinking, “They received more, and I received less”? What would gratitude for God’s particular gifts to you look like instead? [55:01]
- Is there something in your hands that may not be only for you, but may be intended to bless someone else? What is one concrete way you could put that gift into the world this week? [55:36]
- Jesus invites his people into a faith-filled adventure rather than anxious scorekeeping. What would it look like for you to show up faithfully in one area of life without needing to control every result? [56:37]
