on May 11, 2025
Sunday Gathering - 11th May 2025 - Ruth
Summary
God has entrusted each of us with unique gifts, talents, and opportunities, not as distant servants but as beloved members of His family. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reveals a radical truth: the Master not only entrusts His wealth to His servants, but in doing so, He invites them into His inheritance, making them family. This is a profound act of grace—God takes us from being slaves to sin and makes us His own children, inviting us to participate in His kingdom work.
Yet, so often, we are tempted to hide away what God has given us. Like the unused canteen of cutlery tucked away for a “special occasion” that never comes, we sometimes keep our gifts boxed up, waiting for the perfect moment or fearing they’ll be unappreciated or tarnished. We may feel that our efforts go unnoticed, or we worry about getting “mixed up” with people who are different from us, or even being hurt by others in the church. But God’s call is not to perfection or to pristine, unused gifts. He calls us to be used, to be present, to risk being tarnished and even broken, because it is in the using that our gifts multiply and His kingdom grows.
Every act of service, no matter how small or unseen, is cathedral building in God’s eyes. Whether it’s pouring tea, opening doors, or simply offering a word of encouragement, these are the stones that build the church. We are not called to bury our talents out of fear, disappointment, or hurt, but to invest them, trusting that God sees, values, and rewards our faithfulness. Even if we feel like “just a soup spoon,” overlooked or ordinary, we may be exactly what God needs for this moment, in this community.
God’s legacy is not in the pristine, unused things, but in the lives poured out for others, in the tarnished and well-used tools of His kingdom. The invitation is to open the box, to step into the work, and to leave a legacy of hope, joy, and investment in others. God is calling and equipping each of us—now is the time to answer, to be used up for His glory, and to build His church together.
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Key Takeaways
- God’s Radical Invitation: From Servant to Family
The parable of the talents is not just about stewardship, but about God’s astonishing grace in making us part of His family. In a culture where servants never received the inheritance, Jesus’ story reveals that God entrusts us with His kingdom, inviting us into intimacy and responsibility. This changes our identity and our motivation for serving—no longer out of obligation, but out of belonging and love. [06:31]
- Don’t Box Up Your Gifts—Use Them, Even If They Get Tarnished
Like the cutlery kept for a special occasion, our gifts are meant for daily use, not for display. God does not call us to keep our talents pristine, but to risk using them, even if it means they get mixed up, tarnished, or broken. The value is not in their perfection, but in their faithful use for the sake of others and the kingdom. [18:43]
- Serving God Means Risking Disappointment and Hurt, But Not Withdrawal
Many of us have experienced hurt or disappointment in serving, sometimes even within the church. While these wounds are real, they are not an excuse to bury our talents or withdraw from God’s work. Forgiveness and perseverance are essential, because God’s call is to keep building, even when it’s hard or unappreciated. [22:07]
- Every Act of Service Is Cathedral Building
The seemingly small or mundane acts—pouring tea, opening doors, offering a welcome—are, in God’s eyes, the building blocks of His kingdom. We are not just “chipping stones,” but participating in the construction of something eternal. This perspective transforms our daily service into sacred work, giving it meaning and purpose beyond what we can see. [24:02]
- You Are Exactly What God Needs—Don’t Wait for Someone Else
Sometimes we wait for the “right person” or the “perfect moment,” not realizing that God has already equipped us for the work at hand. Like the soup spoons hidden away for years, we may be the very tool God has been waiting to use in this season, in this community. The call is to open the box, step forward, and trust that God will multiply what we offer. [25:58]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Introduction and Personal Story
[01:12] - Reading Matthew 25: Parable of the Talents
[04:21] - Wrestling with the Parable’s Challenge
[06:31] - The Master’s Radical Trust: From Servant to Family
[07:30] - The Cutlery Analogy: Gifts Meant for Use
[10:56] - Why We Hide Our Gifts
[13:08] - Feeling Unappreciated in Service
[15:53] - Fears of Getting “Mixed Up” and Tarnished
[17:34] - Everyone Made in God’s Image—Called to Reach All
[19:37] - The Mystery of the Missing Teaspoons: Dealing with Disappointment
[22:07] - Hurt in the Church and the Call to Forgiveness
[23:23] - Cathedral Building: The Sacredness of Service
[24:46] - The Soup Spoon Revelation: You Are Needed
[27:13] - Legacy: A Life Poured Out
[28:43] - Responding to God’s Call and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Open the Box: Using What God Has Given”
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### Bible Reading
Matthew 25:14-30
(The Parable of the Talents)
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### Observation Questions
1. In the parable, what did the master do that was so shocking to the people listening in Jesus’ day?
[[06:31]]
2. What reasons did the servant with one talent give for hiding what was entrusted to him?
[[03:20]]
3. According to the sermon, what are some everyday examples of “using your gifts” in the church or community?
[[24:02]]
4. What happened to the cutlery that was kept in the box and never used? What happened to the cutlery that was used?
[[18:43]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to tell a story where the master gives his wealth to servants, making them like family? What does this say about how God sees us?
[[06:31]]
2. The servant who hid his talent said he was afraid. What kinds of fears might keep people from using their gifts for God today?
[[03:20]]
3. The sermon compared serving God to “building a cathedral” even in small acts. How does this change the way we see ordinary service?
[[24:02]]
4. The preacher mentioned that sometimes we get “tarnished” or even hurt when we serve. Why is it important to keep serving anyway, even after disappointment?
[[22:07]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon said God has made us family, not just servants. How does knowing you are part of God’s family change your motivation to serve? Is there a difference between serving out of obligation and serving out of belonging?
[[06:31]]
2. Have you ever “kept your gifts in the box,” waiting for a perfect moment or fearing they wouldn’t be appreciated? What is one gift or talent you have that you’ve been hesitant to use? What’s holding you back?
[[11:24]]
3. The preacher shared about feeling unappreciated or unnoticed when serving. Can you relate to this? How do you handle it when your efforts go unseen?
[[13:08]]
4. Is there a time when you felt “tarnished” or hurt by serving in church or community? How did you respond? What would it look like to forgive and keep going?
[[22:07]]
5. Think about the “cathedral building” idea. What is one small, ordinary act of service you can do this week that might seem insignificant, but could be part of building God’s kingdom?
[[24:02]]
6. The sermon said, “You are the soup spoon”—the very person God needs right now. Is there a ministry or need in your church or community that you feel God might be nudging you toward, even if you feel ordinary or unqualified?
[[25:58]]
7. What would it look like for you to “open the box” and use your gifts, even if it means risking disappointment, getting mixed up with others, or being “used up” for God’s glory?
[[28:43]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to use their gifts, for healing from past hurts, and for eyes to see the “cathedral” God is building through their everyday acts of service.
Devotional
Day 1: Entrusted with God’s Gifts—From Servants to Family
God entrusts each of us with unique gifts, not as distant servants but as beloved members of His family. In the parable of the talents, the master does something unheard of—he gives his inheritance to his servants, making them part of his household. In the same way, God takes us from being slaves to sin and welcomes us as His own children, inviting us to participate in His kingdom work. This is not just about being set free; it’s about being brought close, valued, and given a purpose in His family. [06:52]
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: In what ways do you see yourself as part of God’s family, entrusted with His gifts, rather than just a servant? How might this change the way you serve today?
Day 2: Serving for the Master, Not for Appreciation
It’s easy to feel unnoticed or underappreciated when you serve, whether it’s making tea, opening doors, or quietly helping behind the scenes. But the truth is, our service is ultimately for Jesus, not for the applause or thanks of others. God sees every act of faithfulness, even when no one else does, and He is the one who rewards and values your contribution. When you feel overlooked, remember that you are working for the King of Kings, and your labor is never in vain when it’s for Him. [15:29]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Reflection: Is there a way you can serve today—big or small—without expecting recognition, simply as an offering to Jesus?
Day 3: Don’t Bury Your Gifts Because of Hurt
Sometimes, disappointment or hurt—especially from within the church—can tempt us to hide away our gifts and stop serving. But God calls us to forgive, to heal, and to keep building His kingdom, even when it’s hard. Burying your talent because of pain only robs the community and yourself of the blessing God intended. Instead, God invites you to bring your gifts back into the light, trusting Him to use them for His glory and your good, even if it means risking vulnerability again. [22:43]
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Reflection: Is there a past hurt that’s causing you to hold back your gifts? What step can you take today toward forgiveness and renewed service?
Day 4: Cathedral Builders—Every Act Matters
No matter how small or ordinary your task may seem, you are part of something much bigger: building the kingdom of God. Whether you’re pouring tea, sweeping up, or welcoming someone at the door, you are a cathedral builder—your faithfulness is laying stones in God’s great work. Every act of service, done in love, is a vital part of the church’s mission and legacy. God calls you to pick up the tools He’s given you and join in the work, knowing that your contribution matters deeply. [24:14]
1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Reflection: What is one “small” act of service you can do today, seeing it as a building block in God’s cathedral?
Day 5: You Are Needed—Open the Box and Be Used
You may feel ordinary, tarnished, or unsure if you’re the right person for the job, but God has placed everything needed for His kingdom right here, right now—including you. Sometimes we keep our gifts hidden, waiting for the perfect moment or fearing we’ll get mixed up or worn out. But God is calling you to open the box, to step forward, and to be used—even if it means getting a little tarnished along the way. You are the “soup spoon” God has been waiting for, the one who can meet a need in this season and place. [26:32]
Romans 12:4-6 (ESV)
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”
Reflection: What gift or ability have you been keeping “in the box”? How can you take one step today to offer it for God’s use in your community?