Empowered Stewardship: Using the Holy Spirit for Kingdom Growth

In today's message, we explored the parable of the talents, a story that is often misunderstood as a lesson on financial stewardship. However, when we delve deeper, we discover that it is about the stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us, particularly the Holy Spirit. Jesus uses this parable to prepare His disciples for His departure and to emphasize the importance of the kingdom of God. The talents in the parable symbolize the Holy Spirit, a gift from God to empower us to expand His kingdom.

The parable is not about personal wealth or prosperity but about using the Holy Spirit to witness and share the gospel. Jesus calls us to be kingdom-minded, focusing on saving humanity and redeeming the world. We are blessed to be a blessing, and our primary task is to seek first the kingdom of God. This involves sharing the gospel in our immediate surroundings, our communities, and even to the ends of the earth.

In Acts 1, we see the parable played out as Jesus instructs His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, which is the talent given to them. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses, to multiply the kingdom by making disciples. We are called to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone, regardless of cultural or personal differences.

The parable also serves as a prophecy, reminding us that Jesus will return to account for how we have used the Holy Spirit. We must not bury our salvation but actively use the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill our calling. The reward for faithful stewardship is greater responsibility and the joy of sharing in the master's happiness.

Key Takeaways:

- The parable of the talents is about the stewardship of the Holy Spirit, not financial wealth. We are entrusted with the Holy Spirit to expand God's kingdom, not for personal gain. [10:37]

- Being kingdom-minded means focusing on saving humanity and redeeming the world. Our blessings are meant to be shared, and we must seek first the kingdom of God. [12:05]

- The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses, sharing the gospel in our communities and beyond. We are called to make disciples and expand the kingdom of God. [16:04]

- Jesus will return to account for how we have used the Holy Spirit. We must not bury our salvation but actively use the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill our calling. [32:15]

- Faithful stewardship leads to greater responsibility and joy in the master's happiness. We are called to be active disciples, using the Holy Spirit to expand God's kingdom. [33:29]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:06] - Introduction to the Parable of the Talents
[03:21] - Emphasis on the Kingdom of God
[05:03] - Faithful Servants and Their Rewards
[07:04] - The Lazy Servant's Excuse
[10:37] - Misinterpretation of the Parable
[11:04] - Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Me
[12:05] - Kingdom-Minded Living
[14:16] - The Holy Spirit as the Talent
[15:17] - Jesus' Departure and Our Responsibility
[16:04] - Power of the Holy Spirit
[17:39] - Sharing the Gospel Locally
[19:09] - Crossing Cultural Boundaries
[20:42] - Jesus' Ascension and Our Mission
[22:38] - Receiving the Holy Spirit
[23:52] - The Role of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism
[25:09] - Faith and the Holy Spirit's Activation
[27:09] - God's Drawing Power
[28:01] - Our Call to Share the Gospel
[29:13] - Using the Holy Spirit's Power
[30:15] - Growing the Kingdom
[30:59] - Faithfulness to the Call
[32:15] - Consequences of Burying the Talent
[32:52] - Rewards for Faithful Servants
[34:36] - Prayer for Salvation and Empowerment
[35:09] - Closing Prayer and Empowerment

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- **Matthew 25:14-30** - The Parable of the Talents
- **Acts 1:3-8** - Jesus' instructions to the disciples about the Holy Spirit
- **Acts 2:38** - Receiving the Holy Spirit

#### Observation Questions
1. In the parable of the talents, what did the master do with his wealth before leaving on his journey? How did the servants respond to the master's trust? [03:21]
2. What was the reaction of the master upon his return, and how did he respond to each servant's actions? [05:03]
3. According to the sermon, what does the talent in the parable symbolize, and how is it related to Acts 1? [14:16]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, according to Acts 1:8? [16:04]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon reinterpret the parable of the talents in the context of the kingdom of God rather than personal wealth? [10:37]
2. What does it mean to be "kingdom-minded," and how does this perspective shift the understanding of our blessings and responsibilities? [12:05]
3. How does the sermon explain the concept of faithful stewardship in relation to the Holy Spirit and the expansion of God's kingdom? [30:15]
4. What are the implications of Jesus' return in the context of the parable, and how should this influence a believer's life? [32:15]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current use of the Holy Spirit's power in your life. Are there areas where you feel you are "burying" your talent? How can you actively use the Holy Spirit to fulfill your calling? [32:15]
2. The sermon emphasizes being "kingdom-minded." What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on expanding God's kingdom rather than personal gain? [12:05]
3. Consider your immediate surroundings. How can you share the gospel with your family, friends, or coworkers this week? What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them? [17:39]
4. The sermon mentions crossing cultural boundaries to share the gospel. Is there someone from a different background or culture you can reach out to this week? How will you approach this conversation? [19:09]
5. Think about the concept of faithful stewardship. What resources or gifts has God entrusted to you, and how can you use them to serve others and expand His kingdom? [30:15]
6. Reflect on the idea of being a witness for Christ. What specific actions can you take to be a more effective witness in your community? [16:04]
7. The sermon discusses the joy of sharing in the master's happiness. How can you find joy in serving and expanding God's kingdom, even when it requires sacrifice or stepping out of your comfort zone? [33:29]

Day 1: Stewardship of the Holy Spirit
The parable of the talents is often misinterpreted as a lesson on financial stewardship, but it is truly about the stewardship of the Holy Spirit. God has entrusted us with the Holy Spirit, not for personal gain, but to expand His kingdom. The talents in the parable symbolize this divine gift, empowering us to witness and share the gospel. Our primary task is to use this gift to further God's kingdom, not to seek personal prosperity. This understanding shifts our focus from material wealth to spiritual responsibility, urging us to be faithful stewards of the Holy Spirit. [10:37]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: How can you actively use the Holy Spirit in your life today to expand God's kingdom rather than seeking personal gain?


Day 2: Kingdom-Minded Living
Being kingdom-minded means focusing on saving humanity and redeeming the world. Our blessings are not meant to be hoarded but shared, as we seek first the kingdom of God. This involves a shift in perspective from self-centered living to a life dedicated to God's purposes. We are called to share the gospel in our immediate surroundings, our communities, and even to the ends of the earth. This mindset requires us to prioritize God's kingdom over our own desires, aligning our lives with His mission. [12:05]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to prioritize God's kingdom over your personal desires?


Day 3: Empowered to Witness
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses, sharing the gospel in our communities and beyond. We are called to make disciples and expand the kingdom of God. This empowerment is not just for personal edification but for the purpose of spreading the love of Jesus Christ to everyone, regardless of cultural or personal differences. The Holy Spirit equips us with the boldness and wisdom needed to effectively communicate the gospel, fulfilling our calling to be active participants in God's mission. [16:04]

Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can share the gospel with this week, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you in this conversation?


Day 4: Accountability and Action
Jesus will return to account for how we have used the Holy Spirit. We must not bury our salvation but actively use the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill our calling. This parable serves as a prophecy, reminding us of the responsibility we have to use the gifts God has given us. Our faithfulness in this task will be rewarded with greater responsibility and the joy of sharing in the master's happiness. It is a call to action, urging us to be diligent and proactive in our spiritual journey. [32:15]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel you have been passive, and how can you take action today to change that?


Day 5: Faithful Stewardship and Joy
Faithful stewardship leads to greater responsibility and joy in the master's happiness. We are called to be active disciples, using the Holy Spirit to expand God's kingdom. This involves a commitment to growth and multiplication, as we invest in the lives of others and share the gospel. The reward for our faithfulness is not only in the responsibilities we are given but also in the joy of seeing God's kingdom flourish. This joy is a reflection of the master's happiness, as we align our lives with His purposes. [33:29]

Matthew 25:21 (ESV): "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.’"

Reflection: How can you invest in someone else's spiritual growth this week, and what steps can you take to ensure you are a faithful steward of the Holy Spirit?

Good morning, everyone. Good morning, CLC. How are you guys doing?

Asa already covered that, right? So say it again. You guys are doing great.

We are in Sunday School Remix, where we are taking the parables of Jesus and giving you more than just a surface-level interpretation of these parables. We are diving deeper.

And today, we are going to talk about the parable of the talents. I guess I'm the only one that's excited. It is my favorite parable. It's always been, partly because I've only read it at the surface level. But now that I've read it at a deeper level, I love it even more.

So two things to say about the parable of the talents before we dive in. The first thing is a talent is money. A talent is a denomination of money. Okay?

The second thing I want to say about the parable of the talents is that it is a terrible name for the story because it makes you think that Jesus is talking about money, and he is not talking about money.

What the story is really about is something deeper, and it has deeper implications for us as followers. It's about the stewardship of resources that these servants have, based on the talents that are given to them by their master.

But it's more than that. When we go to Matthew 25 and read the parable of the talents, we see in this chapter that Jesus is talking about the end times, the last days, and the kingdom of God.

And so the context behind this story and the chapter is that Jesus is preparing his disciples and followers for his departure. So we have to keep that in mind as we read this story.

So shall we dive into Matthew chapter 25, verses 14 through 30? Now, I like a participative reading when we go through the scripture. We're going to read a lot of scriptures today. So when I stop and point to you all, I want you all to finish the statement on the screen, okay?

So when I read the verse and I pause at a point and I look at you all, I want you all to say what's next on the screen. Got me?

All right, so let's start at verse 14.

Jesus said, "Again, it will be like..." Wait, wait, I'm sorry. That wasn't your cue. Not yet. Wait till I do one of these numbers, okay?

"Again, it will be like..." Now, Jesus starts this story with "again." Why does he start a story with "again"?

Because this story is emphasizing the fact that Jesus is going to be the first one to die. He's going to be the first one to die. He's emphasizing an idea and a thesis that he wants to drive home.

So he's been making point after point after point, and then he gets to this parable, and he says, "Again," which means he's putting great emphasis. This is the cherry on top. This is the icing on the cake of his main idea.

He says, "Again, it's..." What is it? Raise your hand if you know. Everybody books. Pastor Brent. It is the kingdom of God.

When we read the previous stories and previous parables, Jesus is saying the kingdom of God is like. So what Jesus is doing is, again, he is putting emphasis on what the kingdom of God is like.

Let's continue.

"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 left. The master left.

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 went at once and put his money to work and gained two bags more.

But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. Tsk, tsk.

That's not in your translation of the Bible. I'm sorry. It's just my translation.

Verse 19. 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, "You have been faithful with a few. Come on, keep reading. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness."

Excellent. Now, I want you guys to get used to hearing, "Well done, my good and faithful servant," because when Jesus returns, I want him to say that to all of you all, and I want you all to be used to hearing that, okay?

Verse 22. 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, "Stop. You have been faithful with few things. I will put you in charge of many. Come and share your master's happiness. Come into the joy of me."

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. Why did he come? Right?

If you see your co-workers doing what they're supposed to do and you don't do what you're supposed to do, you know what that's called? It's called PTO. Pay time off, okay?

I mean, that's when you call in sick and you say, "Pastor Brent, I feel something in my spirit that's affecting something in my stomach, and therefore I can't come to work today."

Well, why would you come when you see the difference of what you've done versus what your co-workers have done, right? Well, he came anyway.

"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."

This is his excuse. "So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you."

And I could just see him hoping for his master's approval of this grand excuse that he had of not doing the job that he was supposed to do.

Verse 26, his master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant. So you knew what I harvest where you, 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 return, I would receive it back with interest."

And you did not know there are high-yield savings accounts in Jesus's time, but there was. It's not a new concept.

"So take the bag of gold," this is the master talking, "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 the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. That's only in my translation.

"And throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

So that's the parable of the talents.

And how we usually interpret that parable is a general measure of stewardship. It's generally translated or interpreted as the wealth and prosperity that we have, right?

And this is generally okay in the principles of stewardship, but I believe that Jesus wants us to go further.

Now, normally we would take this parable and apply it to our lives. So like, I'm an accountant, and I have skills in accounting to provide for my family, and I do work for the church hopefully to impact the body of Christ.

And God has given me money in order to steward it well, right? To invest it, to budget it, right? To provide for my family again, to give to the church, to hopefully impact the kingdom.

And the reward for the stewardship and the management of the resources that God gives me is that he gives us more to manage and to steward. Opportunities open up for us. Promotion comes, right? Our wealth and the value of ourselves increase.

But then what happens when we don't manage and steward the resources that God gives us well is that he takes it from us and he gives it to those who do know how to budget and invest and who do know how to use their gifts wisely, right?

And when we are on the receiving end of this, we use scriptures like "the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous" and "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me" and "all things work for the good of me who love the Lord," right?

This is how we generally interpret this parable.

But it's deeper than that. This is not what Jesus was trying to get at.

Jesus is not giving us a parable to teach us how to invest or grow our brand. The beginning of the parable says, "Again, the kingdom of God is like."

But this is the problem. We've hijacked the kingdom of God from God and made it the kingdom of me.

So what happens is when we read "the kingdom of God is like," we interpret the next thing that says as a personal promise to me, the kingdom of me.

It is my wealth and my prosperity. It is my portion. And that's how we interpret the Bible.

But Jesus is trying to explain to our thick-headed selves that the kingdom of God is not about you. It is about saving humanity, redeeming the world. It's about returning me, you, and everyone else back to the Father.

And when we read the Bible with this in mind, when we read the Bible kingdom-minded, we get a new perspective. We get a deeper interpretation of Jesus' story.

So there's nothing wrong with being blessed because we are blessed to be a blessing. The problem is that we don't seek first the kingdom and its righteousness. We don't seek the kingdom first. We're not kingdom-minded first. We're self-minded first.

So let's interpret this parable with the kingdom in mind, okay?

As a matter of fact, let's interpret this story using the Bible because this story is not just a parable, but it's a prophecy.

So we're going to go to Acts chapter 1, where this parable is kind of played out.

And in Acts chapter 1, this is after Jesus has died and has been resurrected, and the disciples are gathered, and they're waiting for instructions from Jesus before he ascends into heaven.

So let's dive in and find out what's going on.

So I'm going to start at verse 3, Acts chapter 1. You can turn your Bibles to it if you are able to turn your Bible, or, you know, click your Bible to Acts chapter 1.

Verse 3, "During the 40 days after he suffered and died, he appeared to disciples from time to time. He proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive."

How many of you are glad that you serve a Savior who is alive? He died for our sins, he rose from the dead, and he is alive. He was alive then, and he is alive today.

"And he talked to them about the kingdom, about the kingdom."

In Matthew, in the parable, Jesus is explaining what the kingdom of God is like, what it will be. In Acts, Jesus is explaining to his disciples what the kingdom of God is.

He says, "The manifestation of the kingdom is happening now. And let me explain to you what's actually going to happen in the kingdom today."

Verse 4, "Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, 'Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised.'"

The gift the Father promises to Jesus' followers is the talent in the parable of the talents. It is the talent. The gift the Father is giving is the talent.

"As I told you before in verse 5, John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is the talent.

In the parable of the talents, the master gives a portion of his wealth to his servants. In Acts 1, God is giving a portion of himself, the Spirit of God, to his followers. The Holy Spirit is the talent.

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking, "Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?"

He replied, "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know."

Jesus is the master in the parable that's leaving for an undisclosed period of time. And he is coming back to account for what we did with the talent that the Father has given us as the Holy Spirit.

So we understand that Jesus is the master and he's leaving. We understand that the Father has given us the Holy Spirit as talent.

So how do we use the talent to increase the master's portion? How do we use the Holy Spirit to expand the kingdom of God?

And I'm so glad you asked, and that's why there's a verse 8. Let's keep reading.

"But you will receive power." Somebody say power.

Power. Somebody say power.

Power. Wonder-working power. Wonder-working power. And the blood of the Lamb. And the blood of the Lamb. Now sing the song. Okay, don't. Okay, okay. We already had worship.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my what? Witnesses."

What does a witness do? Telling people about me everywhere. Where, Jesus? In Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and Samaria, and to where? The ends of the earth.

That's everywhere. This is multiplication.

Using the power of the Holy Spirit to witness to people, telling people about Jesus. If I am one, and I tell someone else about the love of Jesus Christ, that's discipleship. And now I've made two followers of Jesus.

You see how one became two? Multiplication. I know that was a long time ago. This is multiplication.

And we use the power of the Holy Spirit to share the gospel, to advance the kingdom. We use the talent that God has given us to advance the portion of God's wealth, which is the kingdom of God.

So where do we share the gospel? Where does Jesus say? What was the first city he said? Jerusalem, right?

Why did he say Jerusalem? Because that's where the disciples were, right? They were in Jerusalem.

He wants us to share the gospel in our own backyard, in your inner circle, right? Your family, your loved ones, your close friends.

Can you share the love of Jesus Christ? Can you share what he has done for you in your life with your family and your loved ones and your friends?

What's the next city that he said? Judea. Where is Judea? A little further than Jerusalem. That's a little hint there.

Can you share the good news of Jesus Christ in your neighborhood? Can you serve at your local church? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, right?

Can you serve at a food pantry or at a homeless shelter? Sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Can you do it at your job?

I dare you to share the love of Jesus Christ at your job. I dare you to risk being terminated because you share the love of Jesus Christ and have faith that God will provide for you.

Now, Carlton, the officers and trustees of the church are not responsible if you do actually do that and lose your job, right?

What's the next place that Jesus said share the gospel? Starts with the Samians with the area. Samaria, right?

What do we know about the Samaritans? They, the Jews do not like them, right? They are half-bred Jews from Syria.

The Jews are like, they don't have our culture. They're not a part of us. We just don't like them.

Can you share the gospel with somebody from a different culture than yours? Can you share the love of Jesus with someone you don't like?

We just had an election, don't want to be political, but can you share the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ with somebody that voted different from you?

And then what was the last place that Jesus said? The ends of the earth.

Can you go on a mission trip? He just announced a mission trip to Japan.

Can you go on an international trip? Can you go on an international trip to Japan?

Can you go on an international trip to Japan? Can you go on an international trip to Japan?

Can you go on an international trip to Japan? Can you go on an international trip to Japan?

Can you go on an international trip to Japan?

Mission trip, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, leading unreached people to Christ.

So I asked Jesus, I said, "Jesus," and me and Jesus are on a first-name basis. I call him Jesus, he calls me Carlton.

I said, "Jesus, where's the end of the earth?" Because you know the earth is round, it doesn't have an end.

And Jesus says, "You're right, Carlton, it doesn't have an end. And that's why you need to keep sharing and loving and going and sharing and sharing and sharing and going until there is no end until I return."

Jesus is very strategic in what he's saying.

So verse 9, "After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him."

The master left as he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching.

As they strained to see Jesus rising into heaven, everybody looked up at Jesus going, "Jesus, come back, don't go."

Two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. "Men of Galilee," they said. I don't know why they had a deep voice. "Why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go."

In other words, get to work multiplying the talents. Get to work using the power of God that's in you to advance the kingdom of God.

Or in other words, don't just sit here in church week to week digesting the word. Actually go out outside of the church, share the love, and the good news of Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit that's been in you since salvation, expanding the kingdom of God.

And the power of the Holy Spirit has been in you since you became a believer.

How do you know, Carlton? I'll show you how I know. We'll go to Acts chapter 2, verse 38.

Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit comes on you when you become a believer in Jesus Christ.

And there's nothing more that you need to do in receiving the power of the Holy Spirit.

Just like the servants belong to the master and got a portion of the master's wealth to utilize for the master's kingdom.

In the same way, when you become a believer in Jesus Christ, you then belong to the Father and you receive a portion of him in the Holy Spirit to expand and advance the kingdom of God.

And what we have in us is the power of the Holy Spirit. And the power of the Holy Spirit is critical for us expanding the kingdom.

Luke 24 and 49 says, "And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my father promised, but stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with the power from heaven."

The Holy Spirit will empower you to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It will embolden you to go outside of yourself and talk about God.

When someone comes by you, and they tell you about their problems and their struggles, you will be emboldened to pray for them. You will invite Jesus into the conversation.

When someone asks you how you're doing, you'll be able to tell them about the joy of the Lord.

You'll be emboldened to sign up for a missions trip, to bring unreached people to Jesus.

Thanksgiving is coming up. You can share the love of Jesus and what he has done in your life with your loved ones.

You can tell your niece's new boyfriend about Jesus and scare him half to death so he never returns.

Yeah, if your niece has a boyfriend, just start talking to him about Jesus, you'll never see him again, guaranteed.

Well, you may, you know, that's discipleship, all right?

But you know what the key to this process is? The key to the process is the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because in the parable of the talents, it doesn't explicitly tell us how the servants went and grew the talents, how they doubled their money. It just says that they went off and grew, they invested it.

But it doesn't tell us that they were any kind of investment banker or financial professional. It just says that they grew the money.

But you know what I think happens in Carlton's glorified imagination?

Is that when they took a step of faith and obedience to multiply the talents, they activated the power of the Holy Spirit in that process, and the Holy Spirit took over and grew the wealth that they had.

Just like for us, when we take a step of faith in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, we activate the Holy Spirit in our lives, and we activate the Holy Spirit in our conversation.

Not only does it embolden us, but it draws the person into God. There is a drawing that happens, and that drawing is not our responsibility.

Our responsibility is to present the Word, but it's God's responsibility to draw people into Him.

This drawing is found in John chapter 6, verse 44, where Jesus declares, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise him up in the last day."

The Greek word for draw is "helkuo." You didn't know I could speak Greek. Don't ask me to say the word again.

But the Greek word for draw means to drag.

I'm glad that God has dragged me out of my sin and into His arms. Aren't you glad that God has dragged you from where you were and to Him and in His kingdom?

I'm so glad that God has dragged me out of the mud and the mess and the muck and the filth that I was in and dragged me to Him.

I'm glad that He knocked me over my head and said, "Carlton, you have to come with me."

Aren't you glad that you serve a God who seeks and saves the lost?

I want to be drawn to God's love and drawn to God's love. I want to be drawn to God's mercy and drawn to God's healing and His peace and His comfort and His love.

I want God to drag me today and tomorrow and every day. I want Him to draw me close to Him no matter where I am in my life, no matter what's going on with me, no matter what I'm doing.

If I need healing or deliverance or love or peace, I want Him to find me, take me, and drag me to Him.

And we want this for everyone. And we are the conduit for God to draw people into him.

Romans chapter 10, verses 14 and 15 says, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?"

And I'm looking at all of you.

"And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?"

We are being sent by God to share the love and the good news of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We have been in charge of the portion that he has given us, of the measure that he has given us, and the power of the Holy Spirit with instructions to expand the community.

And we have been in charge of the portion that he has given us, and the power of the Holy Spirit by witnessing and telling people about Jesus.

So Jesus' ascension into heaven and the promise of the Holy Spirit that we receive is the manifestation of the parable of the talents.

We have been entrusted with the Holy Spirit to empower us to share the gospel, to expand God's territory.

So the takeaway that we have from this, the first one is to use the resource.

So just like the parable of the talents, the master gives a resource to the servants. And in Acts 1, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

We are entrusted to use the resource, use the Holy Spirit that's inside of you to go out and share the love of Jesus Christ.

Use the power of the Holy Spirit that emboldens you and empowers you to share Jesus.

And if you don't know how to do that, if you don't know how to use the Holy Spirit that's inside of you, pray.

Every morning when you wake up in the morning, pray to the Holy Spirit.

Say, "Holy Spirit, show me how to share the love of Jesus Christ. Show me who to talk to. Give opportunity and conversation for me to share who you are, and your love, and what you've done for me."

Pray every day. Use the resource that God has given us.

The next thing we need to know is we have to grow the kingdom, right?

The Holy Spirit isn't here for our personal empowerment. It's not our personal resource that we just utilize for our lives.

We actually have a job and are instructed to expand the kingdom of God, to make disciples, to bring followers to Christ.

We use the Holy Spirit inside of us, not just waiting for an opportunity, but going boldly to people and to tell them about who Jesus is.

Because again, our job is to present the gospel. It's God's job to draw men to him.

We have to grow the kingdom.

And then the last thing we need to know is to be faithful.

Jesus expects his followers and his disciples to be faithful to the call that we have.

The call that we have to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We have to be faithful to what we're called to do.

He is sending all of us, all of us who are believers in Christ out into the world to save people, to bring people to him.

And we need to be faithful to this call, not just today on Sunday, not just tomorrow when you go to work, but your entire life.

You need to be faithful to the call of God that's on your life.

So, we can't go through the parables of the talents without exploring the consequences.

And you all said out loud what those consequences are.

It's one thing that we need to know about the parable that we need to remember is that the parable is a prophecy.

And we got the first part of the prophecy in Acts 1 when Jesus is leaving and he's giving the talent, he's giving the Holy Spirit.

We know that that part has happened, but there's a second part of the prophecy that hasn't happened yet.

And that's when the master returns and accounts for what we've done with the talent.

When Jesus returns and accounts for what we've done with our salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us.

What happened to the servant that buried the talent?

What happens to you when you bury your salvation?

Jesus said you will be cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Don't bury your salvation and go back to the life that you used to have. The life that God dragged you out of.

What happens to the two servants who use the talents?

What happens when your salvation is alive in you?

And you use the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the call that God has given you. The call that God has in your life.

In Matthew 25 and 21 it says, "The master was full of praise. Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling these small amounts. So now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate and party."

Who wants to party with Jesus? Amen.

There is no passive discipleship in the kingdom of God.

Use the salvation that God has given you. Use the power of the Holy Spirit to expand the kingdom of God.

So that one day we can party with Jesus. Amen.

So if you are at a place in your life where you're saying, "Carlton, I'm not sure if I have that salvation in order to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Like, I want to get to when Jesus returns and I want him to say to me, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.'"

If that's you, if you want to experience the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you, I want us to pray.

I want you to either repeat after me or pray this prayer in your own words.

I want everybody to bow their heads and close their eyes.

"Father God, I love you. I'm sorry for the way I lived. Make me brand new. I receive you, Jesus, as my Savior and my Lord. I release myself to you. Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. By faith, I open the door of my life and my heart to receive you. I surrender my life to you, Jesus. I believe that you are my Savior and my Lord. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for me and rose again on the third day for my victory."

And now for everyone else, God, we thank you for the honor and the privilege of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us.

But not only that, Jesus, we thank you, O God, that you have entrusted us to expand the kingdom of God.

We thank you that we are disciples of you, that we will witness and tell people about your love, tell people about your mercy and your grace and who you are and how you've impacted our lives so that their lives can be impacted and they can be drawn to you, Jesus.

We thank you for the boldness that we have and the empowerment that we have by the Holy Spirit, that we can fulfill the call that you have for us in our lives.

And we give you glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"We are in Sunday School Remix, where we are taking the parables of Jesus and giving you more than just a surface-level interpretation of these parables. We are diving deeper. And today, we are going to talk about the parable of the talents." [00:00:34] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"The second thing I want to say about the parable of the talents is that it is a terrible name for the story, because it makes you think that Jesus is talking about money, and he is not talking about money. Jesus is... What the story is, it's really about something deeper, and it has deeper implications for us as followers." [00:01:26] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"That's not in your translation of the Bible. I'm sorry. It's just my translation. Verse 19. 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." [00:05:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"Jesus is not giving us a parable to teach us how to invest or grow our brand. The beginning of the parable says, again, the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is like. But this is the problem. We've hijacked the kingdom of God from God and made it the kingdom of me." [00:10:44] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"It is about saving humanity, redeeming the world. It's about returning me, you, and everyone else back to the Father. And when we read the Bible with this in mind, when we read the Bible kingdom-minded, we get a new perspective. We get a deeper interpretation of Jesus' story." [00:11:35] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"The gift the Father promises to Jesus' followers is the talent in the parable of the talents. It is the talent, the gift the Father is giving is the talent. As I told you before in verse 5, John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the talent." [00:14:16] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"We use the talent that God has given us to advance the portion of God's wealth, which is the kingdom of God. So where do we share the gospel? Where does Jesus say? What was the first city he said? Jerusalem, right?" [00:17:22] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"Get to work multiplying the talents. Get to work using the power of God that's in you to advance the kingdom of God. Or in other words, don't just sit here in church week to week digesting the word. Actually go out outside of the church, share the love, and the good news of Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit that's been in you since salvation, expanding the kingdom of God." [00:21:13] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"Just like the servants belong to the master and got a portion of the master's wealth to utilize for the master's kingdom. In the same way, when you become a believer in Jesus Christ, you then belong to the Father and you receive a portion of him in the Holy Spirit to expand and advance the kingdom of God." [00:22:38] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


"Because in the parable of the talents, it doesn't explicitly tell us how the servants went and grew the talents, how they doubled their money. It just says that they went off and grew, they invested it. But it doesn't tell us that they were any kind of investment banker or financial professional. It just says that they grew the money." [00:24:48] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)