02/07/2023
‘WHAT TO DO ABOUT YOUR TALENT(S)?”
Parable 11
Home Group Study Notes: 02 July 2023
Message: Rev Tim Rist
Theme: “What to do about your talent(s)?” (Parable 11)
This format is a guide to you for your small group meeting. Feel free to change and adapt it according to the needs of your group. The objective is for you to build authentic relationships within the group, relationships that enable you to learn to love others who are different to you, and to discover as a reality the treasure of relationships built on the foundation of a relationship with Jesus, his life, and his teaching.
Meeting and Greeting:
Begin with general conversation and sharing about how the past week has gone.
Worship and Prayer
Click on the link below on your smartphone, Smart TV, or computer, to select songs to sing; and then spend a few minutes in song and prayer.
PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL SONG’S PLAYLIST: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsAkwbV_S1vXdZVPkZ0_tQW5n9RqeZX0
And if you need to check on the Message for the week again, then click on:
PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL (MESSAGE): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1X4YYw1KLpda1yGnqKgfw/videos
This time of worship and prayer will encourage you to move your thoughts from daily worries and pressures to our time of Bible study and prayer.
You do not have to answer all the questions below.
READING: Matthew 25: 14-31
Warm up for the discussion time:
What talent(s) do you have? Have you ever been part of a talent show? If so, what did you do?
Discussion and Sharing
- Why do you think the Master gave the servants different amounts of silver? Other Bible translations may use the word talents in place of silver. (See verse 15)?
- What do you think his expectation was of what the servants were to do with what they had been given?
- Would you agree that even though the servants were given different amounts to work with, the Master expected each one to work creatively with what they had been given?
- What is the Master’s reaction to the servant who “buried” his gift (verse 26)?
- Is the reaction of the Master (vs 28-30) a fair and just one, consider the reasons the servant gave for his not doing what the Master expected (see again verse 24-25).
- Jesus makes the point in the way he tells the story, that each person will be held responsible by God for how they have used their gift(s). What does this reaction of the Master to the servants tell us about how God sees each of us, and what he expects of us? How does that make you feel?
- Are you cautious and/or afraid to use your talent(s)?
- Have you ever had to deal with, or work through regret? What happened?
- Do you agree that a growing faith, a growing church family…. must take “risks” to grow in faith with God and for the Kingdom of God to grow? If so, what risk(s) do you need to take?
Faith building:
How will you take a risk on your faith, and put your talent(s) to work, strategically, for the Kingdom of God this week?
Prayer: Share prayer requests and then pray together.
Closing Prayer: And now may the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now, and forever more. Amen
Have a wonderful week. God bless. Tim.