05.28.08
Small Group Plan - May 25, 2008
“Mission: Looking for People to Trust”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
May 25, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Iron rusts from disuse;
stagnant water loses its purity,
and in cold weather becomes frozen:
even so does inaction sap the vigor’s of the mind.
– Leonardo da Vinci
Do what you can,
with what you have,
where you are.
– Theodore Roosevelt
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Are you more of a saver or a spender? Explain.
· Are you are risk taker? Why or why not?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
ABILITY
Matthew 25:14-15
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
· The story begins with “again.” What themes or messages are being carried into this story from prior stories?
· He “entrusted” his property to his servants. What was their relationship like? How did he feel about them? What did he expect from them?
· If you had been the third servant, would you have felt slighted or grateful for the smaller responsibility? Explain.
RELIABILITY
Matthew 25:16-18
16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
· Explain the basic difference between how the three servants approached their mission?
· Why did the third servant hide what his master had entrusted to him?
· What does this say about his view of his master?
· What does this say about his view of himself?
ACCOUNTABILITY
Matthew 25:19-30
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “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!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “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!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent 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. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “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? 27 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. 28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
· Why was the third servant afraid to risk, while the first servants were not?
· Was the master too harsh or justified in his response?
· Was the master happiest with the use or the increase of the talents? Explain.
· Speculate: What would the master have thought if the servant had taken the risk and made an investment, but then lost the money?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· As a group think of all the resources available to all. What would be the least risky way to handle each? How would God feel about such an approach?
· What does this parable teach about the value of taking risks?
· As an individual, what is risky about living faithfully for God?
· As a congregation, how could we take risks for God?
· When you consider how you are “investing” your life, do you feel satisfied, do you need to make some changes, do you feel that your life is on hold, or are you unsure about how to proceed?
· How can the group pray for how you use the resources God gives you?