Main Text: Matthew 25:24–30 (ESV) 24 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, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 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? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 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. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Preaching Point: We must examine whether our lives demonstrate genuine faith in Christ, knowing that a life of persistent unfaithfulness reveals a soul destined for God’s judgment.

Teaching Points:

1. Don’t Excuse Your Unfaithfulness (vv. 24-25)
2. Recognize That God Sees Through Your Excuses (vv. 26-27)
3. Fear the Judgment of an Unfaithful Life (vv. 28-30)

Application Questions:

1. Read Matthew 25:24–30. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. What excuses did the unfaithful servant make for his lack of stewardship in Matthew 25:24–25?
3. What excuses are you prone to making for your own unfaithfulness or inaction? What specific steps can you take to begin obeying God and stop making excuses?
4. Read Luke 16:10–12. How should Jesus’ teaching about faithfulness in small things influence the way you steward what God has entrusted to you?
5. Read Luke 16:14–15 and Proverbs 16:2. What do these passages teach about our tendency to justify ourselves and God's ability to discern the true motives of our hearts?
6. How should these truths challenge you to examine your excuses and honestly evaluate the motives behind them?
7. Read Matthew 25:28–30 and Matthew 7:21–23. If Christ returned today, would your stewardship of what God has entrusted to you provide evidence of genuine saving faith or reveal a lack of genuine trust in him? Explain your answer.
8. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5–6 and Hebrews 3:12–14. Why is it important for professing Christians (as well as unbelievers) to examine their faith, and how can you lovingly encourage others to do the same?

Main Text: Matthew 25:14–23 (ESV) 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 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.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’

Preaching Point: We are called to multiply what God has entrusted to us, knowing that he will return to evaluate and reward our faithful stewardship.

Teaching Points:

1. Multiply What God has Entrusted to You (vv. 14–18)
2. Expect God to Settle Your Account (v. 19)
3. Live for God’s “Well Done” (vv. 20–23)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. Read John 15:4–8. What should be the inevitable outcome of “abiding” in Christ, and how does this outcome relate to multiplying what God has entrusted to you?
3. How would you evaluate your current commitment to multiplying what God has entrusted to you? What evidence supports your evaluation?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 5:9–10 and Romans 14:12. What crosses your mind when you hear that you will give an account of yourself to God?
5. What stewardship commitments can you make today to ensure that you, like the two faithful servants, are ready to “settle accounts” when you meet Christ face-to-face?
6. Read 2 Timothy 4:7–8 and Matthew 25:19–23. What do you think it will be like to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
7. Consider what the life of someone who is “living for God’s ‘well done’” looks like. What are some characteristics of that person’s life?
8. Write down specific ways you can “run the race” and “fight the good fight” today so that you can have the same confidence Paul had as he approached the end of his life. Be ready to share them in LifeGroup.

Main Text: Matthew 25:1–13 (ESV) 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Preaching Point: You must spiritually prepare to meet Christ, or risk being left out of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Teaching Points:

1. Don’t Delay Your Preparation (vv. 1-5)
2. Don’t Depend on Someone Else’s Preparation (vv. 6-12)
3. Stay Prepared (vv. 10-13)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. Read Hebrews 4:1–7 and Isaiah 55:6–7. Why is “rolling the dice” and delaying your preparation to meet Jesus dangerous?
3. What current area in your life (i.e., salvation, obedience, repentance, forgiveness, etc.) do you need to address to prepare yourself spiritually to meet Jesus face-to-face?
4. Read Matthew 25:7–12 and Matthew 7:21–23. Why might someone expect to enter Christ’s Kingdom and yet be excluded?
5. What distinguishes false assurance, which is excluded from Christ’s Kingdom, from saving faith, which enters Christ’s Kingdom?
6. Even as a genuine believer, how might you become overly dependent on someone else's spiritual maturity (a spouse, parent, etc.) rather than cultivating your own relationship with Christ?
7. Read Romans 13:11–14 and Luke 12:35–38. What does maintaining a constant readiness to meet Jesus look like?
8. How would your daily priorities and habits change if you cultivated greater readiness to meet Christ face-to-face?