Sermon Tone Analysis

Golden Opportunities

 

ME

 

In Thailand  – God gives many opportunities to respond to other people’s needs.

Preach in Kae Noi  

      Other times: Sisaket – did only what I needed to do.

I must go!

 

WE

 

Have you ever had opportunities to serve?

Knew right thing to do & did it?

Or, like me – did not & missed an opportunity never to return.

God will always give us opportunities serve  …  But we must GO to people, rather than COME!

 

SS: HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO THE OPPORTUNITIES GOD BRINGS INTO YOUR LIFE TO SERVE OTHERS?

Transition: Look at Parable of the Talents.

Jesus emphasizes how we are to live our lives for Him: making the most of every opportunity.

GOD

Background or parable: Before crucifixion, Jesus & disciples are on the Mt. of Olives.

Destruction of temple - Disciples ask (Mt 24:3) about a sign from Jesus about the coming at end of age.

Confusion about return in every era – Jesus speaking of our age.

Matthew 24:5-14 signs (Deceptions - Perils): 

 

1.

False Messiah’s (cults, false religions)  

2.

Wars & rumors of wars            

3.

Natural calamities

4. Persecutions 

5.

Apostasy   (turning from truth)

6.Cynicism (distrust; skepticism; doubt) – love will grow cold (v.

12)

 

v.

14 – Gosp preach end world: end will come.

1st time 20 centries.

V.

15-22: Seize of Jerusalem  v.

15-35: Tribulation – end of age v.36ff: overlay 24

 

Jesus – 3 parables about  keeping watch and how we must live:

1) Faithful & Unfaithful servant

2.) 10  virgins

3) Parable of the talents

 

Read vs. 14-18 

 

Talent = weight of silver (58-80 lbs)  Talents - Confusing – not natural abilities, aptitudes, gifts, skills.

Not ultimate rewards for service – use gifts so don’t lose salvation

 

Question about eternal life or eternal death

 

4 Clues of what talents represent: 

1.)

v. 14 – “His property”: God’s & for believers – Possess, control, give

2.) v. 15 – Talents given “each according to his ability”

3.) Implied: Talents invest to produce a gain, or return of investment.

4.) Invest exclusively for absent Lord – on Master’s behalf – No sharing

 

Question:  Are you looking for opportunities?

q will provide – but we must go!.

Are we investing for great possible return?

Master distributes the money & leaves.

Servants invest.

Master returns.

Read: vs. 19-21  25:3 – long time in coming  25:19 – after a long time

 

1st servant – 100% return investment – made full use resource, not for own advance, but for masters.

He risked great lost – “well done” : Authentic response by Jesus

 

Read vs. 22-23  2nd servant: 100% return investment

 

Did 2nd servant accomplish as much?

Yes~/No – both invest., risked, worked hard – both commended.

As gifts are used, progressively do more; represent opportunities to invest spiritual gifts (1 Cor~/Rm 12)

 

Master gives us new opportunities.

Be courageous  – seize & extend kingdom.

Climax of story: Rd. vs. 24-30  Master – harsh; unduly strict

 

Point: We “bury” – pass by opportunities, rather than reap an increase!

Servant – opportunity to give himself to God.

No spiritual influence – no spiritual power

You

 

Risk to leave nest & fly?

Step out – risk!

GO so people will see Christ’s love demonstrated.

100 million unchurched (1 of 3 adults, or 73 million adults; 27 million teens & children).

Seed Projects – WH

 

We

 

Remember context of parable: we’re at the end; Jesus come anytime; only have one life.

Live for Jesus will change, your family, your community.

Daily, make the most of every opportunity by investing in people’s lives.

Go! 

 

 

Golden Opportunities – Extended Notes

 

“Brothers, what should we do?” – the Jews asked Peter after he said at the end of his Pentecost sermon: “Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

(Acts 2:36 - NIV)

 

Many responded to the Gospel message and about 3,000 were baptized.

When I first came to Thailand, I thought, just as on the day of Pentecost, many would respond whenever I shared the Gospel message.

After all, I thought, it was just a matter of people not hearing about Jesus, and when they heard the Good News, they would trample each other to see who would be baptized first!

It took me only a few days to see that in Thailand – in which less than 1% of the population are believers – that this is not so.

In fact, for over 200 years, people have planted churches and preached the Gospel in Thailand, with very little results.

Certainly, if we build plant churches and hire a preacher to teach about Jesus in a Buddhist community, many non-believers will come to Christ.

… Right?

…

 

And, certainly, in America, with all of our churches and Christians attending church and preachers preaching the Gospel, hundreds should become Christians … Shouldn’t they?

…

 

After over 20 years of living and working in Asia, I’m asking myself more than ever … Why? -- Why is it that people are not responding to the Gospel?

\\ \\ Why is it for over 200 years, 1000’s of Christians have poured their hearts and souls to Christian endeavors in Thailand and other neighboring countries, yet, relative to the population, only a small percentage respond to the Gospel?

Yes, I do believe that the Holy Spirit still convicts people of sin, judgment and righteousness (Jn 16:8), and that individuals will respond to the Gospel and give their lives to Christ.

However, after two centuries of planting mostly institutional churches, we are seeing that the Bible does not emphasize planting institutions; rather, it emphasizes making disciples.

It is not about being a “coming” church (small “c”), but rather, as Jesus commands us in the Great Commission, we’re to be a *GOING** Church** *(large “C”).

It is about proactively responding to every opportunity that God puts in our lives – not just on Sundays, but 7 days a week.

*Transition**:* Today, I’d like for us to look at the *Parable Of The Talents*.

In this parable, Jesus emphasizes how we’re to live our lives for Him – by making the most of every opportunity.

*Background*: Let me set the stage for our parable:

 

Just prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, He was on the Mount of Olives (located just east of Jerusalem) with His disciples.

*Matthew 24:3* says that “the disciples came to Him privately.

"Tell us," they said [in reference to Jesus’ comment in regard to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem], "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (NIV)

 

Jesus then begins to describe what signs will occur *before* the beginning of the *end of the age* prior to the Lord’s return.

First of all, I realize that in every era since the days of the early Church recorded in the book of Acts, there has been much con­fusion over the time of the Lord's return.

And this confusion continues in our present day.