Week 25 Series: The Kingdom Sermon Title: The Kingdom Work ...
Week 25 Series: The Kingdom Sermon Title: The Kingdom Work Sermon Text: Matthew 25:1-30 Study Handout Date: The Week of 02-26-17 Group Date: The Week of 03-05-17 Sermon Date: 03-12-17 SPECIAL NOTE: Have you signed up for the Gospel Confidence conference on Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th? If not, please do so today. BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY’S LESSON, what was your takeaway from this past Sunday’s sermon? ATTRIBUTE: Longsuffering – God’s righteous anger is slow to be kindled against those who fail to listen to His warnings or to obey His instructions. His eternal longing or the highest good for His creatures holds back His holy justice. (I Peter 3:20; Numbers 14:18; Romans 2:4) (Precepts Ministries International) DOCTRINE: The Second Coming of Christ – The Second Coming of Christ is frequently taught in the New Testament. Scripture teaches the return of Jesus Christ will be physical, sudden, visible and unexpected. His coming will be followed by the final judgment. (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:26; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). DAY 1 -
Read Matthew 25:1-30. 1. Briefly write your understanding of the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Talents.
DAY 2 -
Read Matthew 25:1-13; 24:3, 36; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2. 1. Who do you understand the two groups of virgins to be? What was the attitude of each group toward the bridegroom? 2. Considering there could be a long delay in the coming of the bridegroom, why do you think Jesus emphatically warns “to keep watch and be ready”? Use the above verses or any related Scripture you find.
3. What was the cry that came at midnight and what do you understand it to be?
4. Were the wise virgins selfish to withhold their oil from the foolish virgins? Why or why not?
5. What is the crisis at the end of this parable? Is your state of readiness apparent in the way you react to big or small crises in your life? Share with your group. 1
DAY 3 -
Read Matthew 25:14-18. 1. What does verse 14 tell you about the master of the property?
2. What did each of the servants do with the gifts each was given?
3. What has God entrusted to you for the purpose of furthering His kingdom (spiritual gifts, influence, money, knowledge, health, strength, time, intellect, advantage of the Bible, privilege of West Side Church, etc.)? How are you faithfully and energetically working for Christ and Using what He has given?
DAY 4 -
Read Matthew 25:19-30; Romans 2:7-11; James 2:14-17. 1. What did the master of the property find at his return? Does the passage indicate the servants knew when he would return?
2. In verses 24-25, was the servant accurate in his estimation of the master as a hard man (see question #1, Day 3). If not, what does this tell you about this servant?
3. What is the warning here about doing nothing with what he was given?
4. List two or three thoughts that come to you from the words “darkness” and “outside.”
5. If you know Christ as your Savior, how are you using your new life in Christ to work for Him?
DAY 5 -
Read Matthew 25:1-30; 2 Peter 3:10-18. 1. If these two parables are a picture of the visible church, how do you explain the wise and foolish virgins, and the prudent servants and the slothful servant?
2. In which group do you find yourself? 3. We do not know when the Bridegroom will come. If you find yourself unprepared today, will you answer the call of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, confess your sin, and put your trust in Him so that you might be prepared for His coming?
4. If you fall into the “wise and prudent” category, what is the Lord requiring of you as you wait for His coming? Are you watching and ready? If not, why not? 2
Read Matthew 25:1-30. 1. Briefly write your understanding of the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Talents.
DAY 2 -
Read Matthew 25:1-13; 24:3, 36; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2. 1. Who do you understand the two groups of virgins to be? What was the attitude of each group toward the bridegroom? 2. Considering there could be a long delay in the coming of the bridegroom, why do you think Jesus emphatically warns “to keep watch and be ready”? Use the above verses or any related Scripture you find.
3. What was the cry that came at midnight and what do you understand it to be?
4. Were the wise virgins selfish to withhold their oil from the foolish virgins? Why or why not?
5. What is the crisis at the end of this parable? Is your state of readiness apparent in the way you react to big or small crises in your life? Share with your group. 1
DAY 3 -
Read Matthew 25:14-18. 1. What does verse 14 tell you about the master of the property?
2. What did each of the servants do with the gifts each was given?
3. What has God entrusted to you for the purpose of furthering His kingdom (spiritual gifts, influence, money, knowledge, health, strength, time, intellect, advantage of the Bible, privilege of West Side Church, etc.)? How are you faithfully and energetically working for Christ and Using what He has given?
DAY 4 -
Read Matthew 25:19-30; Romans 2:7-11; James 2:14-17. 1. What did the master of the property find at his return? Does the passage indicate the servants knew when he would return?
2. In verses 24-25, was the servant accurate in his estimation of the master as a hard man (see question #1, Day 3). If not, what does this tell you about this servant?
3. What is the warning here about doing nothing with what he was given?
4. List two or three thoughts that come to you from the words “darkness” and “outside.”
5. If you know Christ as your Savior, how are you using your new life in Christ to work for Him?
DAY 5 -
Read Matthew 25:1-30; 2 Peter 3:10-18. 1. If these two parables are a picture of the visible church, how do you explain the wise and foolish virgins, and the prudent servants and the slothful servant?
2. In which group do you find yourself? 3. We do not know when the Bridegroom will come. If you find yourself unprepared today, will you answer the call of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, confess your sin, and put your trust in Him so that you might be prepared for His coming?
4. If you fall into the “wise and prudent” category, what is the Lord requiring of you as you wait for His coming? Are you watching and ready? If not, why not? 2
