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 / FUMCHOMESTEAD.ORG/ 11/13/11 Sermon
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How Are You Managing?
Scripture: Matthew 24:14-30
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Boring (Matthew, New Interpreters Bible) states: "'Good and faithful'…[means] active responsibility that takes initiative and risk" [p. 453]. The master gave no clear instructions. So what one does while waiting goes beyond mere obedience. How we use our time and God’s generosity is directly related to what we think of God and what God gives us. Have you have been generously and lavishly gifted by God, what are you going to do about it? How are you managing?
And what do we think of the master? The first two servants hint at their master's generosity when they say in vs. 20-22, what you have given me! The third is centered on the hardness of the master and the fear that perception produced in him. Now I don’t want to confuse you, God is the same God to all humanity but isn’t it ironic that some say that He is good, generous and forgiving while others say He is harsh, hard, demanding, and judgmental. Interesting too, it wasn’t the master who put the fear in the third servant. After all the other two had quite the different view, it was what the third imposed on the master. Do we look at God based on what we think God will think of us? What is the image of God? How do you see God? Does He bring you joy or does He render you so paralyzed that what He gives you; you just bury? How are you managing?
So what happens to those who bury what the master gives? The servant who received little and who didn't use his abilities, as he should have, lost his talent and it was given to the first! Remember the term “use it or loose it!” Where you do think it came from? How are you managing?
What if we were to be more intentional about taking responsibility for our actions in the church? At the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, leaders preparing to teach seminars must be recorded having three peers critique them before they can present. There is a church in Ohio who only allows Choir members to join if they are willing to take 6 private lessons while singing in their first six months. What if Bible Study leaders had to submit a study once a year to be critiqued before they could teach Small Group or Sunday school the next year. What if chairpersons and team leaders had to show that they could run a meeting? What if this pastor had to have a team of 6-8 who would critique my sermons each week to be sure that I was preparing adequately. The first two servants didn’t look at what they were given as an end in itself! They willing to better what they had unlike the third who had no intention of strengthening what he was given!
A consultant stated that he had worked with a congregation run by eighth graders. Not one of the elected leaders had taken any Christian education since 8th grade confirmation classes. How could they govern the church by the Word of God if they weren't studying it? Now before some of you 2012 elected leaders; members of the choir/praise team decide to resign your post, don’t miss the point! Listen to the scripture and remember two things: One, I am accountable for what I have been given as well as you are! And, I believe that if God has given to us, God will give us opportunity to grow. It is our choice to increase what we have or to bury it! How are you managing? Offering back to God only what God has given with no desire to grow is counter to this parable.
Continue on.... 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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