Week 44 Good and Faithful Servant
“Journaling is a way to be a good steward of the Spirit’s illuminations.”
John Piper
Passage
19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
Matthew 25:19–21 (NASB95)
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Background
Quote-John Stephen Piper (born January 11, 1946) is an American New Testament scholar, Reformed theologian, pastor, and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Piper taught biblical studies at Bethel University for six years (1974-1980), before serving as pastor for preaching and vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis for 33 years (1980-2013).
Piper is the founder and senior teacher of desiringGod.org, named for his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986), and has written a number of award-winning books, including ECPA Christian Book Award winners Spectacular Sins, What Jesus Demands from the World, Pierced by the Word, and God's Passion for His Glory, as well as bestsellers Don't Waste Your Life and The Passion of Jesus Christ.
Passage-first The book of Matthew is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Genealogy, Parables, Sermons, and some Prophetic Oracles. It was written by Matthew (Levi), the Disciple of Christ around 48-50 A.D. The key word in Matthew is "Kingdom" and is used 28 times.
The book of Matthew is the first of the synoptic gospels and it was written to reveal the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, from the line of David. It also was written to convince the Jews that Jesus Christ was indeed their long-awaited Messiah.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Faith is a call to believe in something others don’t see. We gather strength from people who see things as we do when we come together as a group. That belief and gathered strength grow into something more that must be shared. Eventually, our collective belief grows too big for just us and we are compelled to go out into the world with it. Whether we support those going or go ourselves, we are involved in the increase. If we are not, we have buried our talents in the sand.
Ask: Who is the Master?
Point: Jesus.
Ask: When is He coming back?
Point: Any time.
Ask: What has He given us?
Point: He at once has given us some things in common and many things apart from each other.
Ask: What has He left us shared responsibility for?
Point: The Church for one, care of the body of believers, and advancement of His cause in making disciples.
Ask: What has He left us in our personal care?
Point: First Reading Matthew 12:34–37 (NASB95)
Re-read verse 35 of the First Reading
Ask: Are we “Good” people or “Evil” people?
Point: This is a trick question because we are both and we must be careful about how we approach it.
Second Reading Romans 3:9–12 (NASB95)
Ask: If Paul’s point that we are all sinful human beings is right, how can we possibly ever be or do good?
Point: The short point is that we have imputed righteousness from Jesus and as long as we act as He would act following His ways in faith, we are adopted into His goodness.
Third Reading Romans 3:20–26 (NASB95)
Ask: What then are the “talents” God has entrusted each of us with?
Point: That is a personal question that revolves around gifts.
Ask: Gardens and farms, growing things abound but only when tended so what kinds of things are you growing and where?
Point: This is introspective designed to focus on the unique set of gifts each of us have.
Ask: Those gifts light a fire in us individually but what kind of light does that fire shed?
Point: The light of Christ is what is seen of us by the world. Our gifts fuel that fire to be seen, not placed out of the way or we are unprofitable and providing smaller returns on the gifts given us.
Ask: They Holy Spirit guides our path if we let Him, the question is where is his direction falling; stones, shallow roots, or deep good earth?
Point: The seeds of God’s Word fall in various places within us and not always on the same type of ground. As a good gardener we need to nurture those seeds so they can bear the most fruit for God.
Ask: Where is the most return on investment for God’s gifts?
Point: Out in the world and with other believers. If we keep it to ourselves, we are like the servant who buried his coin and only returned to God what was His in the first place.
Closing Statement
As we head into Advent season, I want to close out this year’s series with the quotes from last year’s Advent lessons:
Jesus Christ was treated as we deserved so that when we believe in Jesus, God treats us as Jesus deserves.
Timothy Keller
“To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.”
Martin Luther
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion. It is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”
Billy Graham
“The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way.”
Oswald Chambers
Questions for the Week
Question 1 You’ve gone through a year of examining what you believe with others, attempting to grow into something better, and potentially taking your gifts to others. Where are you now from where you were in January 2022?
Question 2 Review your journal for those things from the beginning of the year to present that called for steps of change or advancement beyond where you were.
Question 3 Evaluate your progress from the steps you outlined to where you are now on those topics.
Question 4 Regardless of how great or small your personal progress is on those topics you noted for improvement, or even if you didn’t make note of any at all, use this time between now and January 1, 2023 to contemplate where you are and where you would like to be at this time next year.
Question 5 Begin now to make a plan of growth in Christ for 2023.
Scripture
First Reading
34“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:34–37 (NASB95)
Second Reading
9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
11There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;
12All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”
Romans 3:9–12 (NASB95)
Psalm 14:1-3
Third Reading
20because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:20–26 (NASB95)
Definitions
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16–18 (KJV 1900)
Believe
Greek Strong’s Number: 4100
Greek Word: πιστεύω
Transliteration: pisteuō
Phonetic Pronunciation: pist-yoo’-o
Root: from <G4102>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 6:174,849
Part of Speech: v
Vine’s Words: Belief, Believe, Believers, Commit, Commission, Intrust, Trust
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
believe 239
commit unto 4
commit to (one’s) trust 1
be committed unto 1
be put in trust with 1
be commit to one’s trust 1
believer 1
[Total Count: 248]
from <G4102> (pistis); to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):- believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
James Strong, “Πιστεύω,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
Gather
8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:8–9 (KJV 1900)
Gather
gath-er
verb (used with object)
to bring together into one group, collection, or place:to gather firewood; to gather the troops.
to bring together or assemble from various places, sources, or people; collect gradually:The college is gathering a faculty from all over the country.
to serve as a center of attention for; attract:A good football game always gathers a crowd.
to pick or harvest (any crop or natural yield) from its place of growth or formation:to gather fruit; to gather flowers.
to pick up piece by piece:Gather your toys from the floor.
to pick or scoop up:She gathered the crying child in her arms.
to collect (as taxes, dues, money owed, etc.).
to accumulate; increase:The storm gathers force.The car gathered speed.
to take by selection from among other things; sort out; cull.
to assemble or collect (one's energies or oneself) as for an effort (often followed by up):He gathered up his strength for the hard job.
to learn or conclude from observation; infer; deduce:I gather that he is the real leader.
to wrap or draw around or close:He gathered his scarf around his neck.
to contract (the brow) into wrinkles.
to draw (cloth) up on a thread in fine folds or puckers by means of even stitches.
Bookbinding. to assemble (the printed sections of a book) in proper sequence for binding.
Nautical. to gain (way) from a dead stop or extremely slow speed.
Metalworking. to increase the sectional area of (stock) by any of various operations.
Glassmaking. to accumulate or collect (molten glass) at the end of a tube for blowing, shaping, etc.
verb (used without object)
to come together around a central point; assemble:Let's gather round the fire and sing.
to collect or accumulate:Clouds were gathering in the northeast.
to grow, as by accretion; increase.
to become contracted into wrinkles, folds, creases, etc., as the brow or as cloth.
to come to a head, as a sore in suppurating.
noun
a drawing together; contraction.
Often gathers. a fold or pucker, as in gathered cloth.
an act or instance of gathering.
an amount or number gathered, as during a harvest.
Glassmaking. a mass of molten glass attached to the end of a punty.
Grow
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV 1900)
Grow
[ groh ]
to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.
to form and increase in size by a process of inorganic accretion, as by crystallization.
to arise or issue as a natural development from an original happening, circumstance, or source:
Our friendship grew from common interests.
to increase gradually in size, amount, etc.; become greater or larger; expand:
His influence has grown.
to become gradually attached or united by or as if by growth:
The branches of the trees grew together, forming a natural arch.
to come to be by degrees; become:
to grow old.
Nautical. to lie or extend in a certain direction, as an anchor cable.
verb (used with object), grew [groo], grown [grohn], grow·ing [groh-ing].
to cause to grow:
They grow corn.
to allow to grow:
to grow a beard.
to cover with a growth (used in the passive):
a field grown with corn.
Verb Phrases
grow into,
to become large enough for:
He'll grow into his brother's suits before long.
to become mature or experienced enough for:
She grew into the job, although she wasn't qualified for it at first.
grow on / upon
to increase in influence or effect:
An uneasy feeling grew upon him as he went through the old house.
to become gradually more liked or accepted by:
a village by the sea that grows on one.
grow out of,
to become too large or mature for; outgrow:
He has grown out of all his clothes.
to originate in; develop from:
The plan grew out of a casual conversation.
grow up,
to be or become fully grown; attain mental or physical maturity.
to come into existence; arise:
New cities grew up in the desert.
Go
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:15–16 (KJV 1900)
Greek Strong’s Number: 4198
Greek Word: πορεύομαι
Transliteration: poreuomai
Phonetic Pronunciation: por-yoo’-om-ahee
Root: middle voice from a derivative of the same as <G3984>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 6:566,915
Part of Speech: v
Vine’s Words: Depart, Go, Go onward, Journey, Journeyings, Walk
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
go 117
depart 11
walk 9
go (one’s) way 8
miscellaneous translations 9
[Total Count: 154]
middle from a derivative of the same as <G3984> (peira); to traverse, i.e. travel (literal or figurative; especially to remove [figurative die], live, etc.);-depart, go (away, forth, one’s way, up), (make a, take a) journey, walk.
James Strong, “Πορεύομαι,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
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