Message on Sunday, December 15, 2019

BE ACTIVE

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:14-30

Main Theme: Second Coming of Jesus, Stewardship; Responsibility, Reaching the lost
(See background information below.)

Guide for Crossroads Community Groups:

1. Welcome: Read the purpose of your group:

   Our purpose is to multiply groups. We do this by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom.

2. Worship: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Show a video with the lyrics, such as Lead Me to the Cross.

3. Review:

   • What has God been telling you this week in your personal time with Him?

   • How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?

   • With whom did you share what you learned last week?

   • Who did you invite to the group for this week?

4. Opening Question:
   What do you sense God telling you to do that you are afraid to do?

5. Introduction: Read the background information below.

6. Word: Read Matthew 25:14-30 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story — keep at it until everyone knows the story.)

   • What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

   • Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

   • What are the details? What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

7. Discussion: Discuss together the questions below.

8. Application: For these questions, you may want to divide into two groups for males and females.

9. Prayer Time:

   • Pray for an empty chair, representing new people you want to join the group. Think of specific people to pray for by name.

   • Divide into two groups for males and females to pray for the needs of the members of the group.

10. For Next Time:

    • Assign group members who are ready to do different parts of the next meeting as you prepare them (opening question; prayer time; read background info; lead group).

    • Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
      
      

Background Information

Background Information:

Jesus is coming back. This is as certain as each person is appointed to die once and then face God's judgment (Hebrews 9:27). It is the certain teaching of Jesus throughout His ministry that He would come back. This is also the teaching of the entire Bible. In these verses in Matthew, Jesus tells a story (which is called a parable in the Bible) that expresses what His followers are expected to do during the time before Jesus comes back.

Notice the following:

1. He gives them something.

2. They either put to work what they have been given or not.

3. The master comes back and calls each one to give an account for what they have been given.

4. There are rewards or punishment based on the faithfulness of the servant to do what was expected with what they have been given. 

Key Verse: To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what they have will be taken away. — Matthew 25:29.

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 25:14-30

Discussion Questions

1. What new thing did you discover in the story, or are there any verses that you didn’t know before?

2. What do you learn about God (Father, Jesus, or Holy Spirit) from the story? 

3. What do you learn about people from the story?

4. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

5. What will you take away from this discussion?

6. What will you do with what you have learned?

7. As a result of this study, what do you need to stop doing?

8. As a result of this study, what do you need to start doing?

Commitment — Obedience — Application

1. Jesus taught you this today because someone in your life needs to hear it. With whom in your inner circle of relationships will you share what you have learned through this study?

2. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?