Leader Guide Week of 11-25-07

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 25, 2007

November 25, 2007
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It And I Feel Fine

Getting Started:

1. What’s your investment strategy? Stock market? Bonds? Mutual funds? Large investments with lower risk? Smaller investments with higher risk?

Going Deeper:

2. If you had $8000.00 and you wanted some people to increase its value while you were away, who would you give $5000.00, 2000.00, and 1000.00 to? Why those three?

3. Read Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, who does the master represent? The journey? The talents? The servants? What is the main point of this parable?

4. What can a person do to discover what God wants him/her to do for His kingdom? What Bible passages help provide an answer?

• Romans chapters 12, 13, 14, up to 15:7 contain a very lengthy list of specific ways God calls us to live out our faith.

5. What, specifically, do you think God has given you that He wants you to invest in His kingdom? How’s it going so far? Which servant in this parable do you resonate with the most?

6. Read Matthew 25:28-30. Do you think the master’s reaction is appropriate? Why or why not? Is the servant being punished for something he did or something he didn’t do? Read James 4:17 and Romans 7:13. How do these verses provide insight to this question?

7. In one word, what is the servant being punished for?

• Unbelief
• Disobedience
• Hypocrisy
• See the blog for more thoughts on this question.

8. What is the message for us, from this parable?

Putting it into practice:

1) Are you satisfied with the return on your investment? Are you satisfied with the investment itself? Pray about this in your groups.

Quote Of The Day

The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become.
--Ben Herbster