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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
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Sunday, November 16, 2008
Be Faithful Stewards
Ordinary Time (Proper 28)
Scriptures: Judges 4:1–7; Psalm 123; I Thessalonians 5:1–11;
Matthew 25:14–30/25:14–31 IV; Omni 1:46–47;
Doctrine and Covenants 83:7a–e
Sharing Christ’s Peace
Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the
abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their
hearts; not by commandment or constraint. Break free of the shackles of
conventional culture that mainly promote self-serving interests. Give
generously according to your true capacity. —Doctrine
and Covenants 163:9
Print enough of “My Scripture Bank” papers (see “Stewardship Challenge” on
next page) for everyone attending to receive one.
Prelude
Call to Worship: Doctrine and Covenants 83:7b–d
*Congregational Hymn
“Let Us Give Praise to the God of Creation” HS 398
OR “God of the Earth, the Sky, the Sea” HS 65
*Invocation
*Response
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Offertory stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/offertory
to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial
officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Read Omni 1:46–47, followed by these thoughts:
We are called to be faithful stewards of our giftedness, our financial
resources, our possessions, our health, our relationships with God and with
others, and our time. The degree of our stewardship will define the extent
to which we can generously share, benefiting ourselves as individuals, our
family, our neighbors, our congregation, our community, and our world. Our
stewardship reflects our personal response to Christ’s ministry.
Blessing and Offering of Mission Tithes
Ministry of Music (sung by child) OR Hymn: “I Am Standing
Waiting” SP 27
Drama: Find below.
Congregational Hymn
“A Charge to Keep I Have” HS 399
OR “All Things Are Thine” HS 397
Message
Based on Matthew 25:14–30/25:14–31 IV
Meditation Music
Stewardship Challenge
For this activity prepare a “My Scripture Bank” page. Type the scripture
from I Thessalonians 5:16–18 at the top of the piece of paper. Include blank
lines on the rest of the page.
Have you ever considered the fact that we’re called to be stewards over
the scriptures as well as over all the other resources we’ve talked about
today? We are challenged to become better stewards of the scriptures and
increase our knowledge of the treasures found in the Bible, Book of Mormon,
and Doctrine and Covenants. Our challenge begins with just one scripture,
found in I Thessalonians 5:16–18. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.” Reflect on this scripture this week and follow its counsel:
rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Then, help your scripture bank grow. Find
another scripture that speaks to you, write it down, and follow its counsel.
As you leave the sanctuary this morning, you will receive a sheet of paper
titled “My Scripture Bank.” The scripture from I Thessalonians is printed on
the paper, and there are lines for more scriptures to be added. Once a week,
add a scripture to the page. As your knowledge of the scriptures increases,
God will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
*Congregational Hymn
“God of Creation” HS 395
OR “We Thank You, Lord, for Strength of Arm” HS 78
*Benediction
*Postlude
Drama (Adapted from Matthew 25:14–30)
Select a narrator and four people to act out the parts of the rich man
and three servants. The actors will say nothing; they will only act out what
the narrator is reading. The actors can be dressed in biblical costumes or
in modern-day clothing. You can choose to use props, or the actors can
pantomime the drama.
The narrator should read slowly as actors act out their parts.
A rich man was going away on a journey, so he called his three servants
and asked them to take care of his property while he was gone. To one
servant he gave ten pieces of gold, to another he gave four, and to the
third he gave two. He gave each servant the amount of money he knew the
servant could take care of. Then he said goodbye and left on his journey.
The first servant took the ten pieces of gold and bought many items to
sell at the market. The servant was able to sell all the items for a profit
and ended up with twenty pieces of gold.
The second servant bought seeds with the four pieces of gold. The servant
planted the seeds, watered them, and removed any weeds from the garden that
he grew. When it was time for the harvest, the servant took all the produce
to the market and sold it. He ended up with eight pieces of gold.
The third servant was worried that he’d lose the rich man’s money, so he
dug a hole and hid his two pieces of gold in the ground.
After a long time the rich man returned and he called all the servants
together. He wanted to find out what they had done with his gold pieces.
The first servant came forward bringing twenty pieces of gold—ten more
than had been originally received from the rich man. The man was pleased and
told the servant, “You have done well, good and faithful servant. You have
been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness.”
The second servant came forward bringing eight pieces of gold—four more
than had been originally received from the rich man. The man was pleased and
told this servant the same thing. “You have done well, good and faithful
servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge
of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”
The third servant came forward and said, “I was afraid, so I hid your
money in the ground. Here are the two pieces of gold, just as you gave me.”
But the rich man was not happy. He said, “You lazy servant. You should
have put my money in the bank. When I returned I would have received it
back, along with interest. I no longer need you in my employment. I will
share your two pieces of gold with the other two servants who were good
stewards.”
With that, the rich man invited the first two servants into his home to
share in his happiness and wealth. The last servant walked sadly away with
nothing.
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Judges 4:1–7; Psalm 123; I Thessalonians 5:1–11;
Matthew 25:14–30/25:14–31 IV; Omni 1:46–47; Doctrine and Covenants
83:7a–e
Exploring the Scriptures
Today’s lesson from Matthew 25:14–30 is a lesson about God’s trust in us and
our personal responsibility as servants. In the parable of the talents, Jesus
tells the story of a master preparing to go on a journey and gives three of his
servants five talents, two talents, and one talent respectively. Two things are
striking about the opening verses of this parable. One is the statement that the
master gave his servants the talents according to their “ability.” The second is
the immensity of money given, since one talent was worth over fifteen years
wages for a common laborer. The very magnitude of the resources entrusted to the
servants says something of the master’s trust in them.
In like manner, God has trusted us with various gifts according to our
abilities. Rather than being exact copies of one another, we are all gifted
differently and are consequently called to different expressions of service
according to our gifts. Just as the master in the parable placed great trust in
his servants, God has placed great trust in us as well.
As the parable unfolds, the master returns and desires to settle his accounts
with the three servants. The first two servants are able to give the master
double what he had entrusted them with, due to their work in going out and using
their energy and knowledge to increase their master’s resources. The master
affirmed and awarded them for their work. The third servant, though, who had
hidden his talent in the ground, not only had no increase to give his master
upon his return, but actually blamed the master for his inability to return a
profit.
It is interesting to note that the servants who are rewarded in this
scripture are not the ones who keep their talents pristine and safe, but the
ones who go into the world, engaging their talents in the affairs of business
and culture. Likewise, the talents that we are given are not to be kept hidden
and safe, but are to be used in our world, in the midst of need and human
struggle. It is also noteworthy that the servant who is reprimanded by the
master is also the one who blames someone else for his lack of effectiveness (he
claims to have hidden the talent because of the master’s harsh nature). This is
a graphic reminder that we are responsible for what God has given us.
Being faithful stewards has to do with realizing that God is the giver of our
gifts, that we are all gifted differently, and that our gifts are to be put to
work in the midst of the world’s activity.
Central Ideas
1. God has gifted each person differently and expects us to serve
according to our gifts. The fact that God gives us gifts indicates that God
trusts us.
2. Our gifts are not meant to be kept hidden and pristine, but are meant
to be used for good in the world and its activities.
Questions for the Speaker
1. Think about the gifts resident in your congregation. What does it mean
that God has entrusted you with these?
2. Have you ever blamed someone or something for a difficulty you were
having? Did the blaming do any good?
3. How do your congregation’s gifts relate to needs in the community?
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