Main Text: Matthew 25:31–40 (ESV) 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Preaching Point: Knowing that Christ will separate those alive after the Tribulation based on how they serve Jesus’ brothers should remind us how much God cares about the way we demonstrate our faith by serving his people today.

Teaching Points:

1. Recognize Christ’s Authority to Judge (vv. 31-32)
2. Consider Christ’s Testimony of You (vv. 33-36)
3. Serve Christ by Serving Christ’s People (vv. 37-40)

Application Questions:

1. Read Matthew 25:31–40. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. Read Daniel 7:13–14 and Acts 17:30–31. What do these passages teach about Christ's authority to judge, and how should knowing that you will answer to him, even as a Christian, influence the way you live today?
3. Read Ephesians 2:8–10 and James 2:14–17. How do these passages distinguish the basis of our salvation from the evidence of genuine faith?
4. What evidence of saving faith should be increasingly evident in your life?
5. Read Matthew 10:40–42 and Galatians 6:9–10. How should knowing that Christ identifies himself with his people change the way you serve fellow Christians?
6. In what practical ways do you currently serve Christ through serving his people, or how do you plan to do so moving forward?

Main Text: Matthew 25:24–30 (ESV) 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Preaching Point: We must examine whether our lives demonstrate genuine faith in Christ, knowing that a life of persistent unfaithfulness reveals a soul destined for God’s judgment.

Teaching Points:

1. Don’t Excuse Your Unfaithfulness (vv. 24-25)
2. Recognize That God Sees Through Your Excuses (vv. 26-27)
3. Fear the Judgment of an Unfaithful Life (vv. 28-30)

Application Questions:

1. Read Matthew 25:24–30. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. What excuses did the unfaithful servant make for his lack of stewardship in Matthew 25:24–25?
3. What excuses are you prone to making for your own unfaithfulness or inaction? What specific steps can you take to begin obeying God and stop making excuses?
4. Read Luke 16:10–12. How should Jesus’ teaching about faithfulness in small things influence the way you steward what God has entrusted to you?
5. Read Luke 16:14–15 and Proverbs 16:2. What do these passages teach about our tendency to justify ourselves and God's ability to discern the true motives of our hearts?
6. How should these truths challenge you to examine your excuses and honestly evaluate the motives behind them?
7. Read Matthew 25:28–30 and Matthew 7:21–23. If Christ returned today, would your stewardship of what God has entrusted to you provide evidence of genuine saving faith or reveal a lack of genuine trust in him? Explain your answer.
8. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5–6 and Hebrews 3:12–14. Why is it important for professing Christians (as well as unbelievers) to examine their faith, and how can you lovingly encourage others to do the same?

Main Text: Matthew 25:14–23 (ESV) 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Preaching Point: We are called to multiply what God has entrusted to us, knowing that he will return to evaluate and reward our faithful stewardship.

Teaching Points:

1. Multiply What God has Entrusted to You (vv. 14–18)
2. Expect God to Settle Your Account (v. 19)
3. Live for God’s “Well Done” (vv. 20–23)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you?
2. Read John 15:4–8. What should be the inevitable outcome of “abiding” in Christ, and how does this outcome relate to multiplying what God has entrusted to you?
3. How would you evaluate your current commitment to multiplying what God has entrusted to you? What evidence supports your evaluation?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 5:9–10 and Romans 14:12. What crosses your mind when you hear that you will give an account of yourself to God?
5. What stewardship commitments can you make today to ensure that you, like the two faithful servants, are ready to “settle accounts” when you meet Christ face-to-face?
6. Read 2 Timothy 4:7–8 and Matthew 25:19–23. What do you think it will be like to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
7. Consider what the life of someone who is “living for God’s ‘well done’” looks like. What are some characteristics of that person’s life?
8. Write down specific ways you can “run the race” and “fight the good fight” today so that you can have the same confidence Paul had as he approached the end of his life. Be ready to share them in LifeGroup.