Category: Small groups

The Bible

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New Testament Passage

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. – Hebrews 4:11-13

Discussion Questions

1. St Paul describes the Word of God as a two-edged sword. What is the significance of a two-edged sword and how can we allow it to guide our lives?
2. The Word of God discerns intention from appearances. How can we use the Bible to ensure that our intentions remain pure despite what our worldly reputation may be?
3. The more we read the Bible, the more it cleanses us, but it is also important to study and understand what we read. What are some practical ways we can balance quality and quantity of Bible reading?

Old Testament Passage

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight]in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
The voice said, “Cry out!”
And he said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.” – Isaiah 40:3-8

Discussion Questions

Prayer

My dearest Father,

You have blessed me with so many talents at my disposal. When I think of how little I have used them for Your glory, I am deeply embarrassed. Teach me to dig in the ground to retrieve my talent, and work tirelessly to use it for Your service.

Help me fight off laziness and fear, so that I may hear those Joyful words – Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.

Challenge

Think of two talents that you have been blessed with. Challenge yourself to use these talents for God’s glory in the next month. At the end of the month, ask yourself for an account and strive to gain more talents from our generous Lord*

Focus Quotes

“The unprofitable servant is to be cast into outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Do you see how sins of omission also are met with extreme rejection? It is not only the covetous, the active doer of evil things and the adulterer, but also the one who fails to do good. Let us listen carefully then to these words. As we have opportunity, let us work to cooperate with our salvation. Let us get oil for our lamps. Let us labour to add to our talent. For if we are backward and spend our time in sloth here, no one will pity us any more hereafter, though we should wail ten thousand times.… Remember the virgins who again entreated and came to him and knocked, all in vain and without effect.”

-St John Chrysostom

“Without doubt, when someone has loved God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, he has the same reward of love as the person with a bigger heart or with a more gifted soul or with greater ability. This alone is required: At whatever level one has received a gift from God, one should use it for God’s glory.”

-Origen

New Testament Passage

Matthew 25

 ¹⁴ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. ¹⁸ But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Discussion Questions

1. The Master distributed his talents unevenly amongst his servants, perhaps knowing each one’s ability to handle the talents. On his return, he rewarded both servants with the same words: “Enter into the Joy of your Lord.” What does this show us about Christ’s expectations from me? How can I tell if I am dealing with my talents appropriately?
2. On the master’s return, he began to settle his accounts with his servants. What did he expect to receive from each of them? What might He expect to receive from us?
3. The servant who had one talent didn’t lose it, yet he was still punished. What does this tell us about how Christ might perceive us if we do not commit evil deeds, but at the same time are not striving to practice righteous works?

Old Testament Passage

 Genesis 4 3-7

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

⁶ So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? ⁷ If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Discussion Questions

1. St Gregory the Great comments that the servant who was afraid to invest the talent for interest, like Cain, should have rather been afraid only of bringing it back to his master without interest. Many people in the church resemble that servant: they are afraid to attempt a better way of life. They perceive themselves as sinners, but they are too afraid to try to return to the path of holiness, whilst not having any fear at remaining in their wickedness. Peter is a good example of this. When he was still weak, he saw the miracle of the fish and said, “Depart from me, O Lord, because I am a sinful man.” St Gregory writes: “If you regard yourself as a sinner, it is only right that you not drive God away from you!” How can we teach ourselves not to be afraid of returning to God, but rather fear remaining in sin?
2. St Gregory the Great teaches that “burying in the ground” is as if he chose to focus on earthly affairs, rather than failing to seek spiritual profit. What are some common barriers to me not investing my talents?

The Key to Answered Prayer

Challenge

Set a reminder to spend 5-30 min alone with Christ in quiet time, putting your phone on flight mode

Prayer

“The Holy Spirit still speaks in each one of us! The Spirit teaches you how to conduct yourself, how to shake off burdens of your past, how to battle against giants, how to lift up your arms like Moses to defect the enemy; and God will straightway fight for you. I have hope in Jesus Christ that He will render these words useful to you that we might together be able to cross the great chasm that separates the life according to the flesh from the life according to the spirit. I pray that we might pass form authority and pull off the fleshly desires to submit to the tug of the Holy Spirit. And I pray that we might be filled with power and grace and all the gifts that are given us by Christ. Grant us, O Lord, to be victorious by You and to live for You. Amen”

– Extract from “Words For Our Time – The spiritual words of Matthew the Poor”