Well Done, Good and Faithful Servent
Living Hope Presbyterian Church
The sermon explores the Second Coming through the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), emphasizing stewardship of God-given gifts. Jesus’ return will be sudden, visible, personal, and divisive, rewarding the faithful with joy and condemning the unfaithful. The parable illustrates a master entrusting servants with talents—large sums of money—expecting wise investment. Faithful servants doubled their talents, earning praise, while the fearful servant hid his, facing judgment. God entrusts all with unique gifts to steward for His glory, urging believers to act gratefully, not fearfully, and share the Gospel boldly
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Matthew 25:14-30 ### The Parable of the Talents 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.’ 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.’
ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ©2011 Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Living Hope PCA Sermons: Matthew 25:14-30 - Well Done, Good and Faithful Servernt
Sermon Summary
The sermon goes into the concept of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for His return. Through a parable from Matthew 25, the preacher highlights the significance of stewardship and faithfulness in utilizing the gifts and talents entrusted to individuals by God. The narrative underscores the rewards for those who diligently invest and multiply their talents versus the consequences for those who neglect or misuse them. The overarching message revolves around being proactive in serving God, utilizing one’s abilities for His glory, and eagerly anticipating the joy of the Master upon His return.
Key Points
- The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the need for readiness.
- Stewardship and faithful utilization of God-given talents.
- Distinction between proactive investment and neglectful behavior.
- The joy of the Master as a reward for faithful service.
Bible Verses Mentioned
- Matthew 25:14-30
Humor and Anecdotes
- The preacher shared a humorous anecdote about a cleaning routine at a house in Florida, emphasizing the sense of responsibility and gratitude associated with caring for entrusted property.
Key Quotes
- “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- “Enter into the joy of your Master.”
Themes
- Stewardship and responsibility in utilizing God’s gifts.
- The contrast between diligence and negligence in serving God.
- The joy and rewards awaiting faithful servants upon Christ’s return.
Discussion Questions
- How does the parable of the talents challenge us to reflect on our stewardship of the gifts and resources entrusted to us by God?
- In what ways can fear or misconceptions about God’s character hinder our willingness to invest our talents for His kingdom?
- How can we cultivate a mindset of gratitude and proactive service in anticipation of Christ’s return, aligning our actions with the joy of the Master?
Metaphors and Stories
- The parable of the talents serves as a metaphor for utilizing one’s abilities and resources wisely in service to God, reflecting the importance of faithfulness and diligence in stewardship.
An Essay about this Sermon
What You’re Given
I was listening to this sermon the other day, and it got me thinking about something simple but tricky. It’s about a story Jesus tells in Matthew 25, the one with the talents. A guy hands out big piles of money—five talents to one servant, two to another, one to a third—and then takes off. The first two double their piles. The third buries his and does nothing. When the boss comes back, he’s thrilled with the first two and furious with the last one. It’s a parable, sure, but it’s not really about money. It’s about what you’re given.
The preacher starts with the Second Coming—Jesus returning someday, sudden and visible, to sort everyone out. That’s the frame. But the real meat is in the story. The talents aren’t just cash; they’re whatever you’ve got. Your life, your skills, your time. The point isn’t how much you start with—it’s what you do with it. The five-talent guy and the two-talent guy get the same praise. The one-talent guy gets nothing because he didn’t try.
This hit me because it’s easy to think what you’ve got isn’t enough. I’ve felt that way plenty of times. You look at someone else’s pile—smarter , stronger, luckier—and figure you’re stuck. But the story says that’s not it. The master doesn’t care about the size of the pile. He cares about the effort. The two-talent guy doesn’t get docked for not hitting ten. He gets “Well done” because he used what he had.
The flip side’s brutal. The one-talent guy freezes up. He’s scared, calls the master harsh, and buries his shot. He’s not lazy in the usual sense—he digs a hole, after all. But he’s paralyzed by how he sees the boss. That’s the twist. How you see the giver changes what you do with the gift. If you think he’s out to get you, you’ll hide. If you trust him, you’ll move.
I’ve seen this play out. Back when I was a kid, I’d avoid stuff I wasn’t great at. Thought I’d look dumb. Same vibe as the one-talent guy. Meanwhile, friends who weren’t afraid to fail kept going and got better. It’s not about talent in the modern sense—singing or coding or whatever. It’s about taking what’s yours and doing something with it. The preacher ties this to God. Everything’s his—your breath, your hands, your ideas. He hands it out, not randomly, but according to what you can handle. Then he steps back.
That stepping back is key. The master doesn’t hover. He leaves, and you’re on your own to figure it out. Jesus does the same, the sermon says—ascends, leaves us with the Gospel, the call to love, the work. No manual. Just principles and a shove. It’s scary, but it’s freedom too. You’re not spoon-fed. You’ve got to act.
The payoff’s wild. The first two servants don’t just get a pat on the back. They get “Enter into the joy of your master.” That’s not some vague reward. It’s sharing what the giver feels—his delight, his kick out of seeing it grow. The preacher leans into this hard. God’s generous, not stingy. He’s not a robot doling out tasks. He wants you in on the fun. But the one-talent guy? He’s out. Not because he didn’t hit a quota, but because he didn’t play.
Writing this down makes it clearer. I didn’t see the fear angle till I started typing. The one-talent guy’s problem isn’t the talent—it’s his head. He’s got this story about the master being cruel, and it locks him up. The others don’t. They trust, they risk, they win. That’s the test. What’s your story about the giver? Because that’s what’ll decide what you do with what you’re given.
The sermon ends with a push. Don’t bury it. Not your life, not the Gospel, not whatever you’ve got. Jesus poured his out and got a kingdom. Peter says use your gift, whatever it is. The hymn says give it all back. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. You’ve got to trust the giver’s good. If you do, you’ll move. If you don’t, you’re stuck. Either way, he’s coming back to see what you did.