The Greatest Words You’ll Ever Hear

A key point of discipleship is that I was chosen to serve God. Several times Jesus told his disciples that greatness in God’s sight lay in serving. When the mother of James and John asked Jesus that they sit on Jesus right and left, Jesus made it clear that the rulers of the world love power and authority. But Jesus said,

“whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)

That is a key point of discipleship. It describes your identity in Christ. He came to “serve” and as a “servant.” Thus, all who follow him must be ready to serve.

Text: Matthew 25:14-30

• Matthew 25:18, what’s wrong with doing nothing? Was that an acceptable path of discipleship?
• Matthew 25:23, you don’t have to have a lot to make a big difference in God’s Kingdom. What you have to do to make a big different is be faithful with what you have.
• The wicked servant lived his life just trying to avoid his master.
• Matthew 25:26-28, Three words describe the servant: “Wicked” “lazy” and “worthless.”
• You were created to make a contribution.
• Ministry is when I unselfishly use my life to serve God by helping others.

I. The Greatest Title You’ll Ever Have:

God has entrusted you with a spiritual shape.

• (God has given every believer spiritual gifts)

• (Things you care deeply about)

• (Practical things like working on cars, hiking, computers, knitting.)

• (Shy, outgoing, introverted, extroverted.)

• (Things you have gone through that equip you to serve God.)

• Matthew 25:15: God used this verse to call me into ministry. “David, I will never call you to do anything I don’t give you the ability to do.”

II. The Greatest Words You’ll Ever Hear = “”

• The master came to “settle” or accounts. Literally it says “reckon.” As in, a day of reckoning. They will each explain to the master how they handled what was entrusted to them.
• The greatest words you can hear are, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:22.
• “Enter into your masters happiness.” God’s nature is joy. His servants are invited into his happiness.
• Sometimes serving God, you can feel his pleasure!
• At the end of life’s journey, the righteous are invited not just to a happy place, but into God’s own joy.
• The highest honor in the world is when Jesus taps you on the shoulder and says, “I have a vital role for you to play in building my kingdom.”

III. The Greatest Problem:

• Matthew 25:24, “Phobi-theis.” He is afraid.
• He did nothing with what he was given because he’s afraid.
• My greatest problem is

Why was this man afraid?

• He thought his master was unmerciful. “I knew you were a hard man”
• He thought his master was unreasonable. “Harvesting where you have not sown.”
• Greatest mistake, he did not believe his masters work was worth his personal sacrifice. He buried the masters treasure and went on with life. He was afraid he would miss out on pleasures and joy of his own; and so he focused on himself.