LOOKING FOR A LOOKING FOR A GOOD INVESTMENT?GOOD INVESTMENT?

Luke 19:11-27Luke 19:11-27

While the people were While the people were listening to this, Jesus listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a continued and told them a parable. He was now almost at parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear. just about to appear.

So he said, "There was once a So he said, "There was once a man of high rank who was going man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to king, after which he planned to come back home. Before he left, come back home. Before he left, he called his ten servants and he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and gave them each a gold coin and told them, 'See what you can told them, 'See what you can earn with this while I am gone.'earn with this while I am gone.'

Now, his own people hated him, Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers and so they sent messengers after him to say, 'We don't want after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' "The this man to be our king.' "The man was made king and came man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they order to find out how much they had earned. had earned.

The first one came and said, 'Sir, The first one came and said, 'Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.' 'Well the one you gave me.' 'Well done,' he said; 'you are a good done,' he said; 'you are a good servant! Since you were faithful servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.'charge of ten cities.'

The second servant came and The second servant came and said, 'Sir, I have earned five gold said, 'Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.' coins with the one you gave me.' To this one he said, 'You will be To this one he said, 'You will be in charge of five cities.' Another in charge of five cities.' Another servant came and said, 'Sir, here servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief. I was afraid of in a handkerchief. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard you, because you are a hard man. man.

You take what is not yours and reap You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.' He said to what you did not plant.' He said to him, 'You bad servant! I will use your him, 'You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted. Well, then, why have not planted. Well, then, why didn't you put my money in the didn't you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.'back with interest when I returned.'

Then he said to those who were Then he said to those who were standing there, 'Take the gold standing there, 'Take the gold coin away from him and give it to coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.' the servant who has ten coins.' But they said to him, 'Sir, he But they said to him, 'Sir, he already has ten coins!' 'I tell you,' already has ten coins!' 'I tell you,' he replied, 'that to those who he replied, 'that to those who have something, even more will have something, even more will be given; be given;

but those who have nothing, but those who have nothing, even the little that they have will even the little that they have will be taken away from them. Now, be taken away from them. Now, as for those enemies of mine as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!' " them in my presence!' " (Luke 19:11-27 GNB)(Luke 19:11-27 GNB)

1.1.What does this passage What does this passage SAYSAY??

1.1.What does this passage What does this passage MEAN?MEAN?

1.1.What does this passageWhat does this passage MEAN TO ME?MEAN TO ME?

1.1. Our Our MESSAGEMESSAGE - the centrality of Christ - the centrality of Christ

God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's gloryGod's glory. It's that simple. That is the . It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. substance of our Message.

(Colossians 1:27 MSG)(Colossians 1:27 MSG)

2. Our 2. Our MISSION MISSION – – to complete Christ’ great to complete Christ’ great commissioncommission

Jesus came to them and said: I have been Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! given all authority in heaven and on earth! GoGo to the people of all nations and to the people of all nations and makemake them my them my disciplesdisciples. . BaptizeBaptize them in the them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and Spirit, and teachteach them to do everything I them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. even until the end of the world.

(Matthew 28:18-20 CEV)(Matthew 28:18-20 CEV)

3. Our 3. Our MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION – to bring back the King– to bring back the King

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come. all nations. And then the end shall come.

(Matthew 24:14 MKJV)(Matthew 24:14 MKJV)

4. Our 4. Our METHODMETHOD – planting missionary – planting missionary churches churches (Acts)(Acts)

5. Our 5. Our MISSIONARIESMISSIONARIES – committed, well – committed, well trained and competenttrained and competent

6. Our 6. Our MEMBERSMEMBERS – form a missionary – form a missionary movementmovement

7. Our 7. Our MEANSMEANS – Great Commission Fund – Great Commission Fund

8. Our 8. Our MOBILITYMOBILITY – strategic redeployment to – strategic redeployment to the cutting edgethe cutting edge

9. Our 9. Our MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT – integrity – integrity

10. Our 10. Our MARKSMARKS – by God’s grace significant – by God’s grace significant achievementsachievements

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND ACTIONAND ACTION