Opening Questions and Prayer
When is a time you have been rewarded, or you rewarded someone, for doing a good job?
What are some motivating factors that make people want to do a good job?
Pray that the Lord would guide your time together as you study the Bible.
Read Luke 19:11
11 The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.
Who is Jesus telling this parable to and what is the reason He is telling this story?
What did the Israelites think the Messiah would do when He came?
See Acts 1:6- So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
How was Jesus different from what they expected?
What is the Kingdom of God?
What are some things that will happen in the future with the Kingdom of God?
What things are happening now?
Read Luke 19:12-13
12 He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. 13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’
Why was the nobleman leaving?
What did the nobleman do to ensure his servants would be about his business while he was gone?
What are some ways people have invested in your life to help you know more about Jesus?
What are some things the Lord has given you that you could invest in His kingdom?
What are one or two spiritual gifts the Lord has given you?
Read Luke 19:14-15
14 But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’
15 “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.
How did the nobleman’s people try to stop his kingdom?
What are some ways people are opposed to the Kingdom of God?
How have you been met with opposition for following God’s plan for your life?
What was the new king’s focus when he returned?
When it comes to God’s Kingdom, what should our focus be?
Read Luke 19:16-19
16 The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’
17 “‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’
18 “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’
19 “‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’
What did the first two servants do with the money that had been entrusted to them?
How did the king respond to their investment?
How did the king use his power to give these servants more influence in his kingdom?
What are some ways you’ve seen your investment in the Kingdom of God multiply?
How does God use His power to give you more influence in His Kingdom?
What is one way you start investing more in God’s Kingdom this week?
Is there a spiritual gift you have that you can use to make a bigger impact on God’s Kingdom?
Read Luke 19:20-21
20 “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. 21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’
What did the third servant do with the money that was entrusted to him?
Why didn’t he invest it like he was told?
What are some ways people who follow God waste the gifts and power that comes with being part of His Kingdom?
Why might followers of Jesus be afraid to live the way that we are called to live?
What are some ways fear can control our life if we aren’t careful?
How can relying on the Holy Spirit help us to overcome that fear?
See 2 Timothy 1:6-7 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
How can you fan into flame the spiritual gift God has given you?
Read Luke 19:20-21 22 “‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, 23 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
How did the king respond to the servant who hid the money?
Why would doing the minimum of depositing the money be better than hiding it?
What insight does this give us to the importance of investing what we have been given?
If the Lord were to return today, what would He say about how you’ve been investing in the Kingdom of God?
Read Luke 19:24-27
24 “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’
25 “‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 27 And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’”
Why was the servant who had the ten pounds given even more?
How did the king reward faithfulness, loyalty, and hard work?
How do you determine if you use what God has given you wisely?
What is one way you could make better use of your gifts this week?
How did the king deal with those in opposition to his kingdom?
What can you do, as a follower of Jesus, to make Christ known to everyone around you, even those in opposition to the message?
Memorize it!
Luke 19:26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.