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TODAY'S TEACHING
Are you ready for the return of Jesus? Join us as we explore 2 powerful parables revealing the urgency of being spiritually prepared and the importance of putting our God-given gifts to work until the day that He returns.
The term heaven is often a stand-in term for God; the kingdom of heaven is referring to the kingdom of God.
The 10 virgins represent those who claim to be a part of the kingdom - some prepared for Jesus to return while others are not. The bridegroom is imagery for Jesus returning.
The 10 virgins represent those who claim to be a part of the kingdom - some prepared for Jesus to return while others are not. The bridegroom is imagery for Jesus returning.
The virgins are young unmarried girls who likely are bridesmaids at the bride’s home, awaiting the bridegroom and his friends.
This is where the marriage would take place. The wedding party and attenders would typically go to the home of the bridegroom, where a wedding banquet was held. This was often done at night where the lamps would have made a beautiful display as the bridal party & guests made their way down the streets.
This extra oil was there in case the bridegroom didn’t show up quickly and the lamp burn out for lack of fuel.
In Jesus’ story, the bridegroom doesn’t arrive as quickly as they expected; this delay leads to them falling asleep. When the wake-up call is sounded, some of them are ready, but others aren’t.
They trimmed their lamps, a necessary task to ensure the lamp provided consistent light. It involved cutting off the burnt ends, adjusting the wick to the correct length for an even burn, & maintaining the oil level to keep the lamp burning.
Why wouldn’t they SHARE with the other ladies? The point of the story is not to tell followers of Jesus to share what we have with others who are in need. Instead, the point of the story is to be READY for the return of Jesus.
- You don’t enter the KINGdom because someone else is ready, but because YOU are.
5 of the young ladies are excited as they were prepared after the extended wait, but the other 5 young ladies were afraid because they were not prepared for their lamps to be lit after all this time.
This story is about much more than a wedding banquet; this is about the Kingdom of Heaven - those who enter in and those who don’t.
- Jesus warns that there will be those who will be shut out from the Kingdom…forever - with no chance of getting in.
- Upon your death, or upon Jesus’ return - your forever home will be set.
Are we keeping watch? Are we living like He’s Returning?
BIG QUESTION
Again, the point of the story is about the Kingdom of Heaven. The man going on a journey represents Jesus, as He would eventually leave and later return - expecting his servants to have done something to grow the investment of gold he left with them.
The 1st two servants understood that the master gave the men the money tasked to grow what they had been given.
But the 3rd man cared more about security than growth. While the other 2 men were working to grow what the master had given them - expecting His return & expecting to face His judgment - this man did what was easiest and put it in a hole - no work involved and no real expectation of his master returning to hold him accountable for what he had been given.
Will there be ANYTHING BETTER than hearing something “Well done, good and faithful servant”!?!
Jim Elliot's Journal
Jim Elliot, a young missionary is forever known in his death because of his passion to take Jesus to an unreached group of Auca tribe in Ecuador - a group of people that killed him and 4 other young missionaries. Ultimately, this people group came to follow Jesus because of their faithfulness & the faithfulness of their families carrying the Gospel message to them.
In his journal, Jim Elliot wrote this often quoted phrase:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
The Master sees that the servant wasn’t really his servant at all. He didn’t take the master’s expectation seriously.
The servant even blames the master for being a hard man. The servant wasn’t living like the master was returning.
The ‘servant’ wasn’t interested in growing what he had been given. He was more concerned with his own safety & security.
Just because we call Jesus our master doesn’t make it so. Those who CLAIM Jesus but don’t OBEY Jesus, aren’t really his servants, and they can expect to hear something like this…
People aren’t saved because of their good works, but saved people do good works - it’s in our spiritual DNA. We are followers of Jesus and followers of Jesus…FOLLOW JESUS!
This ‘servant’ is thrown outside - thrown outside the kingdom - where there is darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth - language Jesus used of HELL (see Mt 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 24:51). As we will see next week, Jesus DOES send people to hell…forever, and ever, and ever.
BIG QUESTION #2
Have questions and need some help? …real soon…how about now? Please call or text us soon!
Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
- What stood out to you from today’s teaching - answering questions or stirring up questions for you?
- Read Matthew 25:1-11. Why are some of the women described as “foolish” and others described as “wise”?
- How can we encourage others to be prepared without assuming responsibility for their preparedness?
- What are some modern examples of spiritual unpreparedness that we might encounter in our daily lives?
- Why weren’t the 5 virgins allowed into the wedding banquet? Reread verse 1. What is the story really about and what does this tell us about the possibility of having a 2nd chance of coming into the Kingdom after death or after Jesus returns?
- Based on verse 13, what’s the point of the story Jesus is telling? How can you change your attitude or actions this week to reflect your belief that Jesus could return at any moment?
- Read Matthew 25:12-30. What did the master call the 1st two servants? Why? What did the master call the 3rd ‘servant’? Why?
- How does the parable of the talents illustrate the relationship between faith and works?
- What talents, abilities, health, or resources has God given you that you should use to further His kingdom and what are some practical ways you can do this?
- 10.How can we maintain a sense of urgency and anticipation of Jesus’ Return without becoming anxious or fearful?
- 11.How can we as a faith community support one another in staying prepared and vigilant? What role does accountability play in our spiritual preparedness?
- 12.How can we pray for/care for one another this week? (Pray for one another.)
