Parable of the Talents

How can you use your God-given talents?

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Theme: Serving Others/ Jesus Talks about God’s Kingdom

1. What’s an act of service that you could do today that might bless another person?

2. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents. He told this story along with some others to explain what the kingdom of heaven was like. As you listen to this episode, think about how you can faithfully use the talents and gifts that God has given you to serve him.

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After you listen

Memory Verse

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

Audio Icon   Matthew 25: 14-15

Quiz

1. How much money did the first servant return to the master?

A: He doubled his investment- from five to ten.

2. How much money did the second servant return to the master?

A: He doubled his investment- from two to four.

3. What did the third servant do with what the Master gave to him?

A: He buried it in the ground and gave it back to the master when the master returned.

4. According to the narrator in the audio story, what does faithfulness look like during this time of waiting for Jesus to come back?

A: Faithfulness means doing what Jesus did. Jesus fed the hungry, cured the sick, and served the least. We need to do the same.

Reflect

We are called to be servants of God. God has equipped us with gifts and talents to serve him and others. As his servants, we share his love by helping out our neighbors, friends, and other people in need. We serve others out of gratitude for what Christ did for us. Jesus came to live, die, and be raised again from the dead for each one of us. Think about how our service changes because of what God has done for us through Jesus. Our service doesn’t earn us God’s love but reflects God’s love to the world.

Read about serving others in 1 Timothy 4:12, Galatians 1:10, and Philippians 2:3-4. Want to dig deeper and learn more about serving God and others? Check out Kids Corner’s eBook Faith Practices for Families: Serving Others.

Challenge

Explore and discover your talents. Find a way to bless someone with your service. Work through this Gift and Talents Survey.

Work together with your child and choose three encouraging adults that your child admires and who know them well. They might be in your family, your child’s school, your church, or your neighborhood. 

Have your child ask them the questions below. Your child could write to them or email them so that they have some reflection time to give you their best answers. 

1. What do you think I’m good at? 

2. What do you think I’m passionate about or interested in? 

3. How have you seen me serving God? 

4. Do you have any suggestions about how I can serve God right now? 

Collect all the answers and review them with your child. Ask your child: 

1. What conclusions can you make? 

2. How can you use the gifts and talents God has given you to help restore God’s world? 

Pray together and ask God to show your child how he has gifted them, and how he wants them to develop and use their talents for him and for others. Find something that matches the interests of your child and that suits their personality and strengths. If your child is an encourager, help them think of what they can do to encourage someone. If they are a diligent and hard worker, help them find opportunities to show love through hands-on tasks. If your child is outgoing, who in your community would benefit from their company? Have your child choose one (or more!) of their talents, and find a way to bless someone with them! 
 

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