Faithful Servants

Read Together: Luke 19:11–27

On Sunday morning, we considered how we should live as those who await the return of King Jesus. The end is near (1 Pet 4:7), and that should affect the way we live. In Luke 19:11–27, Jesus tells a parable that both corrects the misunderstanding that the kingdom would arrive immediately during Jesus’ first coming and gives us insight into how we should live as those who await his second coming.

In the story, a nobleman entrusts ten of his servants with a sum of money (a “mina” each) with instructions to do business until he comes back. He is gone for a period of time, and when he returns, he rewards those who have been good stewards of the money and rebukes the servant who had just let the money sit. In addition, the king passes judgment on those who had rebelled against him while he was gone.

This parable teaches us that though Jesus declared that he would return soon, he was also clear that there would be an indefinite period of time before his second coming. So, while we believe that the end is near, we shouldn’t be surprised that almost two thousand years have passed and Jesus has not returned. The story also teaches us how we should live as we wait for the second coming: we must live as the King has called us to live and use what he has given us to serve his purposes.

The minas in the parable refer to the gifts and responsibilities Jesus has given his people. We must be faithful with these while we wait for Jesus to return. Of course, we are not saved by our faithfulness, but a true faith and allegiance to King Jesus will lead to faithfulness with what he has entrusted to us. Jesus is clear that when he returns, he will reward the faithfulness of his servants. But he is equally clear that there will also be judgment: those who rebel against the king will be condemned forever. We must give our allegiance to King Jesus and stay on mission, using what he’s given us to honor him as we serve and love others.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why does Jesus tell this parable? What does this background teach us about Jesus’ second coming?
  2. What does it mean to be a faithful servant? How can we live faithfully as we wait for Jesus to return?
  3. What are some ways God has gifted you and how can you use those gifts to serve Jesus and others?

Ideas for Younger Kids

  • Read “A Dream of Heaven” in The Jesus Storybook Bible (pages 342–50) and talk about how we are waiting for Jesus to come again and what will happen when he does.
  • Discuss with your kids about times when we have to wait for things. For example, we wait with excitement for holidays like Christmas to arrive and all the fun and celebration they bring. For believers, waiting for Jesus to come back and make everything good and new is even more exciting! We should be excited for Jesus to come back, but we should also seek to obey his commands while we wait.

Memorization: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Song: Listen to “Rejoice, the Lord Is King!” (written by Charles Wesley, performed by Norton Hall Band). This hymn is a call to rejoice in Jesus as our King, and it mentions our hope and joy in his second coming.  

Pray Together

  •  Praise the Lord for the hope we have that Jesus is coming soon!
  • Confess that we at times struggle to live faithfully for Jesus while we wait for him to return.
  • Give thanks that Jesus is always faithful even when we’re not, and that he will be faithful to come again and do all that he said he would.
  • Pray that God would help us use what he’s given us to love and serve others and bring glory to him. Ask him to help us to live faithfully while we wait for Jesus to return.

Go Together

  • Write down a list of practical ways you (as individuals or as a family) can live faithfully for King Jesus in light of his second coming. Choose one of these ways to pay special attention to over the next several weeks.
  • For example, you might recognize that one way we live faithfully for Jesus is using what God has given us to serve others. This includes, as we talked about on Sunday, living generously. So, you might make a specific plan to invite others regularly (e.g., once a month) into your home for a meal, for encouragement and fellowship. Or you might commit to find unique ways to earn some extra money that you will give to missions.

If you have any questions, comments, or ideas related to this Family Faith Talk guide or future guides, please let us know by leaving a comment!

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