From the year's theme verse — "always abounding in the work of the Lord" — Pastor Nana Boadum teaches the serve-team DNA on good stewardship through the parable of the talents. Every believer has a gift from God; a good steward recognizes the Owner, appreciates what they've been given, and lives with the day of accountability in view. Fear is not an exemption, and no gift in God's house is too small to despise.
The seven movements
- Excelling is the assignment. The Amplified reading of 1 Corinthians 15:58: always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord — knowing your labor is never wasted. Operation Andrew and "bring your one" keep the serving aimed at souls (1 Corinthians 15:58).
- Recap: abide and be sent. From the midweek: you can do nothing outside of abiding in Christ — you can't pour from an empty container — and every servant is a sent one, carrying urgency and expectation (John 15:5).
- Each one has a gift. Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift; minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Say it: I have a gift from God (Ephesians 4:7-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
- Truth 1 — God is the owner. The master delivered his goods to his servants. Your influence, money, children, body, and opportunities are stewarded, not owned — and ownership-thinking is what buries gifts (Matthew 25:14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
- Truth 2 — appreciate what you've been given. Five, two, one — each according to ability, custom-made. Comparison breeds resentment and paralysis; appreciation asks the prophet's question to the widow: what do you have? Even your painful seasons carry lessons not to be wasted (Matthew 25:15; 2 Kings 4:2).
- Truth 3 — live with accountability in view. After a long time the master returned and settled accounts. "I was afraid" did not excuse the buried talent — it earned "wicked and lazy." Do it while afraid. And the reward for work is more work: faithful over a few things, ruler over many, entering the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:19-30).
- Don't despise the small gift. The greeter's smile may be the only one a broken person sees that week; the tidied room honors the God of the house. Find something to do in the house of God and do it with joy — serve-team prayer, Saturdays 6:30pm, in-house and on Zoom.
Walk away with this
Take inventory: what has God put in your hands that you haven't recognized, appreciated, or worked? Put it to work this week — afraid or not — so that the day of accounting sounds like "well done, good and faithful servant," with your own name attached.