The Authority of the Believer, part 3

“The Authority of the Believer” part 3

Series title: Heaven touches earth

OPENING QUESTIONS:

1. Who is one of the most talented people that you know?  Why?
2. What were you known for in school-what talents did people recognize in you?

DIGGING DEEPER:

1. READ Matthew 25:14-30.
2. What is your opinion of the Master in this story? 
3. To what is Jesus referring when He talks about “talents”?
4. How would you have felt if you were the guy who received the one talent?
5. This servant buried his one talent.  The master calls him “wicked and lazy”.  Do you think this was a fair judgment?  Why or why not?
6. The talents represent varying spheres of influence.  Let’s make a list of some different spheres of influence from our own lives.

GETTING PERSONAL:

1. One of the things we learned on Sunday is that when we step outside of our sphere of influence, it usually backfires on us because we’re exercising authority where we don’t have it.  Share an example from your own life of a time when you tried to exercise spiritual authority but it backfired on you.
2. Why do you think it backfired?
3. What lessons have you learned from it? (To the leader:  This would be a good time to pray for those who are struggling as a result of a failed ministry attempt.)

PRAYER:

1. Pray for your friends who do not know Jesus yet.  Pray for one another’s needs.

LOOKING OUT:

Plan something as a group to which you can invite your non-Christian friends.