The idea of talent in the parable of

The Three Servants

SCRIPTURE:

Mathew 25:14-16

OBJECTIVES:

1. Show the children the scripture where it is clearly stated that we should use our talent;

2. Encourage the children not to neglect their talent, no matter how small it may be;

3. Convince the children that God has given everybody the ability to do something for themselves and for the community;

4. Help the children to understand that human beings did not receive the same gifts nor talents;

5. Help the children to understand that a person’s talent is not what matters the most, rather it is the way he/she uses it that matters and that God will one day ask us to be accountable.

INTRODUCTION:

Start the lesson with a short song and/or a prayer.

PRESENTATION:

One day Jesus told His disciples a story in order to encourage them to use the talents they have received. It’s the story of a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them which they were to invest and make it multiply until his returned. To one, he gave five bags of gold; to the second, two bags; and to the third, one bag; each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold came forward and presented his profit which was worth five bags of gold. His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ The man with two bags of gold also came and presented the other two bags of gold that he gained. He was congratulated just as the first. Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. He called his master a stingy man who wants to harvest where he did not sow and handed him the exact amount of money that was entrusted to him. The master did not appreciate the attitude of the third servant; after rebuking him severely (he rightfully called him wicked and lazy servant), he took back the one bag of gold and handed it to the man who had earlier received five bags of gold.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. After listening to this story: how can you define a talent? (God has given everybody the ability to do something for themselves or for the community. It is this ability that is described in the parable.)

2. What did the master expect from each servant?

3. Did all the servants receive the same amount? What does this mean to us?

4. Name the various talents found in our congregation, for example politicians, soldiers, medical doctors, magistrates, craftsmen, teachers, farmers, businessmen, brick layers, musicians…

ACTIVITY:

Ask the children to enumerate the talents that their classmates are endowed with.

RESOURCE PERSON:

Invite a pastor or some other resource person to explain to the children how to identify a talent.

ACTION TO ENCOURAGE:

Enlarge the talent search exercise to members of the congregation.

MEMORY VERSE:

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

CLOSING:

Close with a short song and or the dominical prayer.