MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time

I need to be baptized
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism

I need to attend Starting Point
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point

I need to join a small group
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups

I need to join a serve team
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve

Dig Deeper:
1. What is something you consider yourself to be really good at doing? What gifts or talents do you exercise daily? Talk about a time in your life where you know that God used your unique gifts and abilities to make a difference in someone else’s life.
2. Read Psalm 24:1. Does knowing that everything you have belongs to God change your attitude about your possessions?
3. What does it mean to be spiritual contributors, not spiritual consumers? Describe the difference between being a contributor verses being a consumer.
4. Read Matthew 25:14-30. What do you think is the big idea of this parable?
5. Everyone in the parable had at least one talent. What is the significance of the amount of talents being given to each servant “according to his own ability”?
6. Read Matthew 25:15. What does this verse teach us about God?
7. There is no win in comparison. If you have ever struggled with comparing your giftedness to others, how can this parable help you gain a better perspective?
8. Read Matthew 25:19. What do we learn from Jesus? Why do you think so many people waste their “talents” that they have been given?
9. Notice that the first two servants were not rewarded according to who had the most amount of talents, but whether they invested what
they were given. What does this teach us about how we are created?
10. What does this teach us about how God will judge each person?
11. The last servant went and “hid” his talent. What is Jesus trying to teach us about this servant? What are some ways that we “hide” our talents today?
12. What areas of stewardship in life could we apply from this parable (how we spend our money, how we use our time, how we use our gifts and talents, etc.)? What area do you struggle being faithful
with the most?
13. Do you have a routine in your schedule for serving others? What motivates you to make serving a consistent part of your life? Are there opportunities for your group to serve together?
14. What ‘rewards’ do you get from volunteering or serving others?
15. What are some ways that we can determine our “talents” or gifts that God has entrusted us with?
Ask people in the group to share how they are using their God given gifts to serve Him. How did they identify those gifts?
16. Everyone is gifted by God to serve His church, but we are not all gifted in the same way. Find out ways you can join a serve team and use the online questionnaire to discover how God has uniquely gifted you!
17. We use our gifts and talents for God, but we also use our resources. What resources has God provided to you that you can use for His glory? If you aren’t currently giving back to God what he has already given to you, consider honoring God in this way. There are ways to give online at www.TheBridgeVenice.com.

Reading Plan:

Monday: Matthew 25:14-30
Tuesday: Philippians 2:1-4
Wednesday: Galatians 5:13-15
Thursday: John 12: 23-26
Friday: Mark 10:42-45
Saturday: Mark 10:42-45