Sermon Notes: Rev. Ralph D. West, “Take A Step Forward in Risk”
The Church Without Walls/Brookhollow Baptist Church
www.churchwithoutwalls.org
Rev Ralph D West Sr., founder/senior pastor
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
Sermon Series: Taking A Step Forward
Sermon Title: “Take a Step Forward in Risk”
How many of us connect with being a follower of Jesus and actually taking a risk?
Some of us live by the status quo
Most churches operate by, “we ain’t never done it like this before.”
This scripture is a story about risk.
The kingdom of God is a story about people who take risk.
the real star of this Scripture is about the man with one talent, as opposed to the men with three and five talents.
The person who holds a talent has a major responsibility. It means that God has entrusted you with something.
In this parable, one talent means $30,000. In this biblical time, a week ‘s pay was 15 cents.
Some can handle more money than others, but God does. Of expect you to have less responsibility in handling what you have been given.
The man with one talent chose not to do anything. Jesus is stressing, “be a participant and not a spectator. In the kingdom, you get off the bench and get in the game.
Too often the church is a spectator sport. We will sit, observe, criticize and never get in the game. Anybody can sit back and watch.
When you don’t take a risk, it colors the way you envision life. It distorts how you see things.
Children don’t have as much fear as old folks. It’s something about being young and dating.
Some today look at the tough days of a recession, and forget how God has been providing for you for years.
You’ve got to watch how you let life distort your image. How will you know what God will do if you never participate in God’s plan?
Jesus never said the kingdom of God is like sitting in a LazyBoy chair.
Too many of us don’t associate following Jesus with risk taking.
In this Scripture, the man with one talent was described as lazy. How would you feel if God had that to say about you?
As Christians, we talk about entrepreneurs do. We get caught up in what someone else does? Why do we celebrate risk-taking in industry and capitalism, as opposed to what God is doing every day.
Believing is seeing. In God’s kingdom, believing is not seeing. What you can see is temporary. What you can’t see is eternal.
1. Take a risk by accepting responsibility and not casting blame. (see verse 19-24)
- Jesus is in the business of people taking risk.
- Risk is another word for people having faith.
- Without risk it’s impossible to please God.
- Risk works, but we like to play it safe. When you risk you might lose something .
- There is something about risk that pays off.
- If all you got is God then all you can do is trust.
- Giving is for our benefit and not for him.
- Some of you feel safe because your money is in CDs. Surely you know that financial institutions go belly up? But God never goes belly up.
- you may feel comfortable because you’ve got your money saved. But all it takes is one sickness to wipe that out. The real person who secures our deposit is God. We need to believe, “Lord, it’s in your hands.”
