2. Lessons from a Shovel Digger

3. Be Ready Parable of wise/foolish virgins (1-13) Be Ready Parable of talents (14-30): Be Responsible Parable of the sheep & goats (31-46): Be busy doing the right things Matthew 25 presents three pictures of Jesus’ Return

4. Matthew 25:14-30 A talent is a unit of weight - It was used as a form of money

5. Matthew 25:14-30 One talent = 20 years income Two talents = 40 years income Five talents = 100 years income The master had extreme wealth The master had extreme trust

6. All of us have a gift from God God expects us to use this for His purpose and glory

7. The master returned after being gone for a long time (18) There was an accounting that took place

8. 1. Our impressions of God shapes our relationship with Him The one talent man had a false impression of the master

9. If you view God as one who can never be pleased then you will always feel overwhelmed

10. It is possible to please God We can do what right

11. If I am afraid of God, I will not get too close to Him

12. If I think God really doesn’t care, then I won’t care

13. 2. Blaming God does not excuse us

14. 3. Doing Nothing is Bad The master called him: worthless, lazy, wicked

15. God has given us our families God has give us spiritual opportunities God has given us our life

16. Matthew 5:47 “And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?