Sunday, June 18, 2006

The Parable of the Talents...

Last week at church, the pastor announced something new an exciting for next week's service - be sure to be there.

So (sow)... today I went to see what all the 'buzz' was about.. we are doing a series on 'multiplication' - spreading the word.

A lady donated a large sum of money to the church for our Mali Project - which is to raise a million dollars to build a hospital so women could deliver their child/children safely (1/10 of mother's die in labor) and kids can get the shots they need and meat on their bones so they can 'handle' the shots (few kids last past five).

The sum of money donated, won't cover all the money needed. So, the money is the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32).
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So, what the church did (not an original idea) was to take the sum of money, stick random dollar amounts ($10-$50) into 300+ envelopes with instructions, etc.
The envelopes were passed to various people in the church in all four services.
The idea is to take whatever amount was given - get creative and see how many times they could multiply the amount given. The pastor told stories on how this was done in previous churches and how $10 in an envelope became $2,000 at the end of the time period/summer.
The money raised will go to the Mali project... the pastor read the following scripture before the envelopes were passed.
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The Parable of the Talents
(Matthew 25 : 14-30)
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"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!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"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!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

1 comment:

Adam said...

I went to the break room and found cookies. Next to it was a thing about Mali and it was asking for contributions. It was a good idea.

I remembered this post and had to comment.