This workshop leader’s Bible study
is a historical, theological, and contextual introduction to the Parable of the
Talents rotation of Kirk of Kildaire’s Faith Quest workshop rotation program. It is intended to provide workshop leaders
with:
·
A historical context for understanding the Bible
story.
·
A Biblical context for reading and teaching the
story.
·
The theological basis for the concepts to be
taught to the children.
In Kirk of Kildaire’s Faith Quest program, workshop
leaders attend a one-hour Bible study two weeks prior to the start of a new
rotation. This Bible study helps
workshop leaders understand how the concepts to be taught to the children are derived
from the Bible story and how the lessons in the rotation fit together to
reinforce the concepts. It also provides
an opportunity for the workshop leaders to grow in their own faith and
understanding of the Bible.
It will be helpful to have a
chalkboard, whiteboard, or flip chart for writing down questions or
observations during the Bible study.
Note: This is not a comprehensive study of the
text, but only a few notes to help provide context and background for workshop
leaders. Consult titles cited in the
reference list at the end of these notes for more information.
Scripture:
Matthew 25:14-30
"Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well." 1 Peter 4:10 CEV
·
If workshop leaders do not know each other, give
them an opportunity to introduce each other and say which workshop they will be
leading.
·
Begin the Bible study by praying for God’s
guidance as teachers begin a new rotation.
Ask a workshop leader to read the text aloud. Since this rotation focuses on an entire chapter, you might want to divide the reading among three or four workshop leaders.
Ask the workshop leaders what
questions came to mind as they heard the story or read it before the Bible
study. Write down any questions that
arise and will need to be answered during the Bible study.
This parable is part of one of five large speeches that Jesus gives in Matthew. It is sometimes referred to as the Judgment Discourse for much of it is about being prepared for the coming of Christ. Matthew wrote this speech using many different sources and arranged them to meet his purposes (Boring, 429). The speech “functions as warning to insiders to live an authentic life devoted to deeds of justice and mercy, in the light of the eschatological victory of God and coming judgment on present unfaithfulness” (Boring, 429). Matthew uses the parable of the talents to instruct on the life of a faithful follower who awaits Christ’s coming. For Matthew, “the meaning of being ‘good and faithful’ is not mere theological correctness, passive waiting, or strict obedience to clear instructions, but active responsibility that takes initiative and risk” (Boring, 453).
Interesting Words, Phrases, Ideas
v. 15 talents – amount of money “equal to the wages of a day laborer for fifteen years” and came to be used in the Middle Ages to describe one’s “God-given abilities” (Boring, 453). No instructions are given – “each servant must decide how to use his time during the master’s absence” (Boring, 453).
v. 19 the master returns to settle the accounts: there will be accountability – a time of reckoning.
v. 24-25 contradictory image of the master. He seems fair up until this point but now this slave tells of him being harsh and unjust. The parable does not resolve this contradiction for us.
v. 28 It seems that the servants are now being given the money outright instead of as just a trust. With this realization, Boring says, “the whole parable must be understood in terms of grace and the response to it, rather than stewardship of property that remains another’s” (453).
v. 29 What do we make of this? What happened to the last shall be first, etc.?
v. 30 “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is Matthew’s phrase for hell.
How does this story reflect the themes that we have identified earlier in the overview of Matthew?
In Matthew we often find tension and contradiction – it is not necessarily expected that we resolve this. Boring says that we should not work “to make Matthew more consistent than he was interested in being, or in fact was” (457).
Ask each workshop leader to
summarize his or her workshop. As they
do so, point out the concepts that each lesson reinforces. Ask workshop leaders if they have any
questions about the logistics or practical application of their lesson.
Antioch Arcade: The children will play a game with pennies that will teach them that the more you give, the more you get in return. They will also try answering some questions that review the facts of the story.
Apostles’ Playhouse: The children will show their understanding of the Parable of the Talents by pantomiming different kinds of talents and brainstorming how they can use these talents to serve God.
Creation Station: The children will draw their own hands showing the gifts that God has given them. They will learn that God has given us differing gifts and talents that we must discover and share to help make a better world
Good News: After reviewing the story the children will make promises about what they can do to use their talents to serve God and others in the church and the community.
Holywood: Children will view the video Mother Teresa – Seeing the Face of Jesus. The video, through addressing the life of Mother Teresa from a child until the time of her death, does an amazing job at addressing the concepts for this lesson.
Praising Puppets: By acting out four skits with puppets, the children will learn how Jesus used this parable to teach that God has given each of us talents and gifts and that we are to use these to do his work. This lesson will also touch on the concept that there are rewards for being faithful to God.
Return to the questions that were
gathered at the start of the hour. Have
they been answered? Are there any
further questions about the Bible story or about the lessons?
Close the Bible study with a
prayer.
Boring, M. Eugene. “Matthew.” New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. VIII. Leander Keck, et al. editors. (Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1995). 89-124 and 428-429 and 453-459..
Spivey, Robert A. and D. Moody Smith. Anatomy of the New Testament. (New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 1995). pp. 97-129