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Our lesson today is known as the Parable of the Talents. In the ancient world a “talent” was a unit of currency roughly equivalent to a laborer’s yearly wage. Today, the same word   refers to a personal ability or aptitude. Through a coincidence of language, what Jesus is really talking about is how we use our aptitudes and abilities to do his work. Let’s get to it.

  • What are your aptitudes and abilities—the things you are naturally good at? Of those, which one gives you the most satisfaction when you put it to use? Why do you suppose that is?

  • Have you ever been told that you’re good at something but haven’t really believed you were? What was the talent mentioned? Why did you not believe it?

  • Have you ever been held back from doing something because of fear of failure or ‘looking silly’ in your attempt? What was that ‘something’?

Next Step: One of the main themes of the text is that the gifts we’ve been given come with a responsibility to use them, even when it leads us outside of our comfort zone. Do you see your gifts that way? What one thing can you start doing this week to start exercising your gift/s (identified in question 1) more effectively?

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