Contributing to the Proclamation of the Gospel
Pastor Tan Thai · Jul 7, 2019
This sermon draws from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, emphasizing that every believer has been entrusted with talents by God to invest in His work, including evangelism. Believers are called to use their talents — whether through prayer, giving, or witnessing — with a willing and joyful heart, knowing that one day they will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account for what they did with what God entrusted to them.
The sermon opens by reviewing the previous week's message on the Great Commission, emphasizing that it is not merely a suggestion but a command from Jesus Christ for all believers, with no limits on audience or location, encompassing both evangelism and discipleship. The most important question is not what the church as a whole should do, but what each individual believer must personally contribute to the work of proclaiming the Gospel.
Drawing from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the sermon identifies six foundational lessons: God is the owner of our lives; He entrusts talents to every believer according to their ability; talents are given to be invested and multiplied; God will settle accounts for what was entrusted; He will add more to those who use their talents and take away from those who bury them; and He will reward faithful servants. Talents are defined broadly to include material resources, abilities, time, and God-given opportunities.
The sermon affirms that at minimum, every believer can do three things: pray, give financially, and testify about how God has changed their life. Using the story of David dividing the spoils equally between those who fought and those who stayed behind (1 Samuel 30), the preacher illustrates that God as a just God will appropriately reward all who contribute to His work — including those who support through prayer and financial giving.
The sermon warns that burying one's talents is not merely an omission but a wrongdoing — even sin — as the master called the servant who buried his talent 'wicked and lazy.' Three main reasons believers bury their talents are identified: fear and lack of confidence, self-pity rooted in past failures, and fearing people more than fearing God. The examples of Paul and Peter are cited as demonstrations of redemption and restoration from past failure.
The closing section reminds believers that every person will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) to give account for what they did with the talents entrusted to them — not for condemnation regarding salvation (Romans 8:1), but to receive appropriate reward. Those who faithfully invest their talents for God's purposes will be praised, entrusted with greater responsibility, and invited to share in the eternal joy of their Master.