Ready for His Return

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM Worship

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Phillip Shumake

Sermon: Kingdom Stewardship and Preparedness in the Parable of the Ten Minas

Speaker: Philip Shumake

Date: 2025-08-10 Sunday AM Worship

Chapter/Topic: Luke 19:11–27 — Parable of the Ten Minas (Preparing for Christ’s Return)

🧠Key Learnings

Knowledge point 1: Context and purpose of the parable

Jesus told the parable as he approached Jerusalem because the crowd expected an immediate, earthly kingdom. The parable corrects mistaken expectations about the timing and nature of God’s kingdom and calls listeners to prepare for the King’s return and judgment.

Detailed explanation:

• The parable is set during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (cf. Luke 19:1, 11), immediately after Zacchaeus’s conversion, showing the theme of seeking and saving the lost.
• The crowd expected an immediate political/earthly restoration (triumphal entry context). Jesus reframes the expectation: the kingdom will begin differently and unfold on God’s timeline.
• Purpose: awaken listeners to spiritual preparedness, faithful stewardship, and the reality of Christ’s eventual return and judgment.

Knowledge point 2: Portrait of the King

The nobleman represents Jesus who will go to receive a kingdom and will return to judge and reward.

Detailed explanation:

• The King departs to receive authority (emphasizing Jesus’ divine role and future reception of the kingdom).
• On return He evaluates servants’ stewardship and executes judgment on those who reject Him.
• The parable accentuates both grace (entrusting servants with resources) and accountability (final appraisal and judgment).

 

Knowledge point 3: Nature of the kingdom

The kingdom belongs to Christ, begins now in hearts while He reigns in heaven, and will culminate in a future, definitive judgment and reward structure.

Detailed explanation:

• Kingdom is spiritual and present (rule of Christ) but with a future consummation when the King returns.
• The kingdom’s citizens have responsibilities now; it is not passive rest until a sudden earthly takeover.
• Jesus contrasts earthly messianic expectations with his true mission (cross, crown, judgment).

Knowledge point 4: Equality of stewardship and three responses

All servants receive the same mina (a modest sum ≈ 100 days’ wages) — representing equal life entrusted to each; three responses appear: faithful productivity, moderate productivity, and fearful/passive hiding.

Detailed explanation:

• The mina symbolizes the whole life/trust given equally to each person — not talents or abilities but stewardship of one’s life and opportunity.
• Responses:
  • Faithful (10× and 5×): active engagement, multiplication of what was given, rewarded with authority.
  • Fearful/passive (hid in a handkerchief): produced nothing, motivated by a distorted fear of the master, judged harshly.
  • Rejection (citizens who oppose the king): represent active resistance and receive judgment.
• The parable praises faithful initiative and condemns fear-driven inactivity and rebellion.

 

 

 

Knowledge point 5: Practical implications for kingdom living (what “do business” means)

“Do business” = actively engage in kingdom work: witness (seek and save the lost), love and serve one another, invest in long-term discipleship and deep relationships rather than transient, surface-level activities.

Detailed explanation:

• Evangelism: like Zacchaeus’ conversion in Luke 19, servants are to use their lives to point people to Jesus (neighbors, coworkers, family).
• Mutual care: build enduring spiritual friendships, follow-up, hospitality, sharing struggles, walking alongside others through months/years (not brief “tourist” ministry).
• Skill development and expansion: cultivate gifts to serve broader needs (teach, lead, shepherd) — growth is expected, not comparison-based excuses.
• Initiative: do not wait for ideal invitations; engage proactively in service.

Knowledge point 6: Warnings against common excuses

The parable exposes three common excuses — comparison, fear (fire-and-brimstone view of God), and passivity — and rejects them.

Detailed explanation:

• Comparison excuse: “I can’t because I lack what others have.” The parable stresses equal entrustment; steward what you have.
• Fear excuse: thinking God’s demands are oppressive; fear ought not paralyze stewardship; God’s intended reward and purpose should motivate service.
• Passivity excuse: waiting to be invited or for perfect conditions; the parable calls for initiative and active “business” until the King returns.

Knowledge point 7: Reward and accountability

Faithfulness is rewarded (greater responsibility, authority); unfaithfulness results in loss of even what little someone had, and persistent rebellion receives judgment.

Detailed explanation:

• Principle: “To everyone who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (v. 26) — underscores both growth for faithful stewards and loss for the idle.
• The King’s final return includes appraisal and appropriate recompense (commendation “well done, good slave” for faithfulness; severe rebuke for fear/rebellion).

✏️ Key Concepts

Concept 1: Parable context and main message

Definition: The Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11–27) corrects mistaken expectations about the Messiah’s kingdom and instructs believers to steward their lives faithfully while awaiting Christ’s return.

Key Points:

• Occasion: crowd expecting an immediate earthly kingdom.
• Main thrust: active stewardship and preparedness, not passive expectation.
• Jesus as King: departs to receive a kingdom, returns to judge and reward.

Example / Analogy: Jesus reframes the crowd’s political hope into a spiritual expectation: instead of immediate national liberation, believers are entrusted with responsibilities now — do business with your life until I return. —— Philip

Concept 2: The mina as life/entrustment

Definition: The mina symbolizes the life and resources each person receives — modest but sufficient — to be used for kingdom purposes.

Key Points:

• Value ≈ 100 days’ wages — significant but not enormous.
• Emphasizes humility (cross before crown) and diligence.
• Equal allotment: everyone is entrusted; expectations are uniform.

Example/Analogy: The mina isn’t an aptitude or talent token — it’s your life and opportunities. How you use that life (relationships, time, influence) determines your stewardship. —— Philip

 

Concept 3: Three types of kingdom citizens

Definition: Three responses are illustrated: productive faithfulness, moderate faithfulness, and fearful/passive refusal — each yields different outcomes at the King’s return.

Key Points:

• Productive servants receive commendation and authority (10 cities, 5 cities).
• Fearful servant is condemned and stripped of his mina.
• Citizens who reject the King face severe judgment.

Example / Analogy: Behind-the-scenes volunteers who persistently serve are like the 10× servant; those who only nominally help are like the 5× servant; those who hide in fear or reject service are like the one whose mina is taken. —— Philip

Concept 4: Kingdom work (“do business”)

Definition: “Do business” refers to active kingdom engagement — evangelism, discipleship, mutual care, long-term mentoring and service.

Key Points:

• Not mere busywork; purposeful investment in souls and community.
• Involves long-term commitments, not short-term tourism.
• Requires initiative and the use of everyday gifts in gospel work.

Example / Analogy: Instead of “mission-trip tourism,” Jesus calls for side-by-side, long-term discipleship — walking with someone through months of struggle, not just an hour of assistance. —— Philip

Concept 5: Reward principle and accountability

Definition: Faithful stewardship is rewarded with increased responsibility; unfaithfulness leads to loss, and willful rebellion leads to judgment.

Key Points:

• “To everyone who has, more will be given” — growth principle for the faithful.
• Loss for the idle: even existing opportunities can be removed.
• Final appraisal at the King’s return includes commendation or condemnation.

Example / Analogy: A church’s ministry sustains because thousands quietly do the work; if behind-the-scenes heroes stop, the system collapses — faithful servants preserve and expand ministry, mirroring the parable’s reward for faithfulness. —— Philip

🔄 Q&A/Discussion

Question 1: Why did Jesus use a small amount (a mina) instead of larger sums like in Matthew 25? Answer 1: The mina (~100 days’ wages) is modest but sufficient to make the point: stewardship requires diligent labor, not vast resources. It underscores humility, service before exaltation, and that all are equally entrusted regardless of capacity.

Question 2: Is the parable about earning salvation by works? Answer 2: No. The parable addresses believers’ responsibility after being entrusted with life by the King. It speaks to faithfulness, fruitfulness, and accountability, not salvation by human effort. The King’s grace initiates the entrustment; works show faithful response.

Question 3: How should fear of God be understood given the fearful servant’s condemnation? Answer 3: Reverent fear (holy awe) is appropriate, but paralyzing fear that misunderstands God as merely punitive is condemned. Believers are to be motivated by love for the King, gratitude, and assurance of His redemptive work, leading to active service.

Question 4: What practical steps can believers take to “do business” this week? Answer 4: Proactively invite new attendees into community, start or lead a small group/bible study with 4–5 people, commit to sustained discipleship of someone for months, share faith in everyday contexts, or consistently serve behind the scenes.

📚 Assignments

• Reflect and identify one specific way you will “do business” for the kingdom this week (evangelism, hospitality, discipleship, long-term support). Implement it and report back to a small-group or accountability partner.
• Identify one person in your circle who needs sustained support. Commit to walking beside them for at least three months and set a first meeting time.
• For leaders: recruit and train behind-the-scenes volunteers to sustain ministry; create a plan for year‑2 and year‑3 integration of new members (focus on retention and connection).