Found Faithful

(adapted from a message by Darrel Land)

SPECIAL DAY: HOMECOMING AT FCC-MARTINSVILLE

TEXT: MATTHEW 25:14-30

TITLE: “FOUND FAITHFUL”

OPEN: A. What is “Homecoming” at a church all about?

1. Traditionally, homecoming celebrations look back at the past

a. They remember great times and great people who did a tremendous work for the Lord

b. Fond memories are important

--they make us who we are

2. Sir Anthony Quayle: “To understand a man, you must know his memories…”

B. However, homecomings are also about the present and the future

1. When the Martinsville school alumni and community gather at football homecoming this next

weekend, they’re not just going to be focused on the past

--They’re going to be watching the current team on the field as well as talking about prospects

for the Martinsville football team’s future

2. Tom Ellsworth: “Most of us like having something that ties us to our past – something that

reminds us who we are. Eighty years ago my grandfather started a dairy in my hometown.

And though he and the dairy have been gone for many years, he would be shocked at what I

have to pay to buy an Ellsworth Dairy milk bottle at an antique store. But the value of that

bottle far exceeds the price on the tag. It is part of my heritage – part of who I am. Those

bottles hold more memories than they ever did milk. Sir Anthony may be right; to understand

a man you must know his memories. I do cherish the past but I don’t want to live there.

Rather, I think to understand a man you must know his dreams. Where we are headed is more

important than where we’ve been. What we are doing and will do, is more valuable than what

we did. God is not just God of the past; he is God of the present and the future. Your

memories are important but not as important as your dreams. So dream on and let others see

who you really are!”

C. What is it that God requires from His people?

--faithfulness in the long haul

1. God is faithful:

--Ps. 33:4 – “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”

2. He expects faithfulness in our part

a. 1 Cor. 4:2 – “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

b. One of the fruits of the Spirit is faithfulness

--Gal. 5:22-23a – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

c. Vance Havner: “God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. God’s Word

speaks of faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord,

faithfulministers. And all points up that day when He will say, “Well done, thou good and

faithful servant. What terrible times we have in our churches trying to keep people faithful in

attendance andloyalty! How we reward and picnic and coax and tantalize church members

into doing things they don’twant to do but which they would do if they loved God! The only

service that counts is faithful service.”

d. Anonymous: “It is not success that God rewards but faithfulness in doing His will.”

D. Jesus told a parable about faithfulness. Many of you probably know it as The Parable of the

Talents. This parable comes in the section of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus is giving an answer to

the disciples’ question about His Second Coming. He challenges them in Matthew 24:44 to be

ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when He is least expected.

--Mt. 25:14-30 – “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and

entrusted his property to them. To 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. The man who

had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So

also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent

went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of

those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The 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.’ 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!’ The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with