Sermon Central
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On Assignment, Not On Accident Series
Contributed by Todd Tenaglia on Jun 13, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: God has given us each specific gifts and resources. He expects us to live for the advancement of the Kingdom on earth. When we fail to do this, we are outside of His will and off assignment.
1) Introduction
a) Trouble in school—bad grades—didn’t care about learning—wanted to hang out with friends.
b) The problem was that I failed to understand the value of the assignments the teachers were giving. I viewed them as an interruption to my goals and how I wanted to spend my time. By failing to recognize the purpose and value of the assignment, I ultimately missed the opportunity to learn the lesson that was being taught.
c) An assignment is a specific task given to be accomplished in a certain time frame for a useful reason.
? In school, an assignment is given to teach the student a specific topic.
? In the military, an assignment is a specific post to be stationed.
? In the workplace, an assignment could be a project or task to be completed by an individual or group.
? In the Kingdom of Heaven, an assignment is a specific role or responsibility that God entrusts to a person for His kingdom purposes.
d) For the purpose of our study, an assignment is a task that God, through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, has given you to accomplish something for His kingdom and His glory.
? He has equipped you through your spiritual gifts.
? He has prepared you through a lifetime’s worth of experiences (good and bad).
? He has positioned you to be able to accomplish this assignment at this exact moment in time.
e) CORE THEME: You are on assignment, not on accident. Every moment matters!
? Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
? What does it mean for you that the gospel is to go to all nations?
? How do you view your daily assignments in relation to the kingdom assignment to spread the good news of the gospel message?
2) Understanding God’s Sovereign Trust
a) God is the Sovereign Giver
? Key Thought: Everything we have—time, talent, resources—originates from our heavenly Father.
? Matthew 25:14: “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.”
? 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
? God did not make a mistake when He created you, and He did not make a mistake when He placed you where you are. You are not here by accident; you are here by divine assignment.
b) Recognize Your Unique “Talent”: It’s Not Just About Money
? We see the KJV and other versions referring to “talents” in this parable. A “talent” was a substantial amount of money, but Jesus uses the term to illustrate any resource or ability entrusted to us by God.
? Romans 12:6: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith.”
? 1 Corinthians 12:4-7: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
? You need to identify your God-given assignment by prayerfully examining your situation, your gifts, your experiences, and your desires. God does not ask you to serve in a way He has not already equipped you for.
? Hebrews 13:21 says that God will “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and [that he will] work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ.”
? God has entrusted each of us with seeds of potential. Our responsibility is to discover those seeds, plant them in His field, and water them with obedience to the Holy Spirit.
3) Embracing Faithful Stewardship
a) The Example of the First Two Servants
? Matthew 25:16-18: “The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
? Observation: The first two servants acted immediately and multiplied what was entrusted to them. They were willing to take a risk and step out in obedience and let the Master’s resources work for His kingdom.
? Luke 19:13: “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’”
