Bags of Gold

Discussion Questions

1. Today we are in the fifth week of a Sermon Series called “Parables.” Jesus often taught

using parables, these short dense stories that are packed with meaning. Between Palm

Sunday and Good Friday, in the last week of His earthly ministry, Jesus told at least six

parables. The fifth one is a parable about Bags of Gold. Read it for yourself, Matthew

25:14-30. What stands out to you as you read?

2. Jesus tells a story about a rich man who goes away and leaves some of his servants

with his wealth. Each servant is entrusted with a huge amount of money and is

responsible for using it to make their master even more rich. This is a parable, what do

you think Jesus is really trying to teach about? Who really is the rich man? Who are the

servants? What is the money? 

3. After a long while the rich man returns. Two of his servants made good investments on

the money and the rich man was very pleased. The third servant however, because he

believed the rich man to be a harsh man, simply buried the gold and gave it back with no

profit made. The rich man was furious and punished the third servant harshly. The

actions of the third servant revealed his heart. Do your actions in this world show

evidence that your life has been transformed by Christ? Why or why not? 

4. This parable was told during Holy Week. Jesus was about to go away from His disciples,

leaving them with the most precious gift of all, the Good News of the Gospel! Between

Christ’s first and second coming every one of His followers would be held responsible for

how they handled this precious gift. How do you think the message of this parable

applies to us as Jesus’ followers today?