TRINITY SMALL GROUP LEADER RESOURCE
SERMON: “Gracious Compensation”
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 15, 2015
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 20:1-16
Parable of the Vineyard Workers
20 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to
hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them
out to work.
3 “At
nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some
people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay
them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At
noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.
6 “At
five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people
standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
7 “They
replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
8 “That
evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with
the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full
day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would
receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay,
they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid
them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’
13 “He
answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all
day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the
same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should
you be jealous because I am kind to others?’
16 “So
those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
THEME/ CONCEPT: The Parable of the Vineyard Workers warns of the dangers of
spiritual pride that can both erode our appreciation of God’s unmerited grace and also
undermine our appreciation for all God’s people. As Jesus calls all his followers to be a
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part of his continuing ministry, some will have greater advantages and opportunities
than others. But we are never to presume that our “reward” is related to our work. “The
first shall be last...” begins (19:30) and concludes (20:16) this parable. We dare not
question the Master’s generosity which is beyond anything we could ever ask or expect.
Application: Since all our works for God are the fruit of grace, we celebrate all believers
who serve alongside us and experience God’s grace and blessing.
OPENING CONNECTION QUESTION: What was the best and/or worst part of your
week? Or pick three words that describe your week?
QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS
• UPWARD (connecting to God): Our small groups are focused on scripture, dependent
on God, led by the Holy Spirit, and bathed in prayer. Prayer connects us personally with
God and unleashes His power to work in and through the group.
QUESTION 1: With which group of workers in Matt 20:1-16 do you identify most
and why? Based on this passage only, what do you think the landowner would
say to you? What's your first reaction to that? How would you hope to respond?
QUESTION 2: Have you ever felt like God has called you to do something when
you were “standing around doing nothing”? Describe that experience. Is there
something you feel called to do now?
• INWARD (connecting to each other): Our small groups are trusting communities that
build relationships where real spiritual growth happens. Each member is a minister to
and with others in the care and support of the entire group.
QUESTION 3: How might the landowner's treatment of the different groups of
workers affect the way people within the same group or workers relate to each
other?
QUESTION 4: Have you ever had a family, school, or work situation where you
have felt similar to the “early bird” workers? Where everyone was treated or
rewarded identically, but you felt more deserving than the others? Explain how
you felt in the situation, and how you handled it.
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• OUTWARD (serving through mission and outreach): Our small groups intentionally
invite and nurture new people, especially non-Christians and disconnected church
members. As a group, the members serve the Lord and share His love in tangible ways
in the community and beyond. Mission and outreach is God’s call to all Christians.
QUESTION 5: What emotions might the later groups of workers feel towards the
earlier groups of workers who complained? What effect might this day of work
have on relationships between different groups of workers?
QUESTION 6: What are some differences between the values of the early
workers and the values of the landowner? What did the landowner want the
different groups of workers to get out of that day's experience?
QUESTION 7: Who would you describe in your life today as possible “late day
workers”? How can you reach them with Jesus’ Kingdom message?
• FORWARD (equipping): Our small groups encourage every person to allow the
transforming power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through them. Every believer has
God given Spiritual Gifts that need to be discovered, developed and used to build up the
church body.
QUESTION 8: What gift or skill of one of your fellow small group members might
the Landowner want to employ in a new way at this hour? How could the gifts or
skills of another member help with that?
QUESTION 9: Do you think there might be different gifts utilized by the early vs.
the late workers? What might those be? Have you ever thought of God’s larger
strategy to his multi-tiered work approach?
• ONWARD (discipling): Our small groups are disciple-making groups whose ultimate
goal is to develop new leaders, start new groups and mature disciples of Jesus who
seek God wholeheartedly, serve sacrificially, love sincerely, live righteously and enjoy
God passionately.
QUESTION 10: Briefly review the history of how your small group formed and
when each member joined it. How would it affect your small group if new
members joined your group at this point? Brainstorm ways your group could both
maintain long-standing relationships while also allowing new members to join
later or what role your group could play in helping new small groups get started.
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QUESTION 11: Every member of our small group has a different faith history,
and may have felt called at different times “throughout the day,” yet each of us
should still be growing closer to Christ, and leading others to follow Christ. How
can we reach others who might have similar stories to our own? Is there anyone
on your heart that you would like to invite to join our small group?
Time for Prayer
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