Done Sept 5, 1998 at English Oaks Youth Sabbath school

Prayer

I need your help this morning because I'm going ask you to do something that is very difficult, but not impossible. In fact it's so difficult that most adults avoid it or refuse to do it. It's so difficult that you are going to need the help of the people sitting next to you, but I repeat, it's not impossible.

At this time get together in groups of 3, no more than three, and decide in your group whether or not you are willing to commit to a difficult task this morning.

It's something everyone has the capability of doing, but especially in spiritual matters, often people avoid or outright refuse to do it and the results are devastating. You wouldn't get behind the wheel of an automobile and refuse to do this. (Although some people do, we call it drunk driving.)

I need committment 'cause kind of difficult. I'm actually going to ask you to think for yourselves, and at some point you will probably feel very frustrated. Now, I can't make you think for yourselves, so I'm warning you up front so that when you feel frustrated you won't be tempted to give up. I'm amazed at how many young people want to think for themselves about their clothing, their choice of friends, their sleeping schedule, their

health habits, you name it, they want to be independent and do it themselves, but when it comes to spiritual matters they want someone to tell them all the answers! I did some teaching at an academy that will remain nameless and I was so disappointed with their lack of independent thinking! The students actually said to me. Why don't you tell us the answers so we can tell you the answers? I tell you it was devastating! part of it was concern over grades, but this is a voluntary thing. No grades. I'm telling you it's to your advantage to think for yourselves. You wouldn't let someone else eat a pizza for you and then describe the flavor in minute detail! You'd learn more about the pizza, but you would still be hungry. It's the same in spiritual matters, if someone else studies the word for you and describes it to you, it's as if they've eaten and you've listened to a description, you'll go home hungry.

That's why I need a commitment from you this morning. Have you talked in over with your 2 partners? Alright, who is ready to make a commitment to stay at it even when it becomes frustrating?

I study this way with many adults and they often can't hack it. but I've found that youth tend to be more flexible. They don't just say, "If it's hard I won't even try it."

We need 100% participation in this room because these are important issues and we can't afford to have any distractions. You're either for us or against us. If you're committed, stay, if not sit quietly (or leave), but no distractions.

Who's thinking today? Let's see some hands. Okay. I'm taking hands, we need to move through this passage. Let's get the facts out.

Mt 20 Workers in the Vineyard

The facts

When did the landowner go out? and what did He agree to pay His laborers?

time hired	hours	agreed wage

early in the morning 6am	12	one denarius

9 am	9	whatever is right

(Are you noticing anything about how the workers related to the landowner?

12 noon	6	whatever is right

3 pm	3	whatever is right

5 pm	1	doesn't say

(Why had they been standing idle? What does that tell you about their willingness to work? Were these folks willing or unwilling to work, how do you know?

When it came time to pay them, what unusual thing did the owner do? How do we know those hired first were expecting something different?

What character trait or traits of the owner led Him to do what He did?

Interpretation:

This might be the most difficult question so I'll give you 2 mins.

I want you to read chapter 19:16- and someone please tell me what event had just happened that prompted Jesus to tell this story? Who was it in this passage that thought they should have more? Why does Jesus tell this story? Who needed to hear it? Yes, His followers, but Lord, "But I've been a Seventh-day Adventist all my life. I haven't watched TV on Sabbath, I did community service with Mr. Wyrick, I went to Bible class, and church, and Sabbath school, I've read my Bible and prayed! Isn't there something in it for Me! What is the principle that Jesus lays down? first last last first

What was the relationship between the amount of work done and the wages received? Are you hearing that? No matter how much work you've done, or not done if you've responded to the Master's call, the pay is the same.

By the way it's not a time issue, it's an amount of work issue. We've often read this and thought, "Oh, this means I can come at the end of my life and repent! That's not the issue in this story. How do we know? The complaint was, "We've done more work!" not, "They came at the end of their lives."--you know what people say who repent on their death bed? "I've wasted my life!" not, "I sure pulled a fast one on God, I hated Him all my life and done evil, but now I've repented and I love Him so He has to save me. Ha ha."

What are we saying when we ask God for more?

What is it that God promises to those whom He hires to work in His vineyard? Eternal life! And at what cost to Himself did He purchase it? Jesus! What more could God give us? He emptied heaven for us! He has already given us all He had! What incredible generosity! Listen to this statement now, "We don't work to get God to give us things, God has already given us everything in Christ." That was such a feeble response, are you hearing this? Do you know what this means? you may

So many people think eternal life just means you live a long long time. Oh no, Eternal life is having Jesus Christ the Eternal One living in You! 1Jn 5:12 He who has the Son past present of future, _____(has) Eternal life! If you don't know, look it up!

What did these people believe about God when they expected more?

Give me Matthew. I want Biblical responses!

They thought he was keeping track of their work in order to reward those who did the most.

They thought he was withholding something from them--weren't seeing him as generous.

Application:

Who here is seeing God in a new light this morning? Who is getting a taste of the generosity of God, can you say amen? You've heard, are you willing to believe it, personally for yourself? One can only take hold of this by faith, because you may not feel like you've done enough work, but what did we learn about the relationship between amount work and the reward? Who is deciding to believe this morning in the generosity of God toward them? (Hands) Who's willing to make a statement of belief?

If that's you, just pray with me right where you are.

No one who has tasted God's generosity begrudges it to another.

When Christians act and think we are superior we are suggesting that God should not have been so generous to them, just to us.