July 27, 2025

Luke 19:11-27

Fruitful in His Kingdom

Sunday Sermons

“What kind of King is Jesus? And what does He expect of us while we wait for His return?”

In Luke 19, Jesus tells a provocative parable about a nobleman, two good servants, one bad servant, and a group of hateful citizens who reject the nobleman’s rule altogether. It’s a story about stewardship, rejection, fear, and faithfulness.

Join Pastor Jim as he explores what it means to be faithful in the in-between—the season between Christ’s first coming and His return as the rightful King. We’ll learn that our lives are not our own; that we’ve been entrusted with something quite valuable. And that one day, the King will return to set the world to rights. In this passage we’ll rediscover what it means to live with gospel courage, kingdom purpose, and a heart that longs to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Speaker

Jim Thomas

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 19:11-27

Topics
Community Life Growth & Discipleship

Sermon Notes

Luke 19:11-27

Fruitful in His Kingdom

Pastor Jim Thomas

“He went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.”
Luke 19:11

1. The nobleman reminds us of how God has entrusted each of us with resources to use for His kingdom purposes. (vv 12-13)

“The fact that every Christian has a gift and therefore a responsibility, and that no Christian is passed by and left without endowment, is fundamental to the New Testament doctrine of the church.”
John Stott

2. The hateful citizens of verse 14 remind us that there are those who reject and resist Christ being the rightful king.

“The ultimately lost person is the person who cannot want God. Who cannot want God to be God… The reason they do not find God is that they do not want him or, at least, do not want him to be God. Wanting God to be God is very different from wanting God to help me.”
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

3. The two servants remind us that God delights when His servants are faithful, creative and effective in their efforts for His kingdom. (vv 15-19)

“We are members of the world and of the church, and must labor and do good to many; and therefore we have greater work to do on earth, than merely securing our own salvation. We are entrusted with our Master’s talents for His service, to do our best in our places to propagate His truth and grace, to edify His church, honor His cause, and promote the salvation of as many souls as we can.”
Richard Baxter

4. The third servant reminds us we need not be afraid of Christ. (vv 20-26)

“The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid—that is the paradox of faith.”
A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

5. Jesus is the ultimate, faithful, servant-King who has secured the kingdom for us through His loving and costly self-sacrifice.

“It is a great comfort to know that our judge will be none other than our savior.”
John Stott

Discussion Questions

  • How well are you presently balancing the paradox of “fearing without being afraid” of God? Do you need to pay more attention to one of these?
  • What might this parable teach regarding how the church should approach stewardship and mission during this “already but not yet” time?
  • What can you do to share the treasure of the gospel this week, and avoid keeping it “wrapped up in your pocket”?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“King Forevermore (God The Uncreated One)“ by Aaron Keyes and Pete James
“Revive Us Again“ by John Jenkins Husband and William Paton MacKay
“He Is Making All Things Right“ by Ben Shive, Bryan Fowler, Skye Peterson
“On Christ The Solid Rock“ by William Batchelder Bradbury, Edward Mote,
All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship: How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place

LEADER: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
PEOPLE: Our souls long, yes faint for the courts of the Lord; Our hearts and flesh sing for joy To the living God.

LEADER: Who is like you, O Lord, Majestic in holiness, Awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
PEOPLE: It is good to be near God; Make the Lord God our refuge And tell of all his works.

LEADER: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone does wondrous things.
ALL: Blessed be his glorious name forever; May the whole earth be filled with his Glory! Amen and Amen!
Source: Excerpts from Psalm 84, 72, 73, and Ezekiel 15

Classic Prayer: Clement of Rome, 35-99 AD

Ruler and Lord of all, Father and God, You are the cause and the power. You are the helper; we are the ones who need your help. You are the physician, the savior, and the wall around us. You are the life, the hope, the refuge, the joy, the expectation, and our rest. You are all things to us. We need you in order to be eternally saved. We need you to preserve and protect. You can do all things, for you are the ruler of rulers, the Lord of lords, the governor of kings. For your glory is forever. In you we offer our praise forever to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed, “He Will Come Again to Judge the Living and the Dead”

LEADER: How should you understand Jesus’ future judgment?
PEOPLE: All people, whether living or dead, will be judged by Jesus Christ. The unrepentant should fear God’s judgment, for “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness.” But if I am in Christ, I need not fear God’s judgment, for my Judge is my Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves me, died for my sins, and intercedes for me.

LEADER: What does Scripture mean when it tells you to fear God?
PEOPLE: It means that I should live mindful of His presence, walking in humility as His creature, resisting sin, obeying His commandments, and reverencing Him for His holiness, majesty, and power.

Source: ACNA, Q. 79-81

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