Risked it
7 September - 21 September 2025
“Above all, I see an increased hunger in Christians to change things, a willingness to take Jesus at his word, an increased ambition to make a difference and a reluctance to settle for anything less than the complete transformation of the church, their communities and the world in Jesus' name.”
— Emma Ineson
What might your own walk with Jesus look like in a few years’ time? How might your faith grow, your relationships deepen, and your influence bring change where you are?
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Matthew 25:14-30 · Life involves risk. Will we choose fear that holds us back, or trust that leads to growth?
Study Questions
Read Matthew 25:14-30.
In Jesus’ parable, each servant was entrusted with a huge responsibility. If you were given the modern equivalent (about £500,000), how might you use it—and why?
The master described the third servant, who buried his talent, as “wicked and lazy”? Why was burying the money such a serious failure in God’s eyes?
Can you think of ways in your own life where you’ve benefitted from someone else’s “sowing”? How can you do the same for others?
Beyond money, what gifts, opportunities, or responsibilities has God entrusted to you personally? How does this parable challenge you to think about them differently?
Read Philippians 2:12
Paul says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” How should we understand this? What kind of “fear” helps us serve faithfully, and what kind of fear keeps us from obeying?
The first two servants took a risk in investing the talents. What does faithful risk-taking look like for us as disciples of Jesus?
Share a time when stepping out in faith felt risky but led to blessing or growth.
Share a time when you “played it safe” and later regretted missing an opportunity. What did you learn?
As a group, pray and ask God to show you one specific area this week where He is inviting you to step out in faith.
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Acts 11:19-23 · Everyone loves hearing good news. What could happen if we played our part in being bringers of hope?
Study Questions
Read Acts 11:19-23.
Which one person has had the biggest influence on your faith journey?
In verse 19, why do you think the early believers preached the message only to Jews at first? What might this show about their understanding of the gospel at that time
Verses 20–21 describe believers who shared the good news with Greeks as well as Jews. Why do you think this was such a significant step?
Verse 21 says, “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed.” What do you think it looks like today when God’s hand is with someone’s ministry or witness?
What situations today might be similar to the scattering of the believers—times when hardship or disruption unexpectedly leads to new opportunities for the gospel?
Barnabas encouraged the new believers “to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” What would encourage you to be braver in evangelism?
How have you seen attitudes toward Christianity change in your community? What is it about ‘this time’ that is turning people to Jesus
When was the last time you shared your faith with a non-Christian?
On Sunday, Tim invited us to think about how we might take a step in sharing the good news of Jesus with a friend, using the following prompts:
Pray
Deep question
Faith question
Personal question
Response question
Ask God to give you someone you could take this step with this week.
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Acts 11:19-23 · What if following Jesus isn’t about doing more, but daring to remain where the deepest transformation takes place?
Study questions
Finish the sentence: The world would be a better place if I….
Read John 15:1-11.
Jesus repeats the idea of “abiding in Him” several times. If you had to summarise the main point of this passage in your own words, what would it be?
Jesus says the Father “prunes” the branches. Can you share an example of pruning in your own life—times when God removed something so you could grow and flourish?
Is there a situation in your life at the moment that feels difficult, but that God might be using to produce growth?
Jesus says, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (v.8). What do you think it means to bear fruit as a disciple?
Verse 3 says we are “already clean because of the word” Jesus has spoken. What does that mean for how we see ourselves in Christ?
Jesus promises “my joy will be in you” (v.11). How is joy different from happiness? How have you experienced that difference in your walk with God?
What are some practical things you can do this week to strengthen your connection (abiding) in Christ?
Pray together: Ask God to give each of you the opportunity and the courage to share your faith this week.