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Stewards in the Vineyard of God

October 11 | Discipleship Guide

Be Real Together:

Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together.
If you’re launching a new Group, trust and friendship take time to build. Take turns each week having someone share a bit of their story.

Read Together: Matthew 21:33–46 CSB

Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who entrusts his vineyard to tenant farmers. When the owner sends servants to collect its fruit, the farmers mistreat and kill them. Finally, they kill the owner’s son, hoping to take his inheritance. Jesus uses this story to confront the religious leaders who have rejected God’s messengers and are about to reject His Son. The parable challenges us not to assume we are right with God simply because of our religious background or time in church. God desires a faith that bears fruit—a life that depends on Jesus, follows His leadership, and honors Him with what He has entrusted to us.

The One Question:
If you only have time for one question, ask this one.

What has God entrusted to you that you may be treating as your own rather than stewarding for Him?

Grow Together:
Use these questions to go deeper with your Group or for personal reflection.

  1. What stands out to you most in this passage? 
  2. What do you notice about the landowner, the tenants, and the son?
  3. Jesus asks the religious leaders what the landowner will do to the tenants. They recognize the tenants’ wrongdoing without realizing Jesus is describing them. Why is it sometimes easier to recognize sin in others than in ourselves?
  4. Pastor Sean challenged us not to assume we are good with God simply because we’ve been in church a long time or consider ourselves good people. What are some ways we can fall into that kind of false security?
  5. The sermon asked whether we are tending the vineyard for its owner or living as if we own it. What has God entrusted to you—your time, relationships, resources, gifts, or influence? What would it look like to steward those things for Him?
  6. Jesus says the kingdom of God will be given to a people who produce its fruit (Matthew 21:43). The sermon emphasized that fruit isn’t about family background, perfection, or a religious résumé, but embodied faith. What might that kind of faith look like in everyday life?
  7. Pastor Sean challenged us to come to Jesus with our whole lives and let go of every other authority we’ve been trusting. Is there an area where you’ve been resisting Jesus’ leadership, disregarding His Word, or relying on your own way instead?

Pray Together:

  • Ask God to reveal where you’ve become entitled to something He has entrusted to you.
  • Pray for a faith that bears fruit—not just outward religious activity, but a life shaped by Jesus.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to grow His fruit in you and help you depend on Jesus moment by moment.
  • Pray for anyone in your life who has not yet put their faith in Jesus, that they would respond to Him and receive the hope and new life He offers.

Next Steps:

  • Take inventory of your vineyard. Identify one area of your life—your time, relationships, resources, gifts, or influence—and consider how you can steward it more faithfully for God.
  • Pay attention to your fruit. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this week. Ask God to grow it in you as you depend on Him in everyday situations.
  • Respond where you’ve been resisting. Identify one thing you know Jesus is asking of you. Take a practical step of obedience this week.
  • Make Jesus your cornerstone. Start each day by surrendering your plans and priorities to Him, asking the Holy Spirit to lead you in His way.