Luke 16:1-13 Parables Of The Shrewd Manager

Parables -

Parables of the Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-13

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              Small things — big difference — Do not despise the day of small things. Steve Jobs became one of the greatest technological innovators who has ever lived. His inventions, including the iPhone and the iPad, have changed how we live. Steve Jobs had an initial exposure to computers. Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player ever. Once upon a time, Michael Jordan took his first dribble and his first shot. Evgeny Kissin is one of the great pianists of our time. One day his fingers touched the piano keys for a first time.

Do not despise the day of small things. It is the small things that can help you build a strong relationship with your spouse. A simple compliment and a small touch can make a big difference. Simply saying, “Thank you”, “I love you”, “I am proud of you”, and “I appreciate you”, can be huge building blocks in a marriage relationship.

Do not despise the day of small things. Look what Jesus started with a small beginning. John 1 is a record of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry from an eyewitness account. Jesus’ ministry started with the calling of Andrew, Peter, John, James, Philip and Nathanael. This marked the beginning of a huge, lasting movement. There was not a huge public display to mark the launch of Jesus’ ministry. There was not a big fireworks show to kick everything off. It was simply willingness on the part of others to follow Jesus when He called them.

Do not despise the day of small things. We want to do great things in the kingdom for God. We want to serve in big ways. We want to be a part of something that is big and grand and memorable. Remember…it’s the small things that can make a big difference. Listen to Jesus’ words in Luke 16:10, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much….” Small opportunities may be turned into great blessings. Take time to do the small things in your spiritual walk. Read your Bible every day. Pray continually. Write a note of encouragement to someone who is sick, shut-in, or struggling spiritually. Take a few minutes to walk across the street and invite your neighbors to worship. Express thanks to your elders and Bible class teachers. Be faithful to God today. Do not despise the day of small things. It is the small things that can make a big difference.

Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:

· How much money is enough?

· What does it mean to be Shrewd

· Name specific evidence that money has so distorted our society’s sense of values that it causes people to do senseless things.

The Parable  of the Shrewd Manager— Luke 16:1-13

                  Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

                  “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’

“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

· What is the main point of this parable? (v. 9) Jesus summary.

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will

1. Why would it be important for Jesus’ disciples to hear this parable?

2. In what crisis does the manager find himself? What plan does he devise?

3. In light of this scheme, why does the owner commend the manager? (v. 8)

4. What is Jesus not commending about this manager?

5. What is Jesus commending about this “shrewd,” “dishonest” waster of his employer’s possessions? (vv. 10-12)

6. What’s the problem with trying to serve two masters (v. 13)

7. What characterizes the attitude of the Pharisees? (v. 14) How does the parable speak to them?

8. Name a specific way you have seen the awesome power of money dominate and destroy human lives.

9. Why is it difficult to use money without being enslaved by it?

10. What are the differences between true riches and false riches?

Reflective Questions — Live it today.

1. As we look at our finances to evaluate our spirituality, what signs of danger should we look for?

2. What signs of health should we look for?

3. Why do most people have such a difficult time giving liberally to God and others?

4. How does “giving” free us from the destructive power of money?

5. When you hold a large sum of cash in your hand, what emotions do you feel? Be honest.

6. Tell of a spiritual weapon that you use to keep God, not money, king of your life?

7. What attitude would you have to change to be really happy?

 I am called to make the most of what God has given me. So how I handle the money that passes through my control on the earth is an accurate barometer of my faith. Do I serve the God almighty or the “Almighty Dollar”?

Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-14 Parables About God & Prayer

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Parables about God  & Prayer

Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-14

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              Mobilizing People For Prayer — God is a loving Father who listens at a moments notice and always answers as quickly. The field of prayer is so vast that it would be difficult to catalog all the varieties of prayer, the rules of prayer and the methods of prayer known to Christian people. But prayer works; we must believe that. Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline said, "We are working with God to determine the future. Certain things will happen in history if we pray rightly." Remember the scripture from James: Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and it didn't; then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. James' presumption is that history would have been different if Elijah had not prayed. So what does it take to help us as individuals have a superior lifestyle of prayer? Let me list four rules.

1. The first rule is praying with faith. "This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). The more certain we are that what we are praying for is God's will, the more faith we can have.

2. The second rule of prayer is praying with a pure heart. We must constantly be on guard that the motives behind our prayers are the right motives. "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3).

3. The third rule of prayer is praying with power. All spiritual power we have comes through God's Word and the Holy Spirit. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?" and then He immediately adds: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11).

4. The fourth rule of prayer is praying with persistence. Praying about something just one time is not enough; we must pray for it again and again before we see the answer we are expecting. The persistent widow in Luke 18 is a great example of how each of us need to continue to pray persistently and fervently.

Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:

What is the funniest prayer you've heard a child say?

What have you learned about prayer later in your life?

The Parable on Prayer— Luke 11:5-13

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”

6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

· What is the main point of these parables?

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will

1. What do you expect from prayer? Make a list of your expectations.

2. When you pray to God, what does it look like to you?

3. When is repetitive prayer beneficial?

4. When is repetitive prayer harmful?

5. Prayer is a life-changing experience. How has it changed your life?

6. How would praying in the same closet with a tax collector make you feel? How about standing next to the Pharisee?

7. Is Jesus, through the parable of the unrighteous judge, saying that intercessory prayer is wrong? Is praying for each other merely ganging up on God to pester him into finally granting my request?

8. Two people ask you to do the same favor. Describe the person who asked you in an annoying way and thus causes you to refuse him.

9. Now describe the person who asked you for the favor in such a way that you will try your hardest to granted.

Reflective Questions — Live it today.

1. What changes do you think would occur if your family prayed together for an extended time every day?

2. What in our culture encourages people to believe that God is usually unwilling to help us and must be badgered by prayer to do so?

3. Besides nagging God with persistent prayer, what are other ways people today show that they feel God is not basically interested in helping us?

4. In what ways is the Holy Spirit the best gift God has ever given to you?

5. Because of Jesus message to me through these parables, the main way I will improve my prayer life is...

6. Write a prayer of praise to God.

Luke 10:25-37 Parable Of The Good Samaritan

Parables -

Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

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              A city councilman in Erie, Pennsylvania, has identified an important issue. He thinks something should be done about it. His proposed remedy won't work.

Jim Casey thinks relationships with one's neighbors is important. On his view, television, computers, and other devices that tend to close us in our houses or apartments have made neighborliness obsolete for many people. Security, civility, and quality of life would be enhanced if people got to know each other.

So Casey put an idea before the Erie City Council to study whether it should require all new homes in that city to be built with front porches. "We need to get out and meet our neighbors," he said. "If porches can help us get back to that good quality of living, then good." We could wish it were that simple!

Thinking that porches will create better communities is akin to thinking laws could cure racism. True enough, some laws needed to be passed. Those laws established a minimal standard of what would henceforth be regarded as acceptable. But they didn't make a single bigot open-minded and tolerant. Neither will front porches create community and neighborliness. It takes much more.

A verse in the Old Testament says this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). When Jesus referred to this text approvingly one day, a certain fellow in his audience became defensive. "And who is my neighbor?" he wanted to know. So Jesus told what just might be the best-known story in all literature. He told about a Samaritan who came to the aid of a Jew who had been beaten, robbed, and left to die. The same poor man had, by the way, been sidestepped by two people of his own ethnic and religious group (Luke 10:25-37).

The Gospels aren't anti-Semitic, and the point of the Parable of the Good Samaritan isn't to put Jews in a bad light. The basic problem in human relations isn't a lack of front porches but a lack of mutual respect.

According to Jesus, the way to love your neighbor is to take a risk, extend a hand, and do something positive in the life of a person outside your customary circle of friends. In your neighborhood, workplace, or church, you know who and where "they" are. This week is your chance to approach just one.

Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:

Have you ever helped a stranger in distress? What happened?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan — Luke 10:25-37

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^c ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^d ”

28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.35The next day he took out two denarii^e and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

· Brainstorm types of people who are considered the unloved in our society today.

· What is the main point to the parable?

Research Questions — “dig deeper” to find God’s Will

1. What is Jesus’ point here?

2. Does the lawyer seem to think he has passed the test in verse 28? How so?

3. Why does Jesus answer with a story instead of a straight answer?

4. How might one justify the actions of the priest and the Levites?

5. If Jesus used this parable in Edmond today, who do you think he would use as the stories characters instead of the Jews and Samaritans?

6. Given the divisions between Jews and Samaritans, what's unusual about the plot twist in the story?

7. What did stopping and helping possibly cost the Samaritan?

8. Search verses 34 and 35, what all did the Samaritan do for the man in need? How is agape love different and higher than other kinds of love?

9. What would our country become if everyone  “loved his neighbor” as the Samaritan did?

10. Put yourself in the place of the Samaritan in this Parable. What feelings do you experience when you realize a person who hates you need your help?

11. Why do you think God commanded us to love our neighbors or, even more difficult, to love our enemies? What do we learn about God when we do this?

Reflective Questions — live it today.

1. How does this Parable apply to us today?

2. If Jesus were telling the story to us today, whom would we most hate to see cast as the hero?

3. How is Jesus' challenge troubling to the expert in the law and to us today?

4. What attitude or behavior does God want you to have that is the most difficult to accept?

5. Imagine a conversation between the Samaritan and the Jew in the story. What are the first things you hear them say to each other?

6. Who has been a Good Samaritans in your life?

7. When you see someone in need of help, how does the person's appearance (race, clothing, cleanliness, status, etc.) affect the way you normally respond? Compare your usual response to God request that you “love your neighbor.”

8. What Makes a Good Samaritan really good?

9. To whom will you be a Good Samaritan this week?

Matthew 18:21-35 Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant

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Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:21-35

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A couple of days after President Kennedy was tragically gunned down in Dallas, Texas, a Presbyterian church from the state of Michigan wrote to the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald.  They had heard that she wished to stay in America and learn the English language.  They took it upon themselves to write to her and invite her to come to their community with the promise of finding her a home that she might get a fresh start on a productive life.  Unfortunately, many persons both in the local community and from around the nation got wind of this plan and began writing many critical letters about their offer to this widow.  One person probably described the situation most correctly when she said, "I never heard of a church doing anything like this before."  She knew that forgiveness is not often found even in a group of believers who could probably best be called and known as "sinners anonymous."  Forgiveness is so hard.

The minister began the painstaking job of answering each letter that came across his desk that was both unkind and critical of the church's response. With great sensitivity he wrote each person a letter sharing that he understood their feelings and emotions about their efforts on behalf of Mrs. Oswald.  However, he ended each letter by sharing, "The only thing you have not shown us is that what we have done would not have been done by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Yes, forgiveness is never easy, but it is the will of God.

Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:

What was one of the worst things your brother or sister ever did to you?

What would you do to celebrate if all of your debts were suddenly canceled?

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant — Mathew 18:21-35

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^g

23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold^h was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.ⁱ He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Research Questions — “dig deeper” to find God’s Will

1. What makes true forgiveness so powerful?

2. An “offender” in Jesus' day would forgive up to three times; a 4th offense need not be forgiven. What does Jesus’ answer say about forgiveness in His Kingdom?

3. Do we forgive others so God will forgive us, or does God forgive us so that we will have a forgiving attitude? Explain

4. Based on this Parable, is God's forgiveness of us limited or unlimited? Conditional or unconditional? Likewise, a forgiveness of others?

5. What factors prevent us from being more forgiving of the sins of others?

6. What prevents us from being more forgiving of the sins of others?

7. What did Jesus not mean by 77 times?

8. What did Jesus mean by 77 times?

9. When we fail to forgive our fellow Christian, what do we do to Christ’s work to cleanse and remake people into members of God's Kingdom?

10. How does forgiving others benefit us?

11.  How do we reconcile Matthew 18:35 with 18:17?

Reflective Questions — live it today.

1. How can we forgive, yet not encourage, irresponsibility?

2. How can you forgive someone from the distant past who hurt you deeply?

3. What is the connection between forgiveness, health, and wholeness?

4. How does it make you feel to know that God's forgiveness of you is affected by your own forgiveness of others?

5. How would you solve the problem of forgiving someone who didn't even know or care that they hurt you and, so, did not ask for forgiveness?

6. Think of someone you know who needs to be encouraged to forgive another person. Decide how you can encourage them. Then do it.

7. Why is this statement true: “When we do not forgive each other, we completely devalue the crucifixion?”

8. If you heard and admitted alcoholic tearfully ask for forgiveness over and over again, how would you react after the 8th or 9th Time?

9. Visualize yourself at the foot of the cross looking into the suffering eyes of Jesus. Next to you as someone who need your forgiveness. What do you see happening as the scene unfolds?

10. Make a list of people that you need to forgive, and any major whatsoever, and for what.