Rewriting Debts

Maurice Ross brings a message from Luke 16:1-15 as we continue our “Stories Worth Living” sermon series on the parables of Luke’s Gospel.

SERMON OUTLINE

Key Question: How will you manage your resources?

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:9)

I. The telling of the story… many times, the lesson is just for us

  • (Luke 14 – The Great Banquet, The Cost of Being a Disciple. Luke 15 – Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son. Luke 16)
  • Christ’s time is short on the Earth. He seemed to take advantage of teaching opportunities.

II. Are you a “Dead Beat” or are you The Redeemed? (Luke 16:5-8)

  • To be without Christ is to be without life. Jesus paid my debt.

III. Are you ready to do ‘The Remix?’ (Luke 16:9-15)

  • If you add the ‘True Riches’ to your situation, your life will always be full.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. We, as God’s stewards, will have to give an account of how we managed His resources while we were on this Earth. What will the Father discover about our management?
  2. The Master put us in charge of His ‘stuff.’ Have we made Him the Lord over our ‘stuff?’
  3. What did Jesus mean when He said that the people of this world are more shrewd when dealing with their own?(vs 8)
  4. What shrewd ideas can you come up with to reach your family, neighbors, and community for Christ? (vs 9)
  5. As far as God’s agenda is concerned, are you being trusted with much or with little? (vss 10-12)
  6. What have you found to be the ‘True Riches’ Christ would be referring to? (vs 11)
  7. Have you ever found yourself falling to the temptation of trying to serve two masters? (vs 13)
  8. Ask yourself if you would consider yourself to be a ‘just’ steward or an ‘unjust’ steward?