Be a wise manager to advance God’s kingdom

Luke 16:1-18

Key Verse: 16:9

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

1.      Read verses 1-7. Why did the rich man decide to fire his manager? Do you think that the manager was guilty of the charge against him? How did the fired manager analyze his situation? How did he suddenly become a good manager? What kind of man was he?

2.      Read verses 8-9. Why did his master commend him? What did Jesus teach? What do the words “worldly wealth” and “eternal dwellings” mean? For what do we have to use worldly wealth?

3.      Read verses 10-12. What do these verses teach about the essential quality of a good and wise manager? (See 1 Co 4:2)

4.      Read verses 13-15. What must be the value system of God’s people? What is the spiritual problem of the Pharisees? How did they justify themselves? What spiritual principle does Jesus teach? What mistake do self-seeking people make? (15; Ro 2:6-8)

5.      Read verses 16-18. What is the difference between the times before and after John? What does it mean that everyone is forcing his way into the kingdom? (RSV–“everyone enters it violently.”) What is Jesus’ view of the Bible? What epitomizes unfaithfulness?