THE FAITHFUL AND WISE MANAGER

Luke 12:35-59

Key Verse: 12:42

* THE FAITHFUL SERVANT (35-39)

1. What is the basic attitude of a faithful servant? (35) What does "keep your lamps burning" suggest?

2. What illustration of a faithful servant did Jesus give? What are the qualities of faithfulness which this illustration suggests? How can we be faithful to Jesus? (Ro8:35a)

3. How does the master in the illustration show his pleasure at his servant's faithfulness? How important is it to be faithful? (1Co4:2; Rev2:l0b)

* THE WISE MANAGER (40-48)

4. How did Jesus' disciples respond? Toward whom is the parable of the wise manager directed? What charge did the master give his faithful and wise manager?

5. What stewardship does God give his people? (Ro3:2) What might the "food allowance" be? How does Jesus himself set the example of wise and faithful stewardship? (Mt26:55b,56) What reward does the master give the faithful servant? What does this mean to us?

6. What does the wicked servant do while his master is away? Why? How will the master punish him? (Rev21:8; Ro2:8) Who were the wicked servants of Jesus' day? What principle does Jesus teach in 47,48?

7. What is the great future event in Jesus' mind as he teaches?(40) What can we learn from each of these passages about this event: Ac 1:11; Mk8:38; 2Th1:8,9; 1Co15:23; Mt24:30b,31,36; 2Ti2:12. In light of this, how should we live?

* THE FAITHFUL SERVANT MUST STAND ON GOD'S SIDE (49-53)

8. What is the fire? (49) What is the baptism? Why does Jesus bring division, not unconditional peace? What does this mean to those who would be faithful stewards? (Ro6:20-22; Jos24:15; 1Ki18:21; Mk8:33)

* THE PROPHETIC VISION (54-59)

9. What kind of signs could the Pharisees interpret? What could they not interpret? Why? What hopeful signs can we see in our times? What must we do?