SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 12th/13th January 2011
LUKE – Jesus, Son of Man

Chapter 16: 1-31   Money Matters

Dr John Blanchard gives four lessons – about shrewdness, sharing, stewardship and servitude, of the first parable –which he describes as one of the more difficult.  
THE WORLD AND THE WORD   v 1 – 9
The difficulty comes in the commendation in v8 and then the comment in v9.
So we see the man who was an unfaithful steward –was shrewd and wise when it came to the crunch.
Whatever you think –don’t be confused –this man is not an hero –but a rogue. Jesus is not commending his shady dealing. Jesus is showing how that unbelievers use all means, fair and foul, to make sure there is funds in the coffers.
How does this manager do that??
Who will actually find themselves indebted to him?
The rich man was furious see vvs. 1 and 2. However, now in v8 he as it were, admires the manager’s shrewdness.
v9	What is Jesus’ point, here?
If unbelievers are so shrewd with their earthly possessions –what about Christians in their stewardship?
How do you use your earthly possessions for eternal riches?
Read 1 Timothy 6 v 17-19
LOVERS OF LOLLY	 v 10 - 18
It is surely wise for us to invest our money for eternity –but what else controls how we use our money?
v10-13	The manager had been put in trust, yet he treated his master’s good as if they were his to do what he pleased.
In practice do you tend to see all you possess (or some of it) as ‘mine’ or the ‘Lord’s’?
What is the truth??
How does your Master expect you to use His goods that He has left in your charge?
What difference can that make –when you consider your next purchase? Or even what difference could it make when you deposit some savings or make an investment?
We live in a very materialistic culture- even in the church –and we might find all this challenging.
Read v 10-12 –and see what Jesus is saying. Refer to Matthew 6 v 19-21
Matthew 6 v24 – is now repeated in v13 – Jesus knows our heart.
v14-17	The Pharisees were listening to all that – and they, like most other religions, all say that you can love this world and love God. Jesus insists it is one or the other.
Jesus says His kingdom is different. It involves keeping God’s law from the heart as the very way of life. For comment on that see 1 John 2 v 15-17
Read v15 –how can you show that you value the things that God values?
v18	Suggest you leave this verse – as it needs to be seen in NT teaching.
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE   v 19 – 31
Jesus teaching a parable –firstly to the Pharisees who would have mocked Him over His words.
v19-21 The Gate. The Pharisees would have though the rich man a respectable and ideal man.
We all have ‘gates’ of opportunities which test whether God’s word gets translated into our living.
What are some of those ‘gates’ for us? Is your response different from the rich man?  James 2 v 14-17
v26	Great chasm.  What is the difference between the gate and the chasm?
	Why has the rich man ended up on the wrong side?
Obviously this is nothing to do with being rich  -or for that matter poor.
Note –v 25 and v 26 says that this is fair and this is fixed. A sobering thought!
v31	God’s word. The single sufficiency of the Bible to overcome unbelief.
What then is the consequence of not taking v13 seriously –perhaps because it costs too much?
											D.J.
PRAYER POINTS:
Surrey Seniors – New Year Dinner -20th Jan
Young adults weekend at Letton Hall – 28th to 30th January.