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First Baptist Church Delray

Sermon Application Questions

Pastor Steve’s Message: “The Purpose of Money”

March 22, 2926

Scripture: Luke 16:1-18 (ESV)

Review the Exegesis of the Scripture:

Read Luke 16:1–9

He (Jesus) also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”

1.     Why was the rich man firing the manager of his possessions?

2.     How did the manager leverage what remained of his position to benefit himself in the future?

3.     Even though what the manager did was dishonest, why did the rich man commend him?

4.     What point was Jesus making to His disciples about the use of money?

Read Luke 16:10–13

(Jesus continued,) “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”

5.     If we do not serve God with our money, what actually is our god?

6.     How does financial investment in relationships illustrate what we believe about Jesus and our future in heaven?

7.     For what purpose has God entrusted each of us with everything we have?

Read Luke 16:14–17 

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him (Jesus.) And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.”

8.     Why did the religious leaders refuse to embrace this teaching about the use of money?

9.     What was their purpose instead? What did they think would save them?

10.  What are “treasures on earth” and “treasures in heaven” according to Jesus?

(Jesus said,) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19–21

11.  What did the Apostle Paul say about rewards?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7–8 

12.  How is this pictured in Revelation 19:7–9?

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Read Luke 16:18

(Jesus continued,) “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

13.  How did Jesus use this example of the law to set the Pharisees straight about their focus on law over relationships?

14.  How do New Testament teachings on divorce and remarriage, including Matthew 5 about adultery and 1 Corinthians 7 about abandonment, put the focus on relationships over law?

Make Personal Applications of the Lessons

15.  Have you put yourself in position to receive what God wants you to have in this season of life?

1.     I am working where I can find a job part-time as I pursue the training and experience I will need to make a good living.

2.     I am finding work that earns the income my training and experience increasingly merits.

3.     I am finding avenues that provide the extra help I need to provide for my needs in life.

16.  In the end, how will you have used the resources Jesus entrusted to you to help other people get to heaven?

17.  What needs in life are you spending your income on and using them to make Jesus known?

·      A car to drive

·      A place to live

·      Clothes to wear 

·      Restful vacation

·      Fun activities

·      Things and experiences to cherish and build my marriage

·      Things and experiences to raise and bless my children

·      Things and experiences to develop friendships

18.  What rule of thumb has helped you decide what you can spend money on yourself for?

·      Am I first giving significantly, at least 10%, to the cause of Christ?

·      Will it help me worship God?

·      Will it help me create worshippers?

·      Will it help me care for myself instead of being a burden on others?

19.  What action step will you plan to take?

·      Give significantly more this month than you had planned.

·      Be generous to someone this week.

·      Do something unexpected for your spouse or family member that is generous and demonstrates the value of your relationship.

·      Other