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Sermon Summary. This is our second sermon in a series on “stewardship.” A steward is one who carefully and effectively manages something that has been entrusted to his or her care. The essence of this series is to raise awareness of all that God has entrusted to our care and emphasize the need for us to properly and effectively care for and utilize it. In this text, Jesus emphasis this point in a parable. In the passage, the master has charged the steward with the care and feeding of the master’s servants. This should make us think of the end of Christ’s ministry when he implored Peter three times to “feed his sheep.” (John 21:15-17) In the parable, the master is charged with the task of feeding the people. In real life, Peter, the disciples, and we are provided with the word of God and the blessings of God and are charged with sharing it with God’s people. We have been given much. We have been entrusted with much. Therefore, much is required of us.
Types of Stewardship. As we reflect on the reality of God’s given much and God’s requiring much, think on the four types of stewards that one can be. An ignorant steward has been blessed but is ignorant to the blessings or to God’s charge. A lazy or poor steward is aware of the blessings and the charge but fails to act to do as God has directed. A good steward – what we strive for – is aware that God has blessed him or her and that God has entrusted things to the steward’s care. This person knows that much is required of us and strives to do all that the Lord has directed. Finally, the evil steward is aware of the blessings and the responsibilities but chooses to exploit the blessings for his own benefit and abuses those who have been placed in his or her care.
The Good Steward (v42-44). In the beginning of this passage, we see the Lord describing the good steward. He will follow the Lord’s direction and care for what the Lord loves.
1. What does it mean to be a faithful and wise steward? What’s faithful? What’s wise??
2. What is the significance of the “feeding of the servants in the parable”?
3. What does it mean in verse 44 that the master will put the good steward in charge of all the master’s possession? (Look at Matthew 25:20-21)
The Evil Steward (v45-46). Tragically, some who have been entrusted are not only lazy or negligent but vicious. The steward in this passage not only fails to take care of the people but he eats, gets drunk and beats those in his care.
4. What happens (or doesn’t happen) in verse 45 before the evil steward begins to beat those in his care? How can we find ourselves in trouble when we fail to wait on or trust God?
5. What does verse 46 reveal to us about how strongly does God feel about how we treat those in our care? What will happen to the evil steward?
6. What are examples of evil stewards today?
Following God and Accountability (v47-48). These verses look at how we follow (or not) the will of God and some of the consequences.
7. What happens to us when we know what the Lord wants of us but we don’t get ready or we just refuse to do as God has directed?
8. Look at verses 47 and 48. What do they reveal about whether the Lord has a higher level of accountability for those with more knowledge?
Entrusted (v48). When we are entrusted (something is placed in our care), the Lord holds us to a higher standard.
9. What are some of the things that the Lord entrusts to us?
10. What things has he placed in our care? How are we doing?
11. How can we better stewards?
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