Knowing Jesus,
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Web manager Simon Ford
Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
EDGE 2 – Summer 2006 - Money, money, money
Welcome
Play the well that’s a waste of money game!
Sitting round a piece of paper, someone draws an everyday object and as soon as someone knows what it is says… hang on you’ve missed the ????? off that ???? (object)
e.g. someone starts drawing a kettle, then someone says hang on you’ve missed the gold plated handle off that kettle.
And then everyone else says “well, that’s a waste of money”
Then someone else draws an object etc – try to encourage more whacky ideas… hang on you’ve missed the NASA trained monkey to try and save any shots off that football…
Worship
Be thankful for all the things you have and how you can use them to give God glory!
Word
2 stories from Luke 16 today – both about money – neither one the easiest to simply explain. But they do have great messages.
Read Luke 16:1:8
What’s this all about?
What lesson does Jesus want us to learn?
The master praises the dishonest manager. What had the manager done that had been shrewd? Why did the manager do these things?
(Note for leaders: there is a big argument amongst scholars about whether he simply took money off and therefore diddled the master out of more money or whether he simply took off his commission – it is likely to be this second one as the master praises him for his shrewd action rather than complaining about his continuing dishonesty.)
Read Luke 16:9-13
Verse 9… What is this verse saying? (We should use money wisely, it is no use in heaven, but we can use our money to help others, and show others how God has impacted us.)
How can we do this?
Verse 10-12… What are these verses saying? (Integrity is so important, and money is one way we are tested.)
How much money does it take to see if someone is trustworthy? (1p)
What is God likely to give the person who can be trusted with money?
Verse 13… why is impossible to serve 2 masters.
Think up examples of how 2 managers or bosses would muck up an organisation or club
Why is money a bad master? (For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. 1 Tim 6:10) Get examples of money being root of evil – if they start off big (train robberies etc) then get them to think of how this is real in their friend’s live, their family and their own lives)
What would be the signs of someone being a slave to money?
What is the result of being a slave to money?
How can we be Children of God, serving only him as our master and also be people who own, earn, use, save, borrow and spend money?
How can we ensure we don’t love money? (Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. Hebrews 13:5 or simply have Jesus as our master!)
One more thing to challenge people…. Do they give a minimum of 10% away to God and the work of his Kingdom?
If time and if willing read Luke 16:19-31
Why was rich man condemned? Why was the poor man saved? (The rich man was not condemned because he was rich, nor was Lazarus saved because he was poor. The rich man trusted in his riches and did not trust in the Lord.)
Read this quote from C.S. Lewis “The safest road to hell, is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
Is this true?
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
Jesus asked that question. What is your answer?
Witness
Be honest with each other about money.
Are you someone who spends too much time thinking about what you could do if you had the money?
Are you someone who cares a too much about your possessions?
Are you someone who finds it hard to give away?
Tell each other so that you can pray for each other to have a greater love for Jesus and to be better stewards of money and possessions. Especially that we would use them to bring others closer to Jesus.