Parables of Jesus, The Tower Builder & the Warlord

Opening Prayer                                                                                                         Pg1

Heavenly Father we ask that you join us in our study tonight, as we attempt to learn more about how to become a worthy disciple. . We ask that no word be spoken here tonight which might be contrary to your will. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance that even though you are not present in body, you are most certainly with us in spirit. We ask these things in Jesus’ name Amen

Luke 14:25  Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:
Luke 14:26  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27  And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:28  "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
Luke 14:29  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,
Luke 14:30  saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'
Luke 14:31  "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:32  If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
Luke 14:33  In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.


















                Did Jesus practice what he preached ?                                                Pg2
Having made your decision to become a Christian you then are to take the action that makes this decision a commitment.
Then there is that commitment which Jesus states, that one must hate father and mother sister and brother, husband, wife, children, or even one’s own life One must realize that anything which separates them from the love of Christ is not of God. If those of our loved ones do not accept that our commitment to Jesus is all encompassing, without compromise in any way, then they are not seeking our best interest, but their best interest for us, and that is unacceptable to God.
And then there is the Greatest Commandment which Jesus quoted as  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments”
Jesus has now gotten our full attention, how are we to follow the greatest commandment if we have to hate our family members. This is the point of the passage. In order to be a disciple, we must be willing to give up everything for Jesus. All passions, loves and ambitions, this is the cost of being his disciple. This is not an easy choice, and of course it is of the wholesome nature that we should love our family members and want our family members to love and follow God. But here Jesus has made a statement to us that needs further explanation. Jesus has gotten our attention, has he not?
Here it would seem that there may be a conflict, we are to love God, and our neighbor as well, there is no room in the Christians heart for hate, (or is there), Jesus hates sin, God hates sin, and the whole of Gods word is built around the concept of love, as opposed to any other emotion. But The Christian must hate sin.

Q.1 How did Jesus react to the money changers and merchants using the temple? John 2:15
Q.2 What was Jesus’ overall opinion of the Pharisees? Matthew 23:27
Q.3 How can Jesus’ actions in these two examples be justified?
Q.4 In what way can we compare Jesus feelings in these incidents, to what we are studying?



















__________________________On being a disciple___________________ ________Pg.3
Luke 14:26  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple. 27  And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Here we have the basis for becoming a Christian. Not that there must be a casting off of our loved ones nor hatred of Mother, Father, children, brothers and sisters, but as a Christian Soldier one must pledge ones allegiance to Jesus Christ no matter the cost, and if the cost demands such, one’s life. Those that undertake to follow Christ must count upon the worst, and prepare accordingly. Jesus gave his life for us, we must be prepared to accept the same choices if we would be his disciples. If family and friends forsake you because of your Christian faith, and your savior Jesus Christ, then you must be prepared for whatever that brings to your relationships.

Q.1 What does Jesus mean by all the hate references, even that we must hate our own life
Q.2 What is the cross that the Christian must bear? Is there a proper description?
Q.3 How might these verses be explained where one might more easily understand?
Q.4 What is Jesus speaking of as to why one “cannot be my disciple”?
Q.5 What might be some typical circumstances whereby one would choose not to serve God and accept Jesus’offer of salvation?

 ____________________________Count the costs______________________________                                                                
Luke 14:28  "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30  saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'

If we are to be full on Christians, we must count the costs, there will be setbacks and disappointments. There are crosses to bear and sacrifices to endure and hard choices to make. Jesus is teaching us those things in these two allegories. As a Christian, the losses have no write off possibilities, and the consequences are not temporary, they are eternal.  Jesus begins to explain what a Christian must consider if one is to make that commitment. He describes the building of a watch tower, as it was sometimes necessary to build a watch tower in their  vineyard to watch out for thieves.
And he describes  how foolish it would be if one started such a project, and had not enough money or resources to finish it. It would be a very grave miscalculation, having not planned it out to the finish of such a project. It is not a good feeling. And in such cases, failure is magnified. Being a committed Christian has risks, and costs, It requires the use of our time, resources and will power. If we fail to take the costs into account, we face failure.
Jesus hanging from the cross repeats the last words that should leave a Christians lips if that one has been fully committed to living the Christian life, “It is finished”

Q,1 Have you ever done such a thing? Start a project then find that you cannot finish it because you did not count the cost, or did not have the resources to finish it?
Q.2 What are some of the costs that being a Christian will make on ones life?
Q.3 The costs are not all monetary, nor are they all sacrificial, can we list some other costs?
                                                     


   ___________________________Fight the good fight_________________________  Pg.4
 Luke 14:31  "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:32  If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

The. first of these two allegories rather points to the building up of the Christian life in the heart and life, and the hard choices and steep costs that must be borne by each one. And the importance of completing the work of being Christian, which then guards our soul from Satan’s deceitful ways of stealing our salvation. It must be a finished work. 2 Timothy 4:7
This allegory is an image of the warfare which’ every Christian must wage against the world, its passions, and its lusts. If we cannot brace ourselves up to the’ sacrifice necessary for the completion of the building up of the life we know the Master loves; if we shrink from the cost involved in the warfare against sin and evil, It would be better for us not to begin the building or risk the war. The only thing to then consider is how long is eternity, because your choice determines where you will spend it.

Q.1 Make a list of what Jesus had to go through in order to make salvation available to all?
Q.2 Can you honestly say that is something you would do? Remember, He had choices.
Q.3 Make a list of what the world offers that must be resisted by the aspiring Christian.
Q.4 With whom does one negotiate our terms of peace if there is no victory in sight?
Q.5 And contrariwise who does make our peace with Victory over sin and death.?
                                   
_________________________Cannot be my disciples_____________________________
Luke 14:33  In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
“Cannot be my disciples” seems to be a recurring phrase. Jesus is making a point of telling us that there are many things that must be overcome in order to be his disciple He is emphasizing something of an eternal nature and this phrase is punctuating it.

Q. 1 What effect does the realization that some “Cannot be His Disciples” have on  you?
Q. 2 Isn’t that what the “Uninvited Guest also realized, and thus wanted changes in her life?
Q. 3 In our world today, what is meant by giving up everything you have?
Q. 4 Are Christians the world over doing that?
Q. 2 When you enlisted as a Christian Soldier did you realize the demands, sacrifices and costs it would have on your lifestyle?

Closing Prayer
Dear God, you know our hearts, you know our thoughts, and just as Jesus loved his family you know that we love our family. Give us the grace and courage to follow Jesus in such a way as to never hear the words “You cannot be my disciple” Now we pray your strength and comfort be with those of our midst that need your healing touch_____________. Be with us now as we depart lead us safely through the week and join us again as we meet next week. Amen.


                                                           Your Choices                                                          Pg.5
Meditation:   Every landowner who could afford it walled in his orchard as a protection from intruders who might steal or harm his produce. A tower was usually built in a corner of the wall and a guard posted especially during harvest time when thieves would likely try to make off with the goods.  Starting a building-project, like a watchtower, and leaving it unfinished because of poor planning would invite the scorn of the whole village.  Likewise a king who decided to wage a war against an opponent who was much stronger, would be considered foolish if he did not come up with a plan that had a decent chance of success. Jesus tells his would-be disciples that they, too, must count the cost if they want to succeed as his disciples. Jesus assures success for those willing to pay the price.
What does Jesus have to offer that's worth giving up everything else? More than we can imagine! Jesus offers the gift of abundant life and everlasting peace and happiness with God. It's natural to ask what it's going to cost before you sign up or pay for something. Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to tell his disciples that it would cost them dearly to follow after him.  There can be no room for compromise or concession with God.  We either give our lives over to him completely or we keep them for ourselves.  Paul the Apostle says, "We are not our own.  We were bought with a price" ( 1 Cor. 6:19,20).  That price is the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. Jesus knew that the way of the cross was the Father's way to glory and victory over sin and death.  He counted the cost and said "yes" to his Father's will.
When my will crosses with God's will, then his will must be done.  The way of the cross involves the sacrifice of laying down my life each and every day for Jesus' sake.  What makes such sacrifice possible and "sweet" for us is the love of God poured out for us in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). We can never out give God.  He always gives us more than we can expect or imagine.  To place any relationship or any possession above God is a form of idolatry.  Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first.  Jesus' way to glory and power is opposite the world's way of glory and power.  The choice is ours, but the Lord does not leave us alone if we choose to follow him.
                                                      Questions:
1. Do you put God first in all you do? Are you conscious of doing it?
2. How does this parable compare with the way we live our lives today?
3. Do we have hindrances that take our time away from the worship of God?
4. Can you compile a list of those things that restrict your time with God?
5. Is there a way to do all you have to do, and still have time for God?
6. Is there anything in our lives that we must give up, in order to be faithful to God?
7. Have you ever thought about just chucking it all and changing your life?
8. Do you know anyone who has done this?
9. Do missionaries do it”
10. Do disciples do it?            
11. Are you a disciple?

The Parable of The Two Debtors

Opening Prayer                                                                                                           Pg.1
Gracious Lord, be with us now as we begin another study of the words of Jesus. This Parable is a teaching by Jesus on how it is that our sins are forgiven, and what a gracious God you are in receiving us into your plan of salvation if only we accept Your Son our Lord Jesus as the Lord of our life and the Salvation we so deeply need. Impart to our minds and our hearts the things that you would have us learn from this study. Fill our hearts with love and gratitude for the mercy you have shown to us. Now guide our hearts and minds as we study these words from the Mouth of God the words of Jesus, in whose name we pray AMEN

                                      The Parable of the two debtors

Luke 7:36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
Luke 7:38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Luke 7:39  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."
Luke 7:40  Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
Luke 7:41  "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Luke 7:43  Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Luke 7:44  Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
Luke 7:45  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
Luke 7:46  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
Luke 7:47  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."
Luke 7:48  Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:49  The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Luke 7:50  Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."







                          Dinner with Jesus…… The Invitation                             Pg.2

We are not given any explanation as to why this dinner was given nor why Jesus was invited and accepted the invitation. The Parable does seem to indicate that The Pharisee and Jesus knew each other, at least by name. But there is an explanation that can be drawn from the telling of the event. There was a desire on the part of the Pharisee that he wanted to hear more from Jesus’ teaching, or he desired to be in company with him so he might learn more about him. Or perhaps it would benefit him in some way, to learn more of what Jesus was about, so he could further the cause in plotting against Jesus.  Everyone who meets Jesus is destined to learn something about Him. In this case we do not know why it was so, but we do know that it was not accidental.

Q.1 What must be present in our thoughts before we form an opinion of someone?
Q.2 What other reasons might there be that this Pharisee would have included Jesus?
Q.3 Who are they who would actually benefit from this dinner with Jesus?
Q.4 How would it have been possible in that day and time for anyone to meet with Jesus?

                                               The Uninvited guest
Then there is this uninvited guest. We are introduced to a woman who is not named, but as one who is covered in sin, yet determined enough to be in the presence of Jesus that she would crash the party. Then we are soon exposed to her reason for being there, in that she somehow must have heard, and knew in her heart that he could offer her a new path for her sinful life, if only she could do something to show her love for him and that she had repented from the life about which she had become so sorrowful. She had the courage to come and meet with Jesus and anoint him, cry at his feet, kiss his feet and have her sins forgiven. She would begin a new path of life. Her desire to have her sins forgiven led her to this dinner. Her faith had saved her. No words were exchanged between her and Jesus, except his words, “Your sins are forgiven, Your faith has saved you, go in peace” Most certainly this meeting was not an accident.

Q.1 What was it about Jesus that convinced this woman that he could change her life?
Q.2 This woman had a dark past, and was living in sin. How can Jesus change that?
Q.3 She did not even speak to Jesus how is Jesus to respond to her, Did he already know?
Q.4 While this was going on, what must the host and the other guests have been thinking?














                                   An inconvenient woman                                                Pg.3
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this woman making such a scene, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is, that she is a sinner. Then Jesus having perceived his thoughts spoke to the Pharisee, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
Jesus was aware of the opinion that this Pharisee (Simon) had about this woman. And He was also aware of the opinion the Pharisee was feeling for Him. He then posed a question for the Pharisee. So Jesus would speak to this man a parable concerning debt. Something with which everyone at this dinner, including the Pharisee is familiar. Jesus does actually know the heart of each of us just as he did this self righteous Pharisee, and This woman of ill repute. This event would then become His teaching moment. The moment to illustrate how the forgiveness of God works, and who can receive it. Forgiveness from God requires a desire to have it and a repentant spirit. It must be a determined effort deliberate and final. That it happened at this dinner to this woman was no accident.

Q.1 What must be present in our thoughts before we form an opinion of someone?
Q.2 What must exist between two people before an evaluation of one or the other is valid?
Q.3 How hard is it to acknowledge that we too are in debt for our sins?
Q.4 What is your opinion of this Pharisee?


                                The Parable of the two debtors
Luke 7:41  "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Luke 7:43  Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Sin is a debt. That is the primary idea of this parable. And we can certainly understand that there is a burden which each one bears, the burden of the sense of sin, from which one yearns to be delivered. The point of the parable is not that a debt is owed, for all of us owe. The point is that the debt can be forgiven. Except for the Cross of Christ, which paid the debt for all who will claim their salvation through Jesus Christ there would only be condemnation for all. But because of Christ there is that forgiveness of sin to which all are invited. All it takes is a desire to leave our sinful ways and make room in our hearts for Jesus who brings with him the forgiveness of God’s plan of salvation. That is no accident.

Q.1 Why would Jesus have accepted the invitation to this dinner?
Q.2 What is there about owing a debt that makes one feel uncomfortable?
Q.3 Why does it seem that in our world today some feel no remorse  for their sin?
Q.4 When God confronted Adam and Eve with their sin, what answer did they give?






                                        a time for everything                                                 Pg.4

This then became a teaching moment for Jesus. He reminded Simon that this woman was indeed an example of humility, faith, and remorse, and repentance, and that her sins were forgiven.
There had been a sinful life that had kept her from God, And now her old ways she had put off. Through remorse and a desire to be forgiven she perhaps had now contemplated a holy life. And now she was seeking the love of God, that she might be forgiven the debt which she through her sinful life had incurred. And knowing that there was no amount of trying or goodness or remorse that she could come up with, that could save her soul, she had reached the end of her own trying. She was now seeking through coming to Jesus the forgiveness that she sought. And now having reached out to Jesus she was forgiven.
It soon became apparent that the Pharisee did not accept this woman on any level, and he even then began to suspect that Jesus was not a prophet, and was probably an imposter. Jesus knew his thoughts and used this event as a teaching moment to make the point that the deeper into sin that one has fallen, the more joyful they would be when forgiven of their sins. Not that one could sin a great sin, so as to have more enjoyment when forgiven, but that ones sins are a condemnation and when forgiven the condemnation is lifted, and the sinner is lifted.
This then would be one of those moments. There is divine providence to be experienced every time. Jesus Saves, and those who come to him for forgiveness who repent of their sins, are the joyful ones. This woman was one of them.
Then there are the admonishments Jesus gave his host. He did not offer Jesus any of the refreshing and cleansing accoutrements that the woman had performed for Jesus. And Jesus let him know that. Perhaps a teaching moment for each of us. We have invited Jesus in, now then how shall we treat him?  If we intend to be Christians working to spread of the word of God, and perform Christian works that befit a disciple of Jesus, how shall we proceed? Would it not be evident to all at the dinner that this woman was giving love to Jesus and was seeking his forgiveness.  Should we not do the same as well. Make known our love for the Son of God who has given himself for our salvation. Our salvation did not come about by accident.

Q.1 How did the Pharisee know of Jesus, what was his opinion of him?
Q.2 Did the Pharisee really want Jesus here, or was Jesus just a curiosity?
Q.3 What could have been the opinion of the other guests about this woman?
Q.4 How do you think the other guests might have felt about Jesus”
Q.5 How did the uninvited woman feel about Jesus?
Q.6 Have you considered how the Pharisee might have felt after this experience?













                            Your faith has saved you                                         Pg.5

Luke 7:48  Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:49  The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Luke 7:50  Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Some of the Pharisees guests were astonished at the statement made by Jesus, that the woman’s sins were forgiven, not because of her anointing Jesus’ feet or that she dried them with her hair, or that she kissed them, but her sins were forgiven because of her faith. The question then is who else at the dinner had that kind of faith, who else would anoint Jesus’ feet who else wants their sins forgiven. Do we have that kind of faith. This truly is a life lesson, no matter the depth or severity of sin, there is forgiveness for us if we just have faith in the redeeming power of the Son of God.

2Co 5:16  So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
2Co 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2Co 5:18  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2Co 5:19  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God

Q.1 What was the object of the dinner? Was it the same for Jesus as for the Pharisee?
Q.2 An encounter with Jesus leaves one changed, How did it affect the Pharisee?
Q.3 Where did the woman come from? How did she know about the dinner?
Q,4 Was this simply a serendipity moment, or was it destined to happen, that this woman’s life
       would be the subject of Jesus’ teaching?

Closing Prayer
Gracious Lord, be with us now as we leave this place. Help us to apply the teachings of Jesus found in this parable, That You are indeed he who heals our mind and body, who loves, us, just as we are, and the one who forgives our sins. Impart to our minds and our hearts the things that you would have us take from this study. We pray now that your comfort and healing touch be given to those of our acquaintance who are suffering and need your presence in their lives______________ Be with us now as we leave this place and bring us together again next week so that we may study more of the Words of Jesus, in whose name we pray, AMEN






                                                                                                                                         Pg.6

."Meditation: Jesus, in his customary fashion, never lost the opportunity to draw a lesson from an incident.  When a noted rabbi invited Jesus to dinner, a public sinner crashed the party and washed Jesus' feet with her tears (see Luke 7:36-39). Her action upset the host who complained to Jesus. Why did Jesus put the parable of the two debtors before his "learned host", a rabbi and teacher of the people?
This parable is similar to the parable of the unforgiving official (see Matthew 18:23-35) in which the man who was forgiven much showed himself merciless and unforgiving. This man was completely callous because he could neither believe in love,accept it or give it. Who is to be pitied most? Those who cannot receive love or those who cannot give love? Jesus makes clear that great love springs from a heart forgiven and cleansed.  "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), "for love is of God" (1 John 4:7).
The woman's lavish expression of love was proof that she had found favor with God.  The stark contrast of attitudes between Simon and the woman of ill-repute, demonstrate how we can either accept or reject God's mercy.  Simon, who regarded himself as an upright Pharisee, felt no need for love or mercy. His self-sufficiency kept him from acknowledging his need for God's grace.
Are you grateful for God's mercy and grace? Surely it is God who calls to us through our guilt and remorse for those times in our life that we disregard our Christian responsibility. And offer instead, selfishness and sin, Jesus will help us to understand that no matter the dept of sin we experience, He is there to lift us out of our sin, and offer us forgiveness, and restitution if we will just humble ourselves and ask Him to come into our lives for his resurrection forgiveness.
That same forgiveness that made the thief on the cross, a promise of a meeting with him in paradise.

The parable of the tree and it's fruit

  Parables,  The Tree and its Fruits
Scripture:
 Matthew 7:15-20
 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?  17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit.  18 A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Why study this parable? We are warned by Jesus to guard our faith with knowledge of the works of those who would lead us. Jesus even advises us in the way we are to recognize them. Our faith is susceptible to the wiles of Satan and he is always looking for ways to capture our souls. Jesus would have us be wise and cautious. He also describes what will happen to those who would betray us.
Mat 10:16  "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Mat 18:7  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Meditation: The imagery used by Jesus would have been very familiar to his audience.  A certain thorn bush had berries which resembled grapes.  And a certain thistle had a flower, which at least from a distance, resembled the fig.  Isn't it the same today?  What we "hear" might have a resemblance of the truth, but, in fact, when you inspect it closely, it's actually false.  False prophets or teachers abound today as much as they did in biblical times.  What's the test of a true or false teacher?  Jesus connects soundness with good fruit.  Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living — living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20).  The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the  Backbone out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood?  By being true — true to God, his word, and his grace.  And that takes character!  Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies what we need.   The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, patience, prudence, fortitude and temperance.

1.                   Devourable Christians Among the early Christians there were false prophets.   They have to have prey.
2.                   Another Bible, Another gospel Be aware of them. It shows in their actions. They may be attractive, but poison,
3.                   False teachings There is a thorn bush that has a bloom which resembles a grape. Examine it before you touch It.
4.                   False religions As well, a flower among thistles that resembles a fig. Do not be hasty to grasp it
5.                   False doctrines What do you know about bad trees? Some are attractive, but attract bats and wasps, some have thorns, some have very bad tasting fruit. And some produce fruit that is rotten as soon as it matures
6.                   If Jesus is all you’ve got, that is all you need, don’t trade him off. They live among us and we hear of them daily. Sound doctrines, and false doctrines. Jesus is the basis for all sound doctrine. He is a nice guy in all false doctrines.
7.                   God’s fierce anger and judgment on those who turn from him The Bible is full of sound doctrine, and warnings of God’s wrath Watch for the signs, Revelations is full of it.
Isaiah 43:19  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
,and  streams in the wasteland. Learn God’s way and if Jesus is on the path, take it.



                                                                                                                                        Pg. 2

 Matthew 7:15-20

15. "Beware of false prophets, Jesus is speaking to the multitudes as well as the disciples, describing false teachers.
 Where do we find them? Are they in our midst? Who might they be. Zealous for their faith. In the house of God    regularly without fail every Sabbath. Fasting. Tithing. Praying ostentatiously. Setting an example to the others.
Surely God would commend their zeal and commitment! But did He? NO! Jesus criticized them constantly, fought them tooth and nail. Strong on religion, but weak on relationship. Who were they? These were the scribes, and the Pharisees. There were the Sadducees, Elders and Chief Priests also, all were included in Jesus’ remarks
who come to you in sheep's clothing. Jesus is describing them, as those listed above, all sanctimonious and discerning practitioners of the law and the strict interpretation of it. They held themselves out as teachers and interpreters for the people, and they did not like Jesus. How do they present themselves? Do they wear clothes of the saints and prophets? Was that the way Jesus identified them?
but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Jesus knew that what they wanted was power over the people to continue their ravenous appetite for prestige and accommodation and high praise among the people. Does that seem possible in that day and time?
16 You will know them by their fruits. What did Jesus say are the fruits?
(Mat 23:15-16 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.'
(Mat 23:27-29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
 Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? Can we understand this? A short, plain, easy rule, to know true from false prophets: True prophets convert sinners to God, or at the least confirm and strengthen those that are converted. False prophets do not. There also are false prophets, who though speaking the very truth, yet are not sent by the Spirit of God, but come in their own name, to declare it: Their grand mark is, Not turning men from the power of Satan to God. Luke 6:43- 46
17.So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit.  It’s interesting that Jesus used the words “A tree is known by it’s fruit” in other words you look at a tree loaded with apples and it’s safe to assume that it’s an apple tree. You then see a tree loaded with oranges and you quickly come to the conclusion that it’s an orange tree. Gal 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are the attributes that are also missing from those in whom the Holy Spirit is missing.
18. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Gal 5:19-21  The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.



                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                              Pg. 3

19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
2Ti 3:2 - 5 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
What is Jesus telling us 2Pe 1:5 -8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.   For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

Questions:
1.Were there false prophets in Jesus’ day?
2. What about today, do we have them now?
3. When the words  “False Prophets” is spoken what comes to mind?
4. How do Christians avoid Doomsday prophets, snake charmers, cults and sects, and false healers that appeal to our baser nature?
5. But what of those who pose as true prophets with the dress and mannerisms  of Prophets or teachers, How do we know? There may not be a way to recognize them at once but how are we advised?
6. How is much to be learned of our teachers and prophets and pastors? Do we see the results of their work?
7. How are they described to us? As wolves in sheep’s clothing, even the most wary of us are sometimes fooled. As a fish rises to a fisherman’s bait. Do unwary Christians lose their way by misstep, trusting the false teacher?
8.How are we to know them ?  We will know them by the fruit of their work, Can they produce good works lest it have their brand on it?
9.How you will know them? Their works precede their arrival, Will they have the marks of Satan’s craft on them? Is there death and destruction in what they teach.
10. 2Pe_2:1  But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord
who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Do you think that someone could do that today?



Lord, may I bear good fruit for your sake.  Help me to reject whatever will produce evil fruit.  And help me grow in faith, hope, love, sound judgment, justice, courage, and self control." AMEN





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The Parable of The Faithful And The Unfaithful Servants

                       The Parable of  The Faithful and Unfaithful Servants                                     Pg1
Opening Prayer                                                                                                                    
Father God, It is true that we live in a broken world. We know that there is a day coming when each of us must give an account of our life’s work, and service. We pray that this study tonight will impart to us that which you would have us learn from the words of Jesus. That we must persevere and remain watchful and vigilant at all times. We pray that no word be spoken here tonight that is contrary to your will, and that each of us will leave this place with a better understanding of our place in your Kingdom. We pray this in Jesus name, AMEN

This Parable is really more of a warning about the end times, It is found right in the middle of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, a discourse on the end times, the last of Jesus’ five discourses. Jesus Starts this discourse in answer to a question from his disciples.
Matthew 24:3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
Then there is a lengthy discourse on the conditions leading up to, and during the end times. And this parable, about faithful and unfaithful servants comes right in the middle of his discourse on the end times.
There are six points to be taken from this parable. (1) Remain watchful; (2) Be prepared; (3) Pay faithful attention to your Christian duty; (4) Anticipate God’s reward for faithfulness; (5) Guard against the opposite of faithfulness; (6) The consequences for failure to  be faithful.
Don't take positions of service lightly. If you call Jesus Lord, treat Him that way. Don't be presumptuous about your salvation status.  If your behavior is inconsistent with that expected from one born of God, what example are you then setting for all those who are depending on you for your faithful service?
2Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test

Mat 24:42  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Mat 24:43  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Mat 24:44  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Mat 24:45  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?
Mat 24:46  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
Mat 24:47  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Mat 24:48  But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,'
Mat 24:49  and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
Mat 24:50  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.
Mat 24:51  He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.    



Remain watchful and  be prepared                                                                            Pg.2
Mat 24:42  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

This parable is given as a warning to those of this world who would have it their own way. That is just not how it is going to be. It is meant to alert all of humanity that there is a better more perfect way. Although there will be those in our world who pay no attention to Jesus’ words they will nevertheless be the watch words at the end times. Jesus is in complete control of God’s world. It is his time and his alone. No one will know, and it will not be a pleasant experience for some. Therefore keep watch. If we but knew the hour of his coming we could make preparations for his arrival. It is However Jesus’ time and place. The last minute preparation will not be possible. It will be surprising, sudden, and final.
Make us ever mindful of those persons who possessed great wealth, but discover one day that a thief had carried it all off. What does this say to us about the kingdom of heaven? The treasure God offers is of far greater value than that of any earthly treasure and more secure!  But it's possible to lose this treasure if we do not guard what has been entrusted to us by God. What is this treasure?

Q.1“Therefore keep watch” What does this phrase mean to a Disciple of Christ?
Q.2 “Have it your way” What does this phrase mean to us today?
Q.3 Can you name one prerequisite when applying for a job?
Q.4 How would one prepare the best resume for the coming of Christ?


The Faithful Servant

Mat 24:45  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

Here is a short description of one who has earned the respect and admiration of his master. One who does not seek self gratification and acclaim. By the conduct of a faithful and wise servant Jesus is alluding to a  faithful Christian, a servant of God, or a teacher of religion. In this case he was speaking directly to his disciple. We too are Christ’s disciples, put here for a purpose. Comparable to a trusted and faithful servant who is always ready to serve his master. One who has no thought to self glorification or who does not seeks the praise of others, one who is selfless and more than willing

Q.1 What qualities are needed to become a loyal and trusted member of  society?
Q.2 What qualities did the Pharisees have, that caused Jesus to criticize them so?
Q.3 What qualities are needed by Christians in order to properly serve God ?
Q.4 What is meant by the phrase “give them their food at the proper time”?


                    The faithful, Rewarded                                                                                           Pg.3
Mat 24:47  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

 What possessions are being referenced in this statement? Simply, the image of the favor of his master, drawn from the custom of appointing a competent or favorite servant to be head steward, as was Joseph in the house of Potiphar. Given more responsibility over more important matters, making trust a fulcrum that insures all will be well with that servant forever. In God’s economy however, the privilege is extended to all. Together his people will be set over all that He has. And as we have learned elsewhere, in that position of responsibility each will delight to serve and be the servant to all, making perfect the use of God' time in God's service. For God turns all our values upside down. That one has a promotion shall not be like earthly promotion, wherein the favor of one excludes that of another, but rather like the diffusion of love, in which, the more each has, the more there is for all. Like a mother hen serves her chicks, and looks to their overall good. Such is God's will for our lives in service to him.

Q.1 What condition is needed for one to receive such a promotion in our world today?
Q.2 Compare the answer to question # 1 to what it will take in the Heavenly realm.
Q.3 Can you draw a parallel from any of your life experiences?
Q.4 If one is promoted to CEO of a company what is expected of that one? And what does that
       one expect?

              The slothful Servant                                                                                                                                                            Mat 24:48  But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' Mat 24:49  and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.

Jesus is now in control of time, and events. Time is his to give and to take. So he leaves this world in the care of his servants. Yet he  knows that at some time, there will be those that fall away and become unresponsive to the serving of God’s nourishment to his followers at the proper time. Those servants become preoccupied with their own time, their own effort, and they selfishly covet their own results, as self serving and self gratifying. Their time is theirs, and self is the object of their service. Their responsibility is only to themselves.
 This is a vivid statement of the levels to which mankind will sink when and if they begin to pursue their own interests and seek to follow their own self gratifying expectations. They will become unresponsive to God’s Words and Gods Will for their lives. They assume full responsibility for their own demise, yet will they deny it to become a care that they acknowledge to be their downfall.

Q.1 How does the world prepare us for the responsibility we have in this world?
Q.2 What are the parameters for assuming this responsibility?
Q.3 How do these parameters change for Christian service?
Q.4 How does this person differ from the Dale Carnegie personality?
Q.5 And when comparing one to a committed Christian, How does he rate?
Q.6 How do these three personalities differ?





   The Surprised Servant                                                                                      Pg.4
Mat 24:50  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.

When the hour of responsibility is come upon them, those self seeking unfeeling disloyal servants will be caught completely off guard. Having cared not for the time nor the place of their reckoning to God, they will be off doing self-serving interests, and will be cut off in the midst of their action, and at a very inconvenient time.  All time is God’s time. All justice is God’s and all Salvation is God’s, as fulfilled by Jesus through the cross. Just as Jesus was rejected, scourged, and crucified, For those who reject his authority The day of reckoning is coming It will be sudden, sure, and complete.

Q.1 Do you remember what rebellion of authority feels like?
Q.2 What act of rebellion can you recall from biblical accounts?
Q.3 Can you recall misguided Justice in such a situation?


The Awesome Consequence                                                                                                                
Mat 24:51  He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A sad and pitiful vision to imagine, all those to whom the call has been put, and who have in their own self interest, refused to respond, or who have fallen away and discarded their inheritance. Weeping and gnashing of teeth, realizing the error of their ways but doing so only after having been caught and then realizing that their reward is eternal torment. Then they will eternally be in  anguish over what could have been.

Q.1 What do you feel causes people to rebel against authority?
Q.2 What reward do they seek who rebel against God?
Q.3 And can you recall from previous studies, an example of who that one might be?
Q.4 Is there any regret in realizing the consequence of one’s rebellious actions?

Closing Prayer
Father God, as we leave this place, go with us and guide us on our way. Let there never be a time when in your service we shirk our Christian duty. Let there never be a moment of regret because we failed to respond to your call. Be with our friends and acquaintances who are in need of your comfort and healing touch.____________ Lead us to care for those of your flock that need our help and comfort. May we always be ready willing and able to respond to our Christian duty. Dismiss us now with your blessing. We pray this in Jesus Name AMEN





                                                                                                                                              Pg.5
                 The Parable of  The Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
Meditation:  There is an element of surprise in the story of the master returning home unexpectedly after the marriage feast. Will he catch his servant sleeping rather than keeping watchful guard?  The Lord offers us a relationship with him as his sons and daughters and the promise of eternal life as well
This parable contains a lesson in faithfulness and a warning against sloth. Why is faithfulness so important to God?  For one, it's the foundation for any lasting and meaningful relationship.  Faithfulness or fidelity allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment. The Lord is committed to us in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity.
Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us.  Fortunately God gives us the grace and strength to be faithful.  He also rewards faithfulness. Why is fidelity or faithfulness so difficult today?  Modern society extols freedom over fidelity and doesn't want to be bound to an unknown or uncertain future.  It's also inconvenient and a burden to the pursuit of one's own interests.
We badly need to recover this virtue, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of the next generation as well.  If we want to pass on the faith then we need to first be faithful models for our youth. Faithfulness demands consistency, a determination to stay the course, and hard work..  The joy and privilege of being a son or daughter of God carries with it an awesome responsibility.  The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us.  The more he gives, the more he requires.  The temptation is often presented to us that while the Master is away we can easily put off until tomorrow what we know the Master expects us to do today!  We should learn the Godly attributes of faithful service, and concentrate on those things that we Know will cause God great joy by sharing his love with others as we have seen it in Jesus Christ.

The Kingdom Divided

Opening Prayer                                                                                                                       Pg.1
Father God, It is true that we live in a divided world. We know that there is a day coming when your kingdom will be brought together as one, and Satan will be bound and destroyed. We pray that this study tonight will impart to us that which you would have us learn from the words of Jesus. We pray that no word be spoken here tonight that is contrary to your will, and that each of us will leave this place with a better understanding of our place in your Kingdom. We pray this in Jesus name, AMEN
                                                                                                                 
                                The Parable of The Kingdom Divided

Mat 12:22  Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
Mat 12:23  All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

Jesus had already had a reputation as one who could heal both mind and body, and here is another instance where the crown responded and brought to him a deaf and blind man for him to heal. This  was a perfect chance for the Pharisees to learn more about Jesus, as they were seeking ways to destroy him. They were looking for ways to discredit him and cast aspersions on his work. The Pharisees react with derision and malice. Accusing Jesus of being in league with Beelzebub. How unfair people are! How constantly they judge themselves and their friends by  one rule, those from whom they differ by another! The Christian must aim at absolute honesty and impartiality.?

Q.1 What effect did the healing of this man have on those who witnessed it?
Q.2 This was Obviously a good thing that Jesus did but what did the Pharisees think?
Q.3 Why did the Pharisees criticize this merciful miracle by Jesus?
Q.4 Would they have been as critical of the matter had it been one of their own?
Q.5 What sort of circumstance would cause such a scene in our world today?

Mat 12:25  Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Mat 12:26  If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
This answer by Jesus is very confrontational, and puts the Pharisees on the defensive, It is not the response that they were expecting.
Jesus is the Son of God and is God incarnate. Many people did not believe this and consequently did not regard him as anything more than an intruder into their faith and beliefs, a charlatan, someone who must be severely dealt with. He then challenged them with their own reasoning. God does that sometimes, challenges us on the basis of our reasoning. If we are so great, then why are we not able to deal rightly with our own forgiveness.

Q.1 What was said by the Pharisees to which Jesus took offense?
Q.2 What was the result that the Pharisees were expecting?
Q.3 What common phrase comes to mind when reading Jesus’ answer?  
                                                                                                                                                                        Pg.2

Mat 12:27  And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
Mat 12:28  But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Here Jesus poses a reasonable theory, If he is in league with Satan by his act of healing then by what authority do the Pharisees disciples do the same. Surely Satan would assist them in the same way, and they too would be condemned, and would be judged just as Jesus is being judged. They then would also be Judges against the Pharisees.  Since Satan is doing the healing, through Jesus would he not also do the same for them. However since there is no good thing that Satan does, it would be fair to say that any healing of a person is by Gods Spirit, and not by Satan’s. So to sum it up, Jesus tells them that the Spirit of God has come upon them, and will be their Judge. God has Released this man from Satan’s power. And they have been witness to the work of the Spirit of God.

Q.1 By what authority is healing done in our world today?
Q.2 If one has an appendectomy is there a healing process? And how is that done?
Q.3 What is the Christians approach to health and wellness, and sickness?
Q.4 Why do some Christians believe they should refuse healing and medication as medical science offers it today?

Mat 12:29  "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house

In this allegory Jesus puts to the Pharisees the description of a person who must first hold a stronger position than the owner of a house. Who then must defeat and bind the owner of the house, and after having done that he can then carry off all the possessions that he desires, and since the owner is bound, he can do nothing about it.
The Pharisees have met their match, Jesus is the Son of God and they refuse to accept that, which can only work against them. Jesus disarms them with reasonable logic, how can anyone defeat Satan that does not have a stronger position than Satan does. Jesus has come to bind Satan, and upon doing that, Jesus will then take from him those souls which Satan thinks he owns

Q.1 Jesus condemnation of the Pharisees is given in this verse. It sums up the whole parable,               How would you describe what has happened?
Q.2 Of what value for us today are the implications in this parable?






                                                                                                                                Pg3
Mat 12:30  "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters
 Jesus was showing them what their words really implied. Their words were not due to indifference to Him, nor were they just an observational opinion. Such a relationship to Jesus is impossible. He who does not help the true shepherd to gather his flock into the fold is, most likely, one who wishes to scatter them, that he may have the opportunity of stealing and destroying them. “The Kingdom divided” . Their words meant that they were directly opposed and were rejecting Him altogether. The total opposition of inner life and of outward energy. Thus their words denoted complete separation from him. This he brings out clearly in this last verse.
Q.1 What are the forces in our world today that seek to hold the world together.                                  Q.2 Should we consider that we too are part of that force which Gathers with Jesus?

Closing Prayer
Dear God, as we end this study tonight, help us to be responsive to Jesus’ words that we be with him in all that we do and say.  Be with us now as we leave this place and bring us peace                                    within our thoughts as we remember those of our loved ones, friends and acquaintances who are in need of your healing strength and comfort___________We pray your healing power and strength and comfort be with all those mentioned here tonight that you will make their lives secure in the knowledge that You are with them in their time of need. Give us your mercy as we travel to our homes and keep us until next we meet. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Meditation:  The Lord assures us of his protection from spiritual harm. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:9-11). Jesus' numerous exorcisms brought freedom to many who were troubled and oppressed by the work of evil spirits. Jesus himself encountered personal opposition and battled with Satan when he was put to the test in the wilderness just before his public ministry. He overcame the evil one through his obedience to the will of his Father. Some of the Jewish leaders reacted vehemently to Jesus' healings and exorcisms and they opposed him with malicious slander. Jesus retorted by saying that they also incriminate their own kin who cast out demons. If they condemn Jesus they also condemn themselves. It is not enough to banish evil thoughts and habits. We must also fill the void with God who is the source of all that is good and upright. Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or against it. There are two kingdoms in opposition to one another – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness under the rule of Satan. If we disobey God's word, we open the door to the power of sin and Satan. If we want to live in freedom from sin and Satan, then our house must be occupied by Jesus where he is enthroned as Lord

The Unjust Steward

Opening Prayer                                                                                                                           Pg.1
Heavenly Father, we pray your blessing on our bible study this night.  Our world is broken and  on a path to self destruction, And  just as Jesus was rejected, so to are morality, righteousness and Christian principle being challenged each day by the worlds self seeking, unprincipled ways. We know that there is much good that still prevails in this world and we pray that it will triumph over evil, as you have promised. We pray that You will be with those of our study who cannot be with us tonight and ask that you share our blessing with them. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

                               The Parable of The Unjust Steward

Luke 16:1-13  Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
2  So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'
3  "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg--
4  I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'
5  "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6  "'Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.'
7  "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
8  "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
9  I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10  "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
13  "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Earthly riches are disposable and at best will buy us more of the worlds goods. Bigger, better, newer, possessions, stuff and things. In the view of eternity that Jesus offers us, all of the earthly riches we have, might make an atoms worth of  importance as far as our souls are concerned. God places no significance on  our stuff. But he measures what we do with it on the scale of eternity. Be resourceful and careful with what you have and how it is put to use. True riches are the gifts that come from God.  They are those things to which the Christian must aspire. True riches are eternal, The world has none of them, and money does not buy them. Only through Jesus Christ can one know what they really are.


                                                                                                                                                    Pg2
_______ The Dishonest Steward _______________caught in the act__________
Luke 16:1  Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2  So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'
    Here Jesus is teaching about personal wealth as it relates to morality. That is because it is such a driving force in life. Everyone you know has or will strive to get a well paying job or develop a business or a plan for making more money. Our lives are driven by the need for wealth. Even in old age we are encouraged to plan for our retirement, by having good investments and for taking care of our health.
Then there is the concept of morality in our social duties and actions which a man owes to his fellow men, or to society in general, But there is also baseness, vileness, or depravity contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between men when interacting in the business world. And unfortunately such moral turpitude is the order of the day in the minds and morals of some in our world. And Jesus is using such conduct as a teaching tool in this parable.
The Resourcefulness of dishonest people, They seem to be an example to encourage resourcefulness in the Christians pursuit of his goal as well.

Q.1 Why is it a concern that one earn more money and improve one’s position?
Q.2 How does one’s personal wealth  become a concern of one’s personal morality?
Q.3 How would you describe truth, responsibility and moral conduct in today's world?

__________Making plans for  getting ahead despite setbacks________________

Luke 16:3  "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg. 4  I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'
In life, as one takes on more responsibility, a family, a new home, a responsible position in society, there is also a fall back plan or a resource that can be utilized to sustain us should one have a reversal of fortune. This man has no such plan but he now realizes that he needs one so he begins to plan for his upcoming job loss.

Q.1 When does one first realize that a plan is needed for unforeseen setbacks in life?
Q.2 What instincts are put into action when such things occur?
Q.3 Can anyone here describe the experience of a sudden loss of earning power?
Q.4 How would you describe this unjust steward to your lawyer?
Q.5 What is there about this man that is comparable to some in our society today?









                                                                                                                                                   Pg.3
 _________________Putting the plan into action_______________________

Luke 16:5  "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6  "'Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.' 7  "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
Here we have the dishonest scheme that the manager has concocted so that he might have some manner of acquiring favors from his masters debtors, which will afford him a way to get by during this setback. Still he is not thinking long term and this scheme too will ultimately fail. But the one thing he has done, he has used the worlds ways to do it. His scheme will help him in the pursuit of his continued dishonest ways.

Q.1 Whatever it takes to get through it, isn’t that what we do when such setbacks occur?
Q.2 Isn’t it such in life that our instinct for survival is much keener when threatened?
Q.3 Why has Jesus not brought into question any matters of faith and belief?
                                                                                                                                                 
It is important to know to whom Jesus is addressing this parable. The parable is for the benefit of the disciples, but there is also a not-so-subtle critique of the Pharisees. And that which was the Pharisees’ motivation? They were those who were “lovers of money” and who “justify themselves before men” and who exalted that which was an “abomination before God.” The love of money, at the expense of their souls. And the souls of others as well.  Jesus teaches two things in this parable. (1) the need for ingenuity in the process of our goal, and (2) the morality that must not fail us

________________Making the best of what we have___________________

Luke 16:8  "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9  I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Jesus is not condoning this behavior since it is a dishonest act, but He is placing emphasis on a larger principle. Jesus is teaching that his followers, and the Chosen of God should just as intensely make application of it in their faith life, using whatever it takes of the wealth of our worldly possessions to assure our salvation. In more explicit words, Put our money where our faith is. God does not condone worldly shrewdness, nor unjust conduct, but this parable teaches us to use honest ingenuity thought and effort in a maximum effort to assure our place of service in God’s vineyard.

Q.1 What events in one’s daily lives might incline one make such desperate decisions.
Q.2 How do you feel about using your worldly goods and wealth to do as Jesus teaches?
Q.3 Of what benefit to the debtors, is this man’s actions?
Q.4 On that basis, should one’s taking care of self, also help others?



                                                                                                                                                         Pg.4
___________________Who do we trust__________________________

Luke 16:10  "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
If one is unfaithful and unjust in lesser things of this world, it is likely that one should do so with the greater gifts of God's providence,  thus God will not honor that person. He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much. He that serves God, and does justly, with his material goods, will serve God, and do justly, with the spiritual gifts of talent, wisdom,  grace, and spirituality, and will be allowed even more. But God will withhold his grace from the sefl serving, covetous, deceitful people of this world who do not look to him for their eternal reward, and his door will be closed to them at the final hour.

Q.1 When transacting business in our world today what is your most imminent fear?
Q.2 What precautions for your protection do you take in your business and daily life?
Q.3 Are the times we live in becoming more uncertain in matters pertaining to our   wealth and well-being?


____________________Who loves you______________________________

Luk 16:13  "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
If a one loves  the world, and depends on it for sustenance and life,  one will make all pretensions of religion bend to their secular interests and designs, and the things of God shall be made to help them in serving and seeking the worlds way, and it’s rewards. That way of living might well be prosperous and pleasing, but will soon turn one’s head  and cause them to become enemies with God and His goodness.
But, on the other hand, if one will love God, and adhere to His teaching and leading , one will begin to understand the world’s way as the way of condemnation,  and will despise it. Then one will make all business and success in the world come into alignment with God’s will and way, to the glory of God.  Then the things of the world shall be made to help him in serving God and working out his salvation. And The door to God’s Heaven will be opened to that one.

Q.1 What are some of the worlds ways to which one may become easily addicted?
Q.2 What subtler ways does the world use to make its claim on someone ?
Q.3 How are the times we live in becoming more uncertain in matters pertaining to our life choices?



                                                                                                                                                          Pg.5
Meditation:
Jesus teaching with this example of a very clever steward who used his worldly shrewdness and ingenuity to his own benefit  is a good illustration for a spiritual lesson about the kingdom of God!  What's the point of Jesus's parable?  The dishonest steward is commended not for mishandling his master's wealth, but for his shrewd provision in averting personal disaster and in securing his future livelihood. The original meaning of "shrewdness" is "foresight".  A shrewd person grasps a critical situation with resolution, foresight, and the determination to avoid serious loss or disaster.  Jesus is concerned here with something more critical than a financial crisis.  His concern is that we avert spiritual crisis and personal disaster through the exercise of faith and foresight.
If Christians would only expend as much foresight and energy to spiritual matters which have eternal consequences as much as they do to earthly matters which have temporal consequences, then they would be truly better off, both in this life and in the age to come.
True wealth consists not in what we keep but in what we give away. And what we give away in just moral and right cause, God will multiply in return to us, and will use that which we give, to grow our character and spirituality so that we might serve Him more  faithfully and realize His presence in our lives more intensely.
Possessions are a great responsibility. The Lord expects us to use them honestly and responsibly and to put them at his service and the service of others. We are God's servants and all that we have belongs to him. He expects us to make a good return on what he gives us. God loves generosity and he gives liberally to those who share his gifts with others. The Pharisees, however, had no room for God or others in their hearts. The gospel says they were lovers of money (Luke 16:14). Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our hearts must either be possessed by God's love or our hearts will be possessed by the love of something else. What does your heart most treasure?

Closing prayer
Lord, all that we have is a gift from you.  May we learn to love you freely and generously with all our resources.  Help us to be wise and faithful stewards of our resources, including the use of our time, money, and possessions. Make us continually aware of the need we have to be resourceful with our Christian faith and gifts." We pray now for those of our concern who need your comfort and healing____________ Be with those mentioned here and those who rest in our hearts desire for their strength, comfort and healing. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

The Laborers In The Vineyard

    The parable of the laborers in the vineyard                       Pg.1

To properly understand this lengthy parable We should first read Peter’s question to Jesus after Jesus had spoken about the difficulty of someone who is rich entering Heaven

_Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
___________________________The Parable___________________________________
Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5  Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

                      Q. What is it that Vineyard workers do?



                                                                                                                                         Pg.2

Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Q.1 Who is the landowner here?
Q.2 What is representative of early in the morning in this parable?
Q.3 Workers for the vineyard, who are they?
Q.4 What are the details about a  payment agreement?
Q.5 What is significant about what one strives for in this life?
Q.6 In this parable what does the denarius represent?
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

3  "About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4  He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5  So they went. "He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6  About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'
Q.1 What does His call mean to those who, are called later in life?
Q.2 What is meant by “Whatever is right”?
Q.3 What is the reason for the additional calls?
Q.4 In those days what reward is there for those who do not go to work in the vineyard?
Q.5 Why does He continue to search for workers? What is the significance of verse 6?
Heb 6:12  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Colossians 4:1  Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
John 4:41  And because of his words many more became believers.

Mat 20:7  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Q.1 Have you ever been left out of some event, or function, or out of work?
Q.2 Is this verse referring to those who never heard the call
Exodus 33:19  And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
                                                                                                                             

       Q What result is the owner of the vineyard expecting?
                     




                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                   Pg.3
Mat 20:8  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Q.1 What is meant by the phrase “when evening came”?
Q.2 Why pay the last hired before the first hired?
Q.3 What happens when the work force starts grumbling about their pay?

Mat 20:11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
       12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Q.1 Is there a principle of fairness being abused in this situation?
Q.2 What more than salvation is to be expected for ones work in the vineyard?

Mat 20:14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
       16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Q.1 Isn’t this a foregone conclusion, all of the workers will be paid the same wage (salvation)?
Q.2 Do not some come to it earlier, as well as some who come to it later in life?

                          Q What message does Jesus teach in this parable?

The first group of workers in the vineyard resented receiving the same wage as the last group. Their attitude was similar to that of the Pharisees, who were incensed at Jesus’ teaching that others could inherit a heavenly kingdom they thought was reserved for them alone. They despised Jesus for offering the kingdom to poor, oppressed, weak sinners whom He made equal to them. In verse 15, the landowner asks, “Is your eye evil because I am good?” The “evil eye” was a Hebrew expression referring to jealousy and envy. God’s goodness and mercy produced in the self-righteous Pharisees the evil eye of envy. The rest of the workers received their wages without complaint or envy of others. In the same way, as Christians, we should rejoice when others come to the Savior, as we should rejoice in the service others render to Him. He is faithful to reward us for our service as He has promised, and how He rewards others should be of no consequence to us, nor should it affect our devotion to Him.

The message in verse 16, “the last will be first, and the first last,” is that no matter how long or how hard a believer works during his lifetime, the reward of eternal life will be the same given to all—an eternity of bliss in heaven in the presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), whose life of service was limited to a moment of repentance and confession of faith in Christ, received the same reward of eternal life as the apostle Paul. Of course, Scripture also teaches that there are different rewards in heaven for different services, but the ultimate reward of eternal life will be achieved by all equally.



                                                                                                                                 Pg.4

Meditation
Many are not moved to answer the call (Jesus Christ), at first. There are many even today that choose not to answer. Heaven is open to all who will work to enter therein, God’s plan includes open access to his Heaven to all who enter through the narrow door  (Jesus Christ), and the call to work in his vineyard is answered on an individual basis. The Jews were the first to be called and then all others. There are some who heed the call at later times.  It is never too late to Accept the call.
 Not everyone is called at the same time, some have never heard the call.  Jesus Christ makes it so everyone is welcome. in God’s Kingdom. There must be the desire to enter there. At the last hour(death) if one has not accepted the offer of salvation, one will find the door to Heaven shut, and God will say I do not Know who you are. To avoid hearing these dreadful words from the mouth of God it will be well for all who seek to spend eternity in Heaven, to seek to find work in His Vineyard, and center ones life’s work there rather than any prospect of rewards at any other time or place. Now is the time.
 It is significant that we understand that Christ came to open Heaven to all. Jesus came and brought the Gospel to the Jews, and many of the Jews believed him. That is represented by the first call, made by the landowner who opened his vineyard to them and made an agreement with them so that they could earn the denarius, (salvation), eternal life, the result of accepting the call to work in the vineyard. God’s promise is being fulfilled
God is debtor to no man; a great truth, which the contents in our Bible give as the scope of this parable. That many who begin last, and promise little in following Jesus in the way of their lives, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at greater attainments in knowledge, grace, and usefulness, than others who have responded to the call for workers at an earlier time, and who had greater promise of good works.  Much is meant by the later calls, there are still others, The Jews first, then the Gentiles,
 Others are called by God’s grace in middle age, and go work in the vineyard, at the third, sixth, or ninth hour. The power of divine grace is magnified in the conversion of some, when they are in the midst of their pleasures and worldly pursuits, Those such as Paul. God has work for all ages. There is no wrong time to turn to God; none can say, “It is all in good time”, for, whatever hour of the day it is with us, apart from the vineyard, that we have served sin; Go ye also into the vineyard. God turns away none that are willing to be hired, for yet there is room.
Others are hired into the vineyard in old age, at the eleventh hour, when the day of life is far spent, and there is but one hour of the twelve remaining. None are hired at the twelfth hour; when life is done, opportunity is done, the door is shut, God does not open his door for the unrepentant but “while there is life, there is hope.” There is hope for old sinners; for if, in sincerity, they turn to God, they shall doubtless be accepted; true repentance is never too late.
  There is hope for all sinners, that they may be brought to true repentance; nothing is too hard for Almighty Grace to do. It must remain though, that entrance into his Vineyard is not mandatory, It is God’s will that you have a choice to make. Make it sooner rather than later, and put all other questions about your salvation to rest.




Opening Ptayer
Father God Bless this group tonight as we gather to study your word in the Parable of the Laborers in the vineyard, help us to grasp the understanding from this parable that it is not contingent upon how much or how little time we spend in your service, But that it is by Your gracious mercy that our salvation is assured. . Just as your words of assurance, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ Spoken to Moses, let us hear them as well. And now God please be with those of our group who are not here tonight, and share our blessing with them. In Jesus Name Amen





Closing Prayer
Father God bless us now as we leave this study, and help us to be willing workers in your vineyard, for we know that Heaven awaits the faithful believer. We pray for your strength comfort to be delivered to those who need your healing touch_____________-Offer those mentioned here tonight your comfort and healing and bless each one of us as we go on our way
And bring us back to your study next week as we study more of Jesus Teaching through the Parable of the Dishonest Steward. We offer this prayer in the name of Jes