Ready for the Master

Sermon 56 in Series

Luke 12:35-48

[35] “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, [36] and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. [37] Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. [38] If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! [39] But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. [40] You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

[41] Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” [42] And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? [43] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [44] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. [45] But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, [46] the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. [47] And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. [48] But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How have the last several weeks in Luke challenged you? To connect to this week, how has our time spent on worry and riches helped you be ready for the Lord’s return?
2.  What does Jesus’ parable about the waiting servants teach us about the Christian life? In what ways can Satan tempt us away from being watchful?
3.  What is the blessing received by the servants who are diligently waiting? What does this show us about Jesus?
4.  What is Jesus’ point about the thief? Where do we see this theme picked up in other parts of the New Testament regarding Christ’s return?
5.  How does Jesus characterize the faithful steward? How does this apply to Christian leaders and all Christians in general?
6.  What effect is the end of this passage meant to have on the reader? How does it highlight God’s justice?

References: Luke 11:39; 9:51; Exodus 12:11; Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:29-30; John 13:3-5; Matthew 20:26-28; 24:42; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6; 2 Peter 3:10-12; 1 Peter 5:8-9; John 21:15-17; Matthew 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 24:51; Luke 6:46, 49; Romans 1:20-21.