Opening Questions and Prayer
What was something you bought thinking you had to have it, but then you rarely used it?
What are some ways people get caught up with material possessions?
How do you view material possessions?
How does God want us to view our possessions?
Pray that the Lord would guide your time together and help you to act upon what He calls you to do.
Read 2 Kings 6:1-2
2 Kings 6:1-2 (All scripture is NLT unless otherwise noted)
1 One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. 2 Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.”
“All right,” he told them, “go ahead.”
What problem did the prophets have and how did they plan to solve it?
When you encounter a problem, how do you go about solving it?
Do you turn to the Lord, people, or things first?
What happens when we go to the Lord first with our issues?
Read 2 Kings 6:3-5
2 Kings 6:3-5
3 “Please come with us,” someone suggested.
“I will,” he said. 4 So he went with them.
When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. 5 But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”
Why do they want Elisha to come along?
Who are the people that follow after God that you invite to be part of your life?
Why is the man upset about the ax head?
What does the Lord expect us to do with the possessions He has put us in charge of?
Are you being faithful with what God has given you?
Read Luke 12:42-48
Luke 12:42-48
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
According to Jesus, what are the qualities of a faithful and sensible servant?
What does that look like in our culture?
What are some difficulties about giving God control over our possessions and people that bring us comfort and stability?
What are some ways you’ve become comfortable with your relationship with Jesus?
What is He calling you to do that you are having trouble with?
How can you trust Him with that thing this week?
Who will help you do what the Lord is calling you to do?
Read 2 Kings 6:6-7
2 Kings 6:6-7
6 “Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. 7 “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.
Why did Elisha care about the ax head?
How did the Lord take that which was lost and drowning and bring it to the surface?
What area of your life do you feel like you are lost and drowning?
How is the Lord bringing that to the surface and rescuing you?
Who in your life is the Lord leading you to talk to because they are lost and drowning?
When will you talk to them this week?
Memorize it!
Luke 12:42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
Closing thoughts and prayer
The Lord has put people and things in our life to help us in our journey of becoming more like Christ. Some people have helped us, and we are called in turn to help others. The material resources God has given us are to help in that mission of making disciples of all nations. Use your resources to reach people with the Gospel. Have people in your life that are helping you in that mission and can give you proper perspective when you start to get off track. What is the Lord saying to you today?
Spend time praying that you would use what the Lord has given you to reach others for His Kingdom. Ask for forgiveness for the times you’ve been greedy and just used things to build your own kingdom. Pray that the Lord would allow you to have a conversation with someone this week who is lost and drowning. End your time praying for our nation’s leaders as well as our church leaders.
Further Study
Luke 12:42-48
What is Jesus saying about how we should manage what God has given us?
If the Master returned now, what would He say about how you’ve managed what He gave you?
What does God want you to do with what He has given you?
What keeps you from carrying out His will in that area?
Who has God put in your life to manage and feed in a spiritual way?
How are you doing with that?
What is one step you can take this week to do what God wants you to do?