Lectionary Readings — Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost — September 21, 2025
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Psalm 79:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13
Call to Worship (based on Luke 16:1-13)
Leader: We gather as those entrusted with the gifts of God—
People: Called to be faithful stewards of all we have received.
Leader: In a world that chases after wealth and status,
People: We choose to serve the God of justice and love.
Leader: Jesus calls us to wisdom that sees beyond the moment,
People: To live with eternity's values in our hearts.
Leader: We cannot serve both God and wealth—
People: So we choose this day whom we will follow.
Leader: Faithful in small things, faithful in great things,
People: We offer our lives as living sacrifices of praise.
Leader: Come, let us worship the One who entrusts us with true riches,
People: The God who calls us from shrewdness to faithfulness, from greed to grace.
All: Let us worship God with integrity, serving Christ alone as we gather in his name. Amen.
Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 79:1-9)
Let us pray:
Gracious and Holy God,
We come before you this day carrying the weight of a broken world, echoing the ancient cry of your people who watched their sacred places violated and their lives torn apart. Like the psalmist, we have witnessed destruction that seems to mock your goodness—communities shattered by violence, families torn by loss, and hearts left wondering where you are in the midst of our pain.
O Lord, we confess that we live in a world where the innocent suffer, where your name is often scorned, and where those who should find refuge instead find only rubble and ruin. We see the devastation around us and within us, and we join our voices with those who have cried out across the centuries: "How long, O Lord?"
Yet even in our lament, we dare to approach your throne of grace. We remember that you are the God who hears the groaning of prisoners, who sees every tear that falls, and who knows the depth of our anguish. We ask not because we deserve your mercy, but because your character is mercy itself.
Forgive us, O God, for the ways we have contributed to the brokenness of this world. Help us to see beyond our own pain to the suffering of others. Give us wisdom to discern your presence even in dark places, and grant us the courage to be instruments of your healing and hope.
May your name be glorified not in our perfection, but in your power to redeem and restore what seems beyond repair.
In the name of Christ, who knows our suffering and shares our tears, we pray.
Amen.
Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].
[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]
Sermon Outline: "THE SHREWD MANAGER’S LESSON"
Based on Luke 16:1-13
Introduction
The parable of the shrewd manager is one of Jesus' most challenging and misunderstood parables
Jesus isn't endorsing dishonesty, but drawing lessons about wisdom, priorities, and ultimate allegiance
Three key lessons emerge from this uncomfortable story
I. SHREWDNESS - Learning Worldly Wisdom for Kingdom Purposes (vv. 1-8)
A. The Manager's Crisis
Accused of squandering his master's property
Facing unemployment and uncertain future
Recognizes the urgency of his situation
B. The Manager's Creative Response
Acts quickly and decisively
Uses his remaining authority to secure relationships
Thinks strategically about his future needs
C. The Master's Unexpected Commendation
Praised for his shrewdness, not his ethics
Recognized his practical wisdom and foresight
Acknowledged his ability to act decisively under pressure
D. Application for Believers
Christians should match worldly shrewdness with kingdom purposes
We need urgency about spiritual matters, not just temporal ones
Wisdom involves planning ahead and thinking strategically about eternity
II. STEWARDSHIP - Faithfulness in Small and Great Things (vv. 9-12)
A. The Principle of Proportional Faithfulness
"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much"
Character is revealed in how we handle small responsibilities
God tests us with lesser things before entrusting greater things
B. The Test of Worldly Wealth
"Dishonest wealth" (mammon) as a testing ground
How we handle money reveals our spiritual maturity
Faithful stewardship of material things qualifies us for spiritual riches
C. The Progression of Trust
From small to great
From worldly to spiritual
From what belongs to another to what is truly our own
D. Application for Believers
Every resource is a test of faithfulness
Our handling of money is a spiritual barometer
God is preparing us for greater spiritual responsibilities
III. SERVICE - Choosing Our Ultimate Master (v. 13)
A. The Impossibility of Dual Allegiance
"No one can serve two masters"
The verb "serve" (δουλεύω) implies total commitment
Divided loyalty is actually no loyalty at all
B. The Emotional Reality of Competing Loyalties
Will "hate" one and "love" the other
Will be "devoted" to one and "despise" the other
The heart cannot be genuinely divided
C. The Specific Choice: God or Mammon
Mammon represents not just money, but trust in material security
The choice is between ultimate trust in God vs. ultimate trust in wealth
This is a decision every person must make
D. Application for Believers
Regular examination of our true loyalties
Practical steps to ensure God remains our master
Understanding that financial decisions are spiritual decisions
Conclusion
The Paradox of Kingdom Living
Use worldly resources for eternal purposes
Be shrewd as serpents, innocent as doves
Hold material things lightly while pursuing spiritual riches
The Call to Decision
The parable demands a choice about ultimate allegiance
We cannot remain neutral about money and possessions
Our stewardship reveals our true master
The Promise of Greater Things
Faithful handling of earthly resources leads to heavenly rewards
God is looking for managers he can trust with true riches
The question is not whether we have resources, but whether they have us
Closing Challenge: What areas of your life reveal divided loyalty? How is God calling you to greater faithfulness in stewardship so that you might be entrusted with the true riches of his kingdom?
Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers
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