So we're going to read from Luke chapter 12 from verse 35.
Luke chapter 12 verse 35.
It's page 1045 in the Church Bible.
Be dressed, ready for service, and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their
master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately
open the door for him.
It'll be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table,
and will come and wait on them.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second
or third watch of the night.
But understand this, if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect
him.
Peter asked, Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?
The Lord answered, who then is the faithful and wise manager whom the master puts in charge
of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
It'll be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
But suppose the servant says to himself, my master is taking a long time in coming, and
he then begins to beat the men servants and maid servants and to eat and drink and get drunk.
Well, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and an hour
he is not aware of.
He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his
master wants will be beaten with many blows.
But to one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.
And from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Thank you, Ralph.
Well, this morning we're starting, if you look in your summer term program, a short series
on four simple parables from Luke's Gospel.
And all of them have a particular theme on the subject of the return of Jesus.
So, Jesus coming again.
So, how should that shape and change us in our lives today?
And the first one that we're looking at this morning is the return of the King.
So, let's ask God's help as we pray together.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your word.
We thank you for these parables in Luke's Gospel.
Stories that Jesus told to explain to us something of his return.
We pray that as we read and as we listen this morning, that these stories would shape and change us.
And show us how we are to live in the light of your return.
We pray, Father, that we would be filled with hope.
And that our lives will be put in order.
So that we are living as faithful servants waiting for you.
Father, please help us, then we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, I'm not going to start just yet, actually.
I've got some sheets here.
Thank you.
So, you'll see in the summer term program, anyway, we'll be looking at four parables in Luke,
in June and then come July and August
we will have different speakers from some of our partnering churches
so you can be praying for them as well as they prepare and get ready for that.
Then on Wednesdays we'll be following up on our talks
for the month of June so the parable we look at this morning
we'll be looking at that next Wednesday evening in our home groups.
Thanks very much Maria for your help there.
So let's look at Luke chapter 12, 35 to 48.
The first heading we have there is what time, any time?
Well whenever my parents had to go out for an evening
or if they were going away for a few days
my only question was this
what time will you be back?
Because as a teenager I quickly learned the benefits
of knowing the exact time the parents would get home
it's valuable information.
But my parents were also quick learners
they soon learned that the best answer
to give their scheming teenage son was this
expect us any time.
In other words you know we will be back
so make sure when we do get back
the house is in order.
In a sense that's exactly what Jesus is saying to us here
in verse 40.
Look at verse 40 with me.
You also must be ready
because the son of man, that's Jesus
will come at an hour
when you do not expect him.
The promise of Jesus' return
is not to try and catch us out
but to make sure we are ready.
It's a gracious advance notice
for us to get things in order.
He is saying to us
you know I will return
so make sure when I do return
you are ready.
Look how Jesus describes
his return
in verse 40 again.
Let's read verse 40.
You must be ready
because the son of man
will come.
The son of man
is a title.
It was Jesus' favourite way
of referring to himself.
And the son of man
it doesn't just describe
a person
but it actually describes
a great event
that is going to take place
which the son of man
is at the very centre of.
So to get a bit of background
to this we need to go back
to Daniel chapter 7
verse 13 and 14.
So keep your finger in Luke
and have a flick back
to Daniel chapter 7
verse 13 and 14.
The song that we didn't know earlier
is actually based on these verses
that's why we sang it.
So Daniel chapter 7
verse 13 and 14.
Here Daniel has a vision
of what will take place
at the very end
and the person
at the very centre
of that vision
is the son of man
and it tells us
what it will be like.
So Daniel chapter 7
verse 13.
He says,
In my vision at night
I looked
and there before me
was one like
a son of man
coming with the clouds
of heaven.
He approached
the ancient of days
that is God
and was led
into his presence.
He was given
authority,
glory
and sovereign power.
All peoples,
nations
and men and women
of every language
worshipped him.
His dominion
is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away
and his kingdom
is one that will
never
be destroyed.
You see in those
few verses
it describes
the coming
of God's king
with absolute power
and supreme authority.
So back in Luke
when Jesus says
I am the son of man
Jesus is saying
I am
that king.
I will return
and when I return
I will restore order,
establish peace
and execute
justice.
I am this
glorious king
who is to come.
I'm sure we've been
all aware
of the investigations
into FIFA
over these last
couple of weeks.
No one it seems
is off limits.
All the facts
are being made known.
Every bribe,
every corrupt payment
is being exposed.
Well when the son of man
comes in all his glory
no one
and nothing
will be off limits.
He will expose
every wrong.
He will correct
every injustice
and he will establish
his eternal kingdom.
Now Jesus is saying
we must be ready
for the return
of the king
because when this king
comes
it will come
as a surprise.
Look how Jesus
describes it
in verse 35
of Luke 12.
he says it will be
a surprise.
He says be dressed
ready for service.
Keep your lamps
burning.
Like men
waiting for their
master to return
from a wedding banquet
so that when he
comes and knocks
they can immediately
open the door
for him.
Jesus can come
at any time.
like the master
who went to the wedding
he could return
surprisingly early
or he could return
surprisingly late.
We might not know
when
would it be
tomorrow
next week
will it be
in five years
we do not know
when
but we do know
he will.
and the good
news is
if we are
ready for
the king's
return
there is a
wonderful banquet
that awaits us
verse 37
it will be
good for
those servants
whose master
finds them
watching when
he comes.
I tell you
the truth
he will
dress himself
to serve
and will
have them
recline
at the table
and will
come
and wait
on them.
What a wonderful
picture
that is.
Those who are
ready
for the return
of king
Jesus
will be
welcomed
into his
eternal kingdom.
They will be
seated
at the
master's
table
and served
by the
master
himself
dining
with the
king
of kings
at his
eternal
banquet
verse 38
it will be
good
for those
servants
whose
master
finds them
ready
even if
he comes
in the
second
or third
watch
of the
night.
Great
blessing
awaits
those who
are ready
for the
return
of the
king.
So here
is the
big question
are we
ready?
Are we
ready for
the return?
verse 39
but understand
this
if the
owner of
the house
had known
at what
hour the
thief was
coming
he would
not have
let his
house be
broken into.
When we
lived in
Dublin
don't worry
Kim I hope
it doesn't
happen to
you
when we
lived in
Dublin
our home
was broken
into twice
and each
time it
was a
complete
surprise.
Nobody
told us
when the
thieves were
going to
come.
We didn't
get a
letter in
the door
saying we're
going to
be around
Sunday
night
7 o'clock.
But that's
the point
isn't it?
Thieves
don't have a
habit of
telling you
when they
are going
to come.
You just
have to be
ready and
make sure
your house
is secure.
In the
same way
Jesus has
not told us
when he
will return
but that
he will
return.
And the
promise of
his return
is not to
try and
catch us
out but
to make
sure we
are ready.
It is a
gracious
advance
notice for
us to
get things
in order
before it
is too
late.
So the
return of
Jesus is
going to
come.
Now to
help us
think through
what it
means to
be ready
for Jesus
he introduces
us to
two people.
In the
second part
of this
parable we
have the
faithful servant
and an
unfaithful
servant.
So look at
verse 41.
Peter asked
Lord are you
telling this
parable to
us or to
everyone?
Who is it
that needs
to be
ready?
Who is
this message
for?
Well while
it may apply
to everyone
and I think
there is an
application to
everyone,
it is
especially
directed at
those who
claim to
be disciples
of the
Lord Jesus.
So let's
look at these
two characters
in turn.
First we
have the
faithful servant
and the
question we
need to be
asking ourselves
is am I
like this
faithful servant?
Verse 42.
The Lord
answered who
then is the
faithful and
wise manager
whom the
master puts
in charge of
his servants
to give them
their food
allowance at
the proper
time?
Now the
question is
quite simple.
when the
master returns
will he
find the
servant
manager
behaving in
a way that
is fitting
to his
position?
You see
the head
servant
has the
special task
of making
sure that
all the rest
of the
servants are
ready for
the return
of the
master.
The servant
manager is
responsible for
the other
servants.
it's his
job to
keep them
awake at
the various
watches of
the night.
It's his
job to
make sure
they're well
fed and
that they're
strong and
they're keeping
an eye out.
If the
servant
manager is
not ready
then how
are the
others going
to be
ready?
So the
application is
this.
The faithful
servant that
we have in
verse 42
is the
person who
is taking
discipleship
seriously.
They
understand what
their
responsibility is
as a
disciple,
in particular
to other
disciples,
to the
rest of
the church
family.
They know
their position
and their
calling is
to take
care of
other
believers.
elders.
They know
that they
have a
responsibility
to fellow
disciples to
make sure
that they
are built
up and
encouraged in
the faith.
Now God
in his
goodness has
provided his
church with
elders and
teachers and
leaders and
God puts
them in
place to
take care
of the
house.
But it
isn't just
the responsibility
of elders and
leaders.
it is the
responsibility of
everyone.
As
disciples,
our calling
is to get
alongside one
another and
make sure that
we are ready
for the return
of Jesus.
So let's
try and think
that through in
practice what it
might look like.
We just had
tea and coffee
together.
The person that
you were talking
to.
Do you
know how
they are in
their relationship
with God?
Do you know
how they're
getting on in
their faith?
Are you
aware that
there are
some people
within the
family of the
church who
are struggling
and perhaps
drifting?
people?
Do you
see, God
has placed
us as
people into
a church
family to
watch out
for one
another.
It's our
responsibility to
take care of
the house,
to keep an
eye out for
one another,
to make sure
that we're
living faithfully
as disciples.
disciples.
This is what
a faithful
servant is
all about.
Verse 43,
it will be
good for
that servant
whom the
master finds
doing so
when he
returns.
So when
Jesus returns
and he finds
us as
disciples taking
care of each
other and
looking after
each other,
that's going
to be good
for us.
Verse 43,
or verse
44, he says,
I tell you the
truth, he will
put him in
charge of all
his possessions.
The disciple
who takes
his responsibility
seriously
will be
richly blessed
when the
master returns.
He will
enjoy life
in the
king's
kingdom
forever.
He will
have a
seat at
the table
of the
king's
banquet
and he
will live
forever
with him.
Are we
faithful
servants?
But then
there's the
other one,
the unfaithful
servant,
verse 45.
But suppose
the servant
says to
himself,
oh, my
master is
taking a
long time
in coming.
And he
then begins
to beat
the men
servants
and the
maid
servants
and to
eat and
drink and
get drunk.
Now, the
contrast
couldn't be
more stark,
could it?
We had the
faithful servant
who's making
sure that all
the servants
are well
looked after,
that they're
prepared and
they're ready.
The unfaithful
servant is,
well, he's just
carrying on and
doing whatever
he likes.
The unfaithful
servant is the
one who does
not take
discipleship
seriously.
They're
neglecting their
responsibility.
They ignore
their position
and calling.
Rather than
invest time
in other
people,
they're actually
investing time
in themselves.
In practice,
an unfaithful
servant
is a
consumer.
In other
words, they
see the
church community
as a place
where you
go to
get,
rather than
a family
to join
in to
serve.
Oh, they're
very happy to
come along and
use the
services that
are provided.
But the
care of
others and
the teaching
of others,
well, that's
not my
responsibility.
Well, if
that's you,
yes, it
is your
responsibility.
God has
placed us
as a
family
together
to build
each other
up, to
care for
one another.
That was
the role of
the servant
in the
house.
He was
to manage
the house
and to
look after
people.
So how
are we
practically
going to
do that?
Well, let
me make
two suggestions.
first, let
me speak
here to
those who
are parents
of younger
children and
even if you
have older
children or
teens.
Make it
your priority
to disciple
your little
children.
God has
given you
the gift of
children and
placed them
into your
care so
that you
may manage
them, so
that you
might get
them
ready for
the return
of the
Lord Jesus.
That is
your primary
responsibility.
So parents,
make it
your objective
to be a
faithful servant
and raise
your children
as disciples
who are
ready.
So that's
the first
thing.
Let me say
this to us
all as a
church family.
Let us
make meeting
together as
a church
family a
priority.
We say it
so often
and here's
the reason
why.
Because we
need one
another to
be responsible
to each
other, to
build each
other up.
Plan your
week, plan
your timetable,
plan your
terms.
We meet on a
Sunday morning,
we meet
together on
Wednesday
evenings.
If we
don't plan
for these
things, then
we'll be doing
something else.
Plan to be
there, not to
be seen, not
to earn brownie
points, not to
get God's
attention, but
so that you
can meet with
others and pray
with them and
listen to them
and encourage
them as we
talk through
God's word
together.
Take time
with one
another to
build each
other up in
the faith.
You don't
need to be a
trained teacher.
You don't
need permission.
We just do
it.
If we are
disciples, the
people in the
church family are
your and my
responsibility.
It's not just
the role of
elders and
leaders.
It is the
calling of
every disciple
and to
ignore our
responsibility
is very
serious.
Very serious.
Look at
verse 46.
The master
of that
servant, so
the master
of this
unfaithful
servant, will
come on a
day when he
does not
expect him
and at an
hour he
is not
aware of.
He will
cut him to
pieces and
assign him a
place with
the unbelievers.
It's harsh
language, isn't
it?
But it's
intentional and
it's intentional
to wake us
up, to
show us that
this is
serious.
To ignore our
responsibility, to
reject our
calling as a
disciple means
we will be
treated as
an unbeliever.
Instead of
blessing, there
will be
judgment.
Verse 47.
That servant
who knows his
master's will
and does not
get ready or
does not do
what his
master wants
will be beaten
with many
blows.
Rather than
dining with the
king in his
eternal kingdom,
kingdom, they
will be shut
out and
separated from
the king
forever.
Because a
true disciple,
the faithful
servant, will
be watching out
for those who
need built up
in the faith.
Now maybe
this comes as
a shock to
you.
That's the
way in which
Jesus' parables
work.
They come with
a shock.
Maybe you
didn't realise
how serious
a disciple
was.
I didn't
know that I
had to do
this.
I didn't
know that
people within
the church
family was
my responsibility.
Well maybe
that's you.
And what
does Jesus
say to us?
Well look at
verse 48.
But the
one who
does not
know and
does things
deserving
punishment will
be beaten
with few
blows.
You see
for those who
have not
understood their
responsibility,
rather than
being judged,
they will be
disciplined.
And Jesus
is using this
parable and
he's teaching
us through it.
He's saying,
will you wake
up to your
responsibility?
I can
discipline you
now or you
can ignore
that and
face judgment
later.
God in
his grace
warns us
of the
return of
Jesus so
that we can
put things
in order
today.
The promise
of his
return is
not to try
and catch
us out,
but to make
sure we are
ready.
So what
is our
response
to this?
Well,
there are
two things.
First,
there is an
awesome
privilege.
Look at
verse 48,
the last
part of
verse 48.
From
everyone who
has been
given much,
much will
be demanded.
and from
the one
who has
been entrusted
with much,
much more
will be
asked.
You see,
if we're
disciples this
morning,
I want us
to see that
we have been
given so
much.
God has
given to
us his own
son,
Jesus Christ,
the faithful
servant,
the one who
came not to
be served,
but to
serve,
and to
give his
life as
a ransom.
The one
who came
and died
for us,
the one
who came
and took
the punishment
that I
deserve,
and through
our faith
in Jesus,
we can
now be
forgiven.
All of
our sin
and shame
and guilt
has been
dealt with
once and
for all.
We are
now welcomed
into God's
family,
treated and
treasured
as his
own child.
And because
of what God
has given
to me
through
Jesus,
I am
no longer
an outsider
and left
outside.
I am a
servant of
the King
with the
promise of
a place
at his
banquet
in his
eternal
kingdom
forever
and forever.
If we
are disciples,
we have
received
so much
grace
and mercy
in abundance
day after
day.
We are
truly privileged
people if
we are
disciples of
Jesus.
But with
this awesome
privilege
comes great
responsibility.
Do you see
what it says
at the end
of verse
48?
Everyone who
has been
given much,
much will
be
demanded.
from the
one who
has been
entrusted
with much,
much more
will be
asked.
You see,
when we
experience his
forgiveness
and welcome,
when we see
that we've been
brought into
the King's
palace,
welcomed into
his family,
being able to
serve the
eternal King,
when we see
the grace and
the mercy that
has flowed to
us, it
motivates us
to serve
one another.
It fills us
with a desire
to reach out
and to build
people up with
the amazing
grace of God.
Discipleship
is serious.
It is an
awesome
privilege,
but with it
comes great
responsibility.
Look at
verse 40
again.
You,
me,
disciples,
even if we
are not yet
a disciple,
you also
must be
ready,
because the
Son of Man
will come at
an hour
when you do
not expect
him.
Let's pray.
our Father
God, we
come to
you as
one who
is gracious
and
merciful,
and we
ask that
you would
now forgive
us for
the times
we have
neglected
our
responsibility,
and we
have acted
more like
an unfaithful
servant
rather than
a faithful
servant.
Help us
to see
afresh the
amazing grace
and mercy
that we
have received.
Give us
a vision
of that
eternal
banquet,
seated at
the King's
table,
served by
the King
of Kings
himself
for all
eternity.
May you
motivate us
afresh,
fill us
with a
desire to
care
for the
church
family,
to build
each other
up in the
faith,
so that
we are
ready
for the
coming
name of
Jesus.
Father,
we thank
you for
our
church
family.
We
thank you
for the
support of
one another.
Thank you
that you
have given
to us
each other
wonderful
gifts from
you to
serve one
another and
to help
each other.
and we
pray that
we would
do so
more and
that the
return of
the King
would motivate
us afresh.
We pray
this in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
We're going
to sing
together
a song
which talks
about
Jesus who
is the
faithful
servant,
the one
who came
to serve
us,
and in
response
that we
would bring
our lives
and serve
one another.
So let's
stand together
as we sing
this.
Amen.