Single lesson
The Shrewd Manager
Luke 16:1–13
Jesus told a surprising parable about a dishonest manager, then taught his disciples to be wise and faithful with money.
Before you teach
Jesus told his disciples a parable about a rich man and his manager. People accused the manager of wasting the rich man’s possessions. So the rich man called him in and said he must give an account, because he could no longer serve as manager. The manager thought to himself, “What will I do?” He knew he was losing his position. He was not strong enough for digging, and he was ashamed to beg. Then he made a plan so that, after he lost his work, people might welcome him…
Describe the central teaching of The Shrewd Manager, using two details from the reading. Jesus told a surprising parable about a dishonest manager, then taught his disciples to be wise and faithful with money.
Welcome: The Shrewd Manager
4 minIntroduce “The Shrewd Manager” and locate Luke 16:1–13. Jesus told a surprising parable about a dishonest manager, then taught his disciples to be wise and faithful with money. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Luke 16:1, Luke 16:7, Luke 16:13
Read and explain the passage
8 minJesus told his disciples a parable about a rich man and his manager. People accused the manager of wasting the rich man’s possessions. So the rich man called him in and said he must give an account, because he could no longer serve as manager.
He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first, who owed a hundred measures of oil, he said to change the bill to fifty. To another, who owed a hundred measures of wheat, he said to write eighty. The manager was acting for his own future.
Then Jesus gave the lesson clearly. Faithfulness in small things matters, and dishonesty in small things matters too. If someone is not faithful with worldly wealth or with what belongs to another, why would greater riches be entrusted to them? No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Shrewd Manager”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Luke 16:1, Luke 16:2, Luke 16:8, Luke 16:7, Luke 16:6, Luke 16:5, Luke 16:13, Luke 16:11
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““The manager thought to himself, “What will I do?”” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Jesus told a surprising parable about a dishonest manager, then taught his disciples to be wise and faithful with money. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Luke 16:3, Luke 16:1, Luke 16:2, Luke 16:7, Luke 16:6, Luke 16:5, Luke 16:13, Luke 16:11
Make and respond: Story sequence booklet
9 minWork on “The Shrewd Manager: Story sequence booklet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Shrewd Manager” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Luke 16:1, Luke 16:7, Luke 16:13
Closing: return to The Shrewd Manager
3 minRevisit Luke 16:1–13. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Shrewd Manager and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Luke 16:1, Luke 16:7, Luke 16:13
Questions to explore
“The manager thought to himself, “What will I do?”” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
The manager thought to himself, “What will I do?” He knew he was losing his position. He was not strong enough for digging, and he was ashamed to beg. Then he made a plan so that, after he lost his work, people might welcome him into their homes.
Luke 16:3, Luke 16:1, Luke 16:2
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “He called in his master’s debtors one by one.”?
He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first, who owed a hundred measures of oil, he said to change the bill to fifty. To another, who owed a hundred measures of wheat, he said to write eighty. The manager was acting for his own future.
Luke 16:7, Luke 16:6, Luke 16:5
“Then Jesus gave the lesson clearly.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
Then Jesus gave the lesson clearly. Faithfulness in small things matters, and dishonesty in small things matters too. If someone is not faithful with worldly wealth or with what belongs to another, why would greater riches be entrusted to them? No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money.
Luke 16:13, Luke 16:7, Luke 16:11
Make, think or respond
The Shrewd Manager: Story sequence booklet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Beginning”, “What changes?”, “How it ends”.
- Read Luke 16:1–13. Use “The Shrewd Manager” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Retell the account using your three panels, checking the order against the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of The Shrewd Manager connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use The Shrewd Manager as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between The Shrewd Manager and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Luke 16:1–13. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Luke 16
1 He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2 He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3 “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’
5 Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’
6 He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7 Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8 “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.