Summary:
In Luke 11:37-53, Jesus is here to save us from religious practices that war for our confidence and allegiance in Christ alone. However subtle, any adherence to outward obedience threatens to distract us from - or even replace - our confidence and allegiance to Jesus Christ, and the work He has come to accomplish in our hearts. The Pharisees had invented and promoted a complicated structure of prescribed outward obediences that had functionally replaced love for God and love for others. We are all vulnerable to doing the same thing. Jesus uses hard words against the Pharisees and Lawyers in an attempt to expose the hopelessness of earning their way to God. We do well to take His words to heart. Sometimes, hard words are good words.What outward practices do you cherish? Which of these are your personal convictions - behaviors you render to God as personal acts of worship? Are there any practices you put too much stock in? Consider these questions from the message to help you apply the Lord’s warnings:
Discussion Questions:
- What am I most passionate about?
- Do I love God’s approval or man’s?
- Do my words speak freedom or impose slavery?
- Does my life cause others to make much of me, or much of Jesus?
Summary:
When one of His disciples asks Him how to pray, Jesus gives Him specific words - which have come to be known “the Lord’s Prayer.” Each of the words contained in Jesus’ prayer are simple, yet more powerful than we can imagine, if prayed from the heart with a desire for God to “re- calibrate” the ways we think about Him, ourselves, others and the world around us.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you ever avoid praying because you don’t know what to say, or you wonder if your prayers will make a difference? How does Jesus simple instruction encourage you, motivate you, or change the way you think about prayer?
- How can you imagine your life being different if you committed to pray these simple words of Jesus for even a few minutes a day?
- What words or phrases from the Lord’s prayer stand out to you as you read them - where do you sense the Holy Spirit’s adjustment or encouragement?
Summary
In this text, we see two examples of how to work. One way leads to joy. One way leads to frantic anxiety. According to Jesus, the key to our works pleasing Him and being joyful to us is relationship. Joyful work flows from active relationship.
Discussion Questions
- Think about a typical day’s activity. Where are you prone to joy?
- Where are you prone to distraction?
- Jesus is here, in your daily activities, to seek you and save you from anxious toil. How does Jesus’ instruction bring you help?
- Practically, how might you, along with Martha, heed Jesus’ saving correction?
King’s Kids will be graduating children to new classes on Sunday, September 12. Please check the rosters posted outside your child’s classroom on September 12 to be certain that you are dropping them off at the right place.
If your children are 6-10 years old or a 5 year old who will be promoted, they should line up with their new class (one level higher) upon dismissal from the main meeting. Their teachers will then automatically escort them to the appropriate classroom.
