Luke 7:36-50
Summary:
This is a story of sharp contrasts - challenging the way each of us approach Jesus, and once again revealing why Jesus is here in the first place… and for whom. A (good) Pharisee has Jesus over for dinner, then a (bad) ’sinful’ woman barges in - very distracting. These are two very different people, each with a very different approach to Jesus. The ‘good’ person doesn’t care much for Jesus or pay Him any special attention. But the ‘bad’ person goes straight to Jesus and continually lavishes honor and love upon Him. Two very different sorts of people. Two very different views of Jesus. Two different transactions with Jesus: Jesus openly rebukes the ‘good’ person for his smug indifference. Jesus openly forgives the ‘bad’ person for her faith in His ability and willingness to forgive much.
For Meditation / Discussion:
- My estimation of Jesus depends on what I really think about myself. (Am I really that bad?) This whole story hinges on the contrasting self-diagnoses of the Pharisee and the sinful woman (one was self-confident in his own goodness, and one was convicted of sinfulness). Re-read the story - once from the standpoint of the Pharisee, and again from the standpoint of the sinful woman. Where do you see resemblances in yourself?
- How does your knowledge of God influence your love for Him? As you grow more familiar with Jesus, does your knowledge produce greater indifference or greater amazement/thankfulness? How might this passage from God’s Word save you from growing cold toward God?
- Jesus’ closing words to this woman are “your faith has saved you, go in peace.” In this passage, we see faith on display. From this vivid story, what does ‘futile’ faith look like? What does ’saving’ faith look like? (The Pharisee pins his hope to his own goodness. The woman pins all of her hope on the mercy, grace and authority of Jesus.)
- Do you see your need for Jesus to forgive you? Do you believe He alone can do it, or do you still hold out some hope of being good enough?
- Now, where do you go when you mess up? Do you frequent the throne of grace? If not, let the love of Christ in this passage soften your heart.
- If you are trusting His mercy, hear His words again and let them sink into your heart: “go in peace.”
Luke 5:17-26Summary:During “these days” (v.17) of Jesus’ ministry, He is revealing His power, authority, dominion - jurisdiction - over every earthly power. When Jesus says it, it happens. Nothing negotiates with or hesitates to obey Him. Demons flee with a word from Him. All kinds of sickness vanish on His command. Even nature obeys Him! When Jesus says it, it happens. Instantly. Completely. On “one of these days,” Jesus encounters a paralytic being carried by some friends. This paralytic is going to get to Jesus, whatever it takes. Upon seeing his faith, Jesus speaks to Him saying, “man, your sins are forgiven you.” In that instant, based on Jesus’ authoritative word, a miracle happened in the courts of heaven. Instant forgiveness… complete forgiveness. This man’s sins fled from him in the same way the leprosy fled from the afflicted man in the previous passage. In a moment, with a word from Jesus, that paralyzed man was forgiven. How do we know? Because when Jesus says it, it happens. How can we be sure of something we can’t see? In order that we (along with the Pharisees) might know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus spoke another word: “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” Our confidence in our peace with God rests not in our power to gain forgiveness, but simply in Jesus’ power and authority.Discussion Questions:
- Discuss Jesus’ authority and dominion in the passages leading up to 5:17. What happens when He speaks, lays hands or wills something?
- What are we invited to believe about His ability to forgive sins? Do you believe?
- Does Jesus leave room for feelings of condemnation amongst those He has forgiven? Describe your experience with condemnation and how this passage gives fresh hope.
- How would you evaluate the joy and gladness of the paralytic and the crowd of Pharisees at the end of this passage?
- How does your doubt/faith in Jesus authority to forgive your sins affect your joy and gladness?
Luke 5:1-11
Early in His ministry Jesus was teaching by the Sea of Galilee when the crowds were pressing in upon Him. Simon let Jesus use his boat to teach from, then Jesus asked Simon to put his nets in the water for a catch. Reluctantly (for they had caught nothing after a full night of fishing), Simon agreed. They caught so many fish that another boat had to be brought in and the weight of the fish began to sink both boats. Simon’s unexpected response was to ask Jesus to depart from Him, because Simon was a sinful man. Jesus told him not to be afraid, from now on he would be catching men. Upon reaching shore, Simon, James, and John left everything to follow Jesus.
- Jesus (the carpenter’s son) asked Simon (the fisherman) to put in his nets after a night of catching nothing. Has God ever asked you to do something that was a stretch of your faith? Is there ways right now that you can relate to Simon?
- When Simon saw more clearly who Jesus really was, he wanted to Jesus to get away from him, because it made him acutely aware of his sinfulness. Can you recognize ways in which you have been too familiar or chummy with the Creator of heaven and earth? How would you describe an appropriate approach to God? What makes this possible?
- When Simon saw Jesus more clearly, it was no sacrifice to leave everything else behind. Is that how you see Jesus? If you could choose greater revelation of an aspect of who Jesus is, what do you think would be most helpful/illuminating? Why?
Luke 4:16-30
Summary
Jesus arrives in His home town, Nazareth, and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. While there, He stood up and read from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” He then took His seat and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Wow. What Prophet is THIS?! All in the crowd were fixing their eyes on Him, speaking well of Him and marveling at the gracious words He spoke. Jesus then reminded them of how the other prophets had been rejected by Jewish people, and He stated that they would reject Him in the same way. Jesus had spoken blessings over them. Everyone likes blessings. But there’s more to a true prophet than nice words about a better life now. Jesus has come for the poor, the captives, the blind and the oppressed. These are not merely physical conditions. In fact, Jesus is speaking directly to the heart of the matter. Because of sin, even the most pious person is poor in spirit, captive, blinded and helplessly oppressed. This is not a flattering message. Jesus sees all the way into our hearts and He sees how wrecked we really are. Jesus is agitating. Jesus is saying we can’t get to God through our efforts, our many sacrifices or our piety. This assertion aggravated the congregation into a murderous frenzy. Jesus has come to save sinners. This made the shepherds & Simeon very happy. This made some good, churchy people very angry. Jesus is always agitating. He agitates praise from some, and wrath from others. Some knew they were sinners, and they rejoiced in the Savior. Others considered themselves pretty good already, and Jesus’ assertions that they were in fact destitute and helplessly oppressed evoked their anger. Interestingly, Luke doesn’t show anyone reacting to Jesus in a “ho-hum” way. He always agitates - either great joy or angry rejection.
Discussion
- Is Jesus still agitating to you, or has the good news become “ho-hum?” Does your joyfulness tell of the good news? How? If not, why?
- We see very different, unanimous responses to Jesus - by the same group in the very same setting. The whole crowd goes from speaking well of Him and marveling at His words to being full of wrath and trying to throw Him over a cliff. What is the key element of the Gospel that instantly turns Jesus from a beloved celebrity to a hated heretic? What can we learn of this when sharing the Gospel with our friends, or even our children? Are we essentially marketing Him so He’s quickly accepted, or presenting Him so that He’s rightly understood?
- Jesus came to save sinners. Meditate for a moment on the passage from Isaiah. What stands out to you, personally, from the descriptions of those to whom the Savior has come? He is here for you. These words are fulfilled in your hearing. Consider how Christ has come to specifically meet your greatest need. Spend some time offering “freshly agitated” thanks to Him.
Luke 2:22-52
Summary:
In obedience to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought their baby, Jesus, to the temple - to offer the required sacrifice. The Law and the temple were central to the Old Covenant. They provided access to God through obedience and sacrifices - mediated by priests. Day in and day out, God’s people entered His presence through the temple and offered sacrifices to cover their sins. On this day, Someone very different appears in the temple. A new Mediator. One who would fulfill the Law and open a new and living way into God’s presence. Simeon declares in 2:29-32 that Jesus is the Salvation prepared by God in the sight of all the peoples - Gentiles and Israel alike. For everyone striving under the insatiable requirements of the Law - for everyone excluded by sin from God’s presence… Salvation is here! Jesus has arrived, sinless, in order to carry all of our infractions - canceling them once and for all as our one, lasting Sacrifice.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you ever experience condemnation or guilty fear because of how you fall short of what God requires? What bearing does this passage have on you?
- Note the repeated usage of “Law” - especially at the beginning of the passage. The Law is the main character at the outset… but where is our focus by the end of the passage? Are we to remain “Law focused,” or is the person of Jesus the new centerpiece? Discuss this progression. Where do you tend to “drift back” to the Law in your way of relating to God, others?
- How is this passage “Good News” to your friends who are living apart from Jesus - who still live under the requirements of God’s perfect Law?
BootCamp2010 is a regional youth-day event being held August 21 in Richmond, VA. Registration is open to middle/high school
students and their parents. This event will be filled with games, fellowship, worship and great teaching on the topic of developing personal convictions. Lunch will be included.
DETAILS:
Event: Saturday, August 21, 2010; 10:00-4:00
Who?: Middle/High school students/parent.
Where?: KingsWay Community Church in Richmond, Virginia.
What?: Games. Fellowship. Worship. Great Teaching.
How much?: $35(regular) per family.
Click here to Register Be there!
Summary:
In Jesus, God has given us a great gift! Jesus came as Light into our darkness. Jesus is a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… God Himself visited us, to redeem us from our debt of sin. Jesus also came humbly - laid in a manger - lowlier than a servant. Jesus is ready to welcome anyone. The shepherds were undoubtedly astonished and relieved that they didn’t have to go to a palace or even the temple to receive Jesus. They were unclean men, probably wearing smelly clothes. And in order to seek and save people mired in sin, Christ the Lord was born into an unclean, smelly place. Luke 2:1-20
- From this passage, are you more certain of the grace of Christ? Why?
- What do we see of the “reach” of Jesus’ grace? Does He meet us in the middle or go further than that? How far?
- Unclean, lowly shepherds were invited to the “manger of grace” 2000 years ago, and they went confidently, with haste, honestly and without cleaning up first. In Hebrews 4:16, God invites you to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Are you confident in God’s grace? Do you go to Him with haste - as soon as you know you need mercy? Do you go honestly - just as you really are - telling Him everything? Or, unlike these shepherds, do you try to clean up first? How do the shepherds help us understand approaching Jesus with faith, or “confidence?”
- Most people assume that God, Jesus and church are for “good” people. What does Luke say, through the manger and these shepherds? What sort of people are ready to hear this good news of great joy? Who, among your friends?
Message Summary
Luke 1:1-80
Birth announcements are always exciting. Luke begins his Gospel with two birth announcements that combine to drive home one amazing truth: “God is near!” Whoever you are, whatever you’ve done, whatever darkness or sorrow you’ve known, even in the face of your guilt, God concludes the chapter by announcing the arrival of “knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (v.77-79)
Discussion Questions
- In 1:74-75, we read that one of the purposes of Christ’s coming is “that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.” Trying to establish our own holiness and righteousness through obedience leads to slavish fear. Where do you see Jesus’ provision in these verses? How do these birth announcements move you from fearful obedience to grace?
- In Malachi 4:2, we read prophecies pertaining to these birth announcements. Malachi’s prophecy includes the imagery of healing / making us whole, and leaping like calves out of a stable. What connection is God making between grace and our response?
- Luke makes this very clear, after a 400 year wait, “God is near!” Do you believe this? Gene talked about waking up and not “feeling” God’s particular nearness. He mentioned being encouraged by this chapter because it reminds us that regardless of how we’re feeling, God has made emphatic, historical, objective announcements that we can stake our lives on. In Jesus Christ, God is near! Discuss how this objective truth might encourage you on particular kinds of days or in some particular circumstance you’re struggling with right now.
Summary
In the overview to Luke’s Gospel, we considered two main ideas. First, we can believe what we read - this is what Luke wrote, and this is what really happened. Luke wrote to fill in the details surrounding Jesus, so that we may have certainty about who Jesus is and what He has done. Secondly, we considered who it is that Jesus came for - what kind of person does He accept, and what kind of person accepts Him? Luke’s Gospel makes clear that no one is out of Jesus‘ reach. Why pretend to be better than we really are? Luke makes it so clear that only Jesus is truly good, and He came to seek and save messed up sinners. The ones who are honest about their need for mercy are the ones who find mercy. The “good people” routinely go away empty-handed. How about you: how are you responding to Jesus?
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss some of the reasons we can have certainty that what we read in Luke’s Gospel is reliable / trustworthy
- What difference does that make in how you approach reading / listening / study?
- What is a specific way you are hoping God will meet you this study?
- Is God prompting you to share this News with someone in your life? Who?
2. Discuss some of the “underdog” stories in Luke, where Jesus redefines who is truly acceptable. (Shepherds; Levi & his friends in ch.5; the sinful woman in ch.7; Zacchaeus in ch.19; etc.)
- What do these surprising stories teach us about God? Grace? Jesus as Savior?How do the “bad” people respond to Jesus
- How do the “good” people?What kind of people find mercy? Why?
- Do you still come to Jesus as one who needs mercy or are you trying to be “good” on your own? What does that look like in your daily life? (Heb. 4:14-16)
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Music:
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