Luke/Acts–Lesson10

Posted on 11/18/2015 by 1 Groups

Week of November 15

Text:

Luke 15

Summary:

Luke 15 is a unified chapter, with each story a similar treatment of what it means to seek the lost. What is significant are the differences between the stories, where we see the father address those who although perhaps are lost in some ways, were always a part of the father. This oneness with the father should therefore affect how they—and we—look to those who are lost.

Text Notes:

Our chapter opens with another situation where the Pharisees and teachers of the law are closely watching Jesus. At this point in the gospel, we should come to expect such a response. What is interesting is the fact that the people the Pharisees considered “sinners” were people who did not act in the way they expected them to rather than sinners in the sense of having moral failings. We might not even list them as “sinners,” per se. We, like the Pharisees, might consider people who did not act like us or hold similar beliefs to us as being on the “outside” of our circle. This is an important distinction as we prepare to look at these three stories. Who is an outsider to you?

All three of the stories need to be compared to one another. I believe the impact and meaning of the stories is found in the difference we see in the third story, so I will not spend much time of the first two.

In summary, the first two stories have a similar pattern: someone loses something, there is a frantic search for that something, the object is found, friends and neighbors are called, and there is great rejoicing.

This pattern is repeated in the story of the lost son, but there is an additional element not found in the previous two: the older son—one who is “not lost”—complains about the treatment of those lost but now found. The question for us becomes: why is this individual included in this story?

It does not take much for us to recognize the comparison of the Pharisees and teachers of the law in the first of the chapter with the older brother concluding the chapter. This inclusio helps us realize that the issue here are those who reject “sinners,” or as we have established above, those who are outside our circle. We have to ask ourselves: how do we exclude and seek only those on the inside like, well, us? Is our focus, like the three examples given here, on seeking out those who are lost?

Something the father tells the older son is also enlightening. The father reminds the son that he was always with the father and “everything I have is yours.” It would seem that one of the challenges the Pharisees faced was an understanding of what it means to be a part of God’s family. There is no need to fret your inclusion into the kingdom when you are already in the kingdom. In the same way, the inclusion or seeking of those unlike you does not cheapen your status. You are included and your standing is good. It is the people who do not have this standing that are or should be our focus.

Discussion Questions:

Every week our lessons will include seven questions (really question sets) that you may either pick and choose those questions that best suit your family unit, or you may use one question set for each day.

If you were the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who do you think you would have expected to be around Jesus? Why do you think the Pharisees and teachers of the law expected these kinds of people? In what ways do we also show righteous indignation when people not like us come to hear Jesus? (Luke 15.1-2)

What sort of actions would you expect the man who lost the sheep to take? How does this compare to what actually happened in the story? Why was calling his neighbors such an integral part of the celebration for this man? In what ways do we rejoice over the sinner who repents? In what ways can we do a better job of rejoicing? (Luke 15.3-7)

How does this story about the woman who lost a coin compare to the previous one about a man who lost a sheep? How does it compare to the one that follows about the lost son? Why are the differences of these three stories important for us being able to understand the story? (Luke 15.8-10)

How do you think you would have reacted if you had been the father in the story of the lost son? As you heard stories of the actions of your son while he was away—assuming you heard some—what do you think you would have been thinking? How sorry do you think the younger son was for his actions? What clues do you see in the text that supports your opinion? (Luke 15.11-19)

Given all that the son had done, how accepting do you think you would have been to the son upon his return? Do you feel good about accepting back the son without any sort of punishment? What sort of clues do we have about God’s longing for us based on the example of the father in this story? (Luke 15.20-24)

We tend to look down upon the older son for his reaction, but in what ways have you found yourself acting in similar ways? Based on what we read about the older son, what sort of things do you sense drove him to act in the manner that he did? In what ways did his misunderstanding of being a “son” color his reactions? (Luke 15.25-30)

What does it mean for us to realize that everything God has is ours? How does this change the way you look at lost people and are motivated to be like God and seek them out? How can you do a better job of looking more toward those who are lost than those who have been “slaving for the father?” (Luke 15.31-32)

Activities:

Every week this section will list possible activities you and your family unit can do. You may pick one or perhaps do several during the course of a week. All are intended to be suitable for any age.

What ways do we find Luke using the phrase “tax collectors and sinners” in his gospel? What people would have been included in this description? How do you think we would have reacted to these people, based on what you have seen in Luke’s gospel?

One of the things that makes the story of the lost son so shocking was the uncustomary manner in which the father reacted toward him. See if you can find any material on what might have been a “normal” response to a son in a similar situation.

Draw or create a picture that compares the pattern of these three stories. Be sure to include the differences in a way that they are magnified and obvious to all.

Rembrandt has painted a powerful painting of the story of the lost son entitled “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” Find a copy of this picture online and study it. How does this picture help you see this story better? [NOTE: Henri Nouwen has written a book based on this parable and the painting with the same title. You might get a copy of this work and read it, as well.]

Make a list of people whom the Pharisees and teachers of the law would consider “sinners” today. Also, make a list of those you might consider sinners. How do these two lists compare to one another?

Place yourself in a place where you have the opportunity to seek out someone who is lost.

Connect:

Find lessons, posts about the passages we are studying, and more information at 1homebiblestudy.org.

Find more information about our 1 Groups at 1groups.com.

Find out more information about South Plains at southplains.org.

Tag your posts with #1hbs.

This work by South Plains Church of Christ and Robert A. Anderson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions-NonCommerical-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license.

Luke/Acts–Lesson09

Posted on 11/10/2015 by 1 Groups

Week of November 8

Text:

Luke 14

Summary:

Luke begins a section in his gospel addressing the cost of discipleship. This idea will span a couple of chapters. The banquet with the Pharisees in chapter 14, (describing who is and is not appropriate people to invite to such events) carries over to chapter 15, where Jesus describes people’s response to those who are lost.

Text Notes:

Our passage begins with Jesus being closely watched at a Pharisee’s house, where he has been invited for a meal on the Sabbath. We already have been made aware of the Pharisee’s desire to trap him in something he says or does (Luke 11.53-54). As so often seems to be the case, Jesus finds someone who is ill at the meal. Jesus heals this man, but not without asking the Pharisee’s as to the lawfulness of doing so. The proper answer would have been no, it was not lawful, but they refuse to answer. Although they were trying to trap him, they were at least smart enough to realize Jesus would turn the tables on them.

Jesus proceeds with asking the Pharisees about a son or an ox falling into the well on the Sabbath. Here the law was not quite as clear. Some rabbis would accept rescuing the ox, but there were others who claimed you could feed it, but not pull it out. It was generally accepted that if a child fell into a well, rescue was an appropriate response. Jesus challenges these teachers to compare the need for rescue of a son or ox and the need for rescue of this man. I think we would all agree with the importance of healing this man, yet I think we need to carefully inspect the ways we often find our “important” things to do getting in the way of showing love to others.

The banquet Jesus is attending creates the context for his next example: ways that seats are chosen at banquets. It would have been the practice of people to get the “best seats” at the table. I compare it to getting a table close to the speaker at a fundraising dinner. We all want the closest seat, but only those who donate the most money who get those seats, so if you pick that seat, you may be moved to the back of the room. Jesus’ instructions are to humble ourselves and pick the lesser seats.

Not only should we pick the less honorable seats, but we should also take care who we invite to our dinners. Do not, Jesus says, invite only those who can repay you with a similar invitation. Invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. (Notice this list appears again in verse 21.) Our focus should be on those on the fringe or the outside. This idea will be more fully fleshed out in chapter 15.

Jesus’ comment about the “resurrection of the righteous” leads someone at the banquet to comment on enjoying the feast in the kingdom of God. The implication is that this man would be at that great banquet. Jesus then tells a parable about a man preparing a great banquet, only to have all of his initially invited guests turn him down with various excuses. It was customary to invite people early (think a “Save the Date” type invitation), then to follow up with them when the banquet was ready. There could have been many days between the initial invitation and the actual banquet.

Some have tried to use Deuteronomy 20 as the basis for these excuses; others try to show the lack of validity of the excuses. I think Jesus’ point was that people did not come even though they initially said they would. In other words, the point is not why they did not come, but that they did not come. Jesus then goes on to say that the poor, crippled, lame, and blind should be invited. This parable serves to connect the story of who to invite to a banquet with the focus of chapter 15: those who are lost. The parable also serves warning to the man expressing joy for the upcoming banquet in the kingdom of God and others that those who assume they will get into the banquet may discover they do not actually make it.

The final story in this chapter is one describing the cost of discipleship. In short, the cost is everything, including your life. To take up one’s cross would be to embrace death. Remember that the cross would not have been the smooth, polished piece of gold we often think of, but would have been an instrument of death. While I am not sure we can always know everything that will come our way when we choose to follow Jesus, we can make a commitment to follow him no matter what does come our way. This is Jesus’ admonition to the crowds, but to us, as well.

Discussion Questions:

Is there anything that would prevent you from rescuing a child or a pet if they had fallen in a well or hole in the ground? Why do you think the Pharisees and experts in the law would have laws that prevent such rescues? In reality, they would have rescued their child, even on the Sabbath. What does this tell us about how they viewed the law and how they practiced those laws? (Luke 14.1-6)

Have you ever been in a position where you thought you were the guest of honor or at least an important guest, only to discover you were no where near the top of the list as far as importance? How did you feel in this situation? Give an example of a way you can be sure to not pick the place of honor at something you are involved in today. (Luke 14.7-11)

In what ways do you see people today “inviting” or perhaps befriending people who have status or prestige? How would our parties look if we spent our time and resources inviting and befriending the poor, crippled, lame, and blind? (Luke 14.12-14)

Have you ever had to back out of an event after you said you would attend? What reason did you have for backing out? In what ways do the reasons given by these people to not attend the banquet seem like reasonable excuses? In what ways do they seem like poor excuses? What excuses do we give for not following God today? How can we be sure we are not making those excuses? (Luke 14.15-20)

How different do you think the tone of this banquet would have been once the poor, crippled, blind, and lame were invited to the party? Is the point of Jesus’ parable for us to invite these people only after the original guests refused to attend? What is the point of the parable? (Luke 14.21-24)

How would the large crowds following Jesus have heard his comment to “take up your cross?” What does it mean for us to take up our cross today? What examples can you give of people following Jesus who have taken up their cross? How can we do a better job of taking up our own crosses? (Luke 14.25-33)

What purposes did salt have in Jesus’ day and age? What purposes do we have as “salt” today? How can we be sure to not be worthless salt? (Luke 14.34-35)

Activities:

Every week this section will list possible activities you and your family unit can do. You may pick one or perhaps do several during the course of a week. All are intended to be suitable for any age.

The Pharisees had specific laws as to what was and was not allowed on the Sabbath. When Jesus asks them if it is lawful heal on the Sabbath and to pull out a son or ox that had fallen into a pit, what would the “right” answer have been, according to Jewish writings? Research what the laws were for these questions.

Inviting someone to a banquet and then inviting again seems like an odd system. Study the customs of Jesus’ day to determine the protocol people used for banquets and such.

Make a list of people you might invite to a dinner party or birthday party at you house. Then make another list of people you would never think to invite to this party. What would it take for you to invite people from the second list?

Draw or paint a picture showing the two examples Jesus gives about counting the cost.

Our struggles may not be healing others on the Sabbath, but rather showing love to people when we have something “good” we need to be doing. This week, be aware of people who need your love and let them mess up your schedule, allowing time to show them love even when you have something else you need to be doing.

Invite someone from your second list above over for a meal.

Connect:

Find lessons, posts about the passages we are studying, and more information at 1homebiblestudy.org.

Find more information about our 1 Groups at 1groups.com.

Find out more information about South Plains at southplains.org.

Tag your posts with #1hbs.

by-nc-nd copy This work by South Plains Church of Christ and Robert A. Anderson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions-NonCommerical-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license.

Luke/Acts–Lesson08

Posted on 11/02/2015 by 1 Groups

Week of November 1

Text:

Luke 12-13

Summary:

As Jesus continues on his journey toward Jerusalem, he continues to instruct his followers as to the nature of what it means to follow him: to not worry, to be watchful, and to realize following him is not always without strife or struggles.

Text Notes:

Jesus continues to attract crowds, to the point they are trampling one another. While this happens, however, he instructs his disciples as to how following him means focusing on things beyond wealth, health, and safety. In our chapters today, he first wants the disciples (notice he is speaking to them, not the crowd) to beware of the Pharisees and their teachings. This warning moves from an admonition aimed at the Pharisees to instructions about God’s care and concern for those who follow Jesus in spite of hard circumstances. I tend to think that being brought before the rulers and authorities would not be taken as a delightful thing, but rather, something that would cause concern among the disciples. God’s care—illustrated by his concern for sparrows, small as they are—includes concern for the disciples, who will be guided by the Holy Spirit in these circumstances. Remember that the Holy Spirit is a (perhaps the) chief character in Luke’s two-part writing. When the Holy Spirit is mentioned, God is definitely at work in the events at hand.

Jesus uses a comment by a man who felt cheated by his brother’s willingness to share their inheritance to warn the people and his disciples about greed. He tells the crowd (perhaps he is still focused on the disciples, but the crowd certainly was within earshot) a parable about a man who continues to build bigger barns. The goal of the man is to get “enough” to one day be able to take it easy. The focus on that which is earthly is misguided, Jesus says. Focus rather on kingdom things that matter more and have life even beyond one’s earthly life.

This leads to Jesus giving his disciples instructions about not worrying. Again, the purpose of these instructions is to help his disciples see that focusing on the kingdom (“seek his kingdom,” v. 31) is priority over the things we often worry about or spend much of our time focusing on. God’s love for us is enough to provide care for us, so our focus needs to be on Him who provides, not on attempts to create self-sustenance in our own lives.

That focus on the kingdom carries over into how watchful we are to be. It is easy for us, I think, to assume Jesus will not return in our lifetime. After all, it has been two thousand years or so since he left, why would now be the time? I think Jesus’ instructions may be less about the fact he may return in the next hour and more about having a lifestyle that is so focused on him that the time of his return is of little consequence to us. Jesus has given us the responsibility of living a kingdom life now, it only makes sense for us to continue to live that life, especially when we consider his return.

Following Jesus, however, does not always mean life will be “peaceful.” Jesus reminds his disciples that to follow him means to give up everything, including relationships, if needed. This story may have resonated with Jesus’ early followers more than with us since many of his followers would have been faced with the challenge of turning against the beliefs of their family in order to follow Jesus.

Jesus wants his disciples to understand following him means bearing fruit that is consistent with the calling they have received. If one is an orchard owner, to give up ground in order to raise a tree that produces no fruit is a waste of resources. The whole purpose of growing the tree is to gather the fruit, so if it does not, it needs to be removed. The same is true for us. As followers of Jesus, our lives need to look like his and bear the fruit of him. If we are not, we are “wasting resources,” in a sense, but certainly not living the life we were called to live.

Keeping the Sabbath laws seem to be one of the primary ways in which conflict between the Pharisees and Jesus arose. Perhaps these laws were the easiest to quantify, so also the easiest to observe being broken. Jesus points out to the Pharisees that their law keeping was inconsistent and they missed the important point of bringing health and life to people, not preventing it from happening.

Our chapters close with a reminder of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and his impending death that would happen there. He is shown lamenting their rejection of him, a prophet set to die in Jerusalem for his people.

Discussion Questions:

When you go to church and hear warnings against behaving in the wrong way, whom do you expect those warnings to be spoken against? How do you think Jesus’ disciples—and the crowds surrounding them—reacted to hearing Jesus’ warnings against the Pharisees? Why is it comforting to know that God has concern for the sparrows and for you and even when you are arrested or brought before those against you, the Holy Spirit will be guiding you? (Luke 12.1-12)

Why is it easy for us to want to get bigger and better things? In what ways can we prevent ourselves from being like the rich fool in this passage? What do you think it means to be “rich towards God?” (Luke 12.13-21)

Why do we worry so much? In what ways have you found yourself concerned about what you will eat or what you will wear? What examples can you give from your own life (or from others you know) that show the power of seeking first the kingdom of God? How has God provided for you in these circumstances? What specific ways would you recommend to people to help them seek first the kingdom of God? (Luke 12.22-34)

Have you ever thought about when Jesus will return? Many people have claimed the end of the world on this date or that date. In what ways does doing so miss the point of Jesus’ parable here? How can you be ready and focused on the “return of the master” today? What sort of things would indicate you are not ready? What helps you focus on being prepared? (Luke 12.35-48)

How has your faith proven to be a division between you and others? Why is it so difficult for us to want to follow Jesus if we know doing so brings animosity or strife between others and us? (Luke 12.49-59)

In what ways do you feel like your life bears good fruit? How surprising is it for you to hear Jesus tell a parable about the need to bear good fruit and the punishment that will come upon those who do not? How can you better bear good fruit? (Luke 13.1-17)

How does Jesus’ description of the kingdom of God compare to what you might have expected him to say about the kingdom? In what ways do we assume the kingdom will be big and powerful, rather than starting small and growing? How have you seen “small” moments of kingdom living result in large changes of lives over time? (Luke 13.18-35)

Activities:

Every week this section will list possible activities you and your family unit can do. You may pick one or perhaps do several during the course of a week. All are intended to be suitable for any age.

Jesus makes a comparison between followers of his and those waiting for a master to return from a wedding banquet. Study the customs of weddings in Jesus’ day in order to better understand the point Jesus is making here.

What laws did the Jews have about the Sabbath? Why would they have considered watering a donkey or ox appropriate, but not healing a woman?

In what ways does Jesus describe the kingdom of God in Luke’s gospel? Find all of the passages about the kingdom. What sort of description can you give of the kingdom from these passages?

Pick one of the stories Jesus tells in Luke 12-13 and draw or create a picture of the scene Jesus describes in that passage.

Think of specific ways you can be more watchful today as you try to follow Jesus better.

Find a mother hen and her chicks. Watch how she takes care of and guards her chicks. How does this help you understand better Jesus’ words in Luke 13.24?

Connect:

Find lessons, posts about the passages we are studying, and more information at 1homebiblestudy.org.

Find more information about our 1 Groups at 1groups.com.

Find out more information about South Plains at southplains.org.

Tag your posts with #1hbs.

by-nc-nd copy This work by South Plains Church of Christ and Robert A. Anderson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions-NonCommerical-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license.

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