Leader Guide 4-27-08 / Luke 15:1-7

Small Group Leaders Guide
April 27, 2008

How To Save A Life
Luke 15:1-7

Getting Started:
1. Have you ever temporarily lost your child; maybe in a department store or on the playground? As best you can, explain your feelings and what was going through your thoughts at the time.


Going Deeper:
2. Read Luke 15:1-2. Since becoming a Christian, how hard has it been to maintain relationships with non-believers? Do you intentionally plan time with non-believing friends or relatives for the purpose of sharing the teachings of Christ with them?

3. Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep in response to the comments found in verses 1 and 2. How does the parable address the specific concerns of the Pharisees and teachers of the law?

• It almost seems like Jesus is saying, “Wouldn’t you do this?” Or, “If a shepherd would go after his sheep like this, how much more would our Father in Heaven seek His lost children?”

4. In verse 4 we see the phrase, “go after.” Where else in Scripture can you find encouragement to “go after” with respect to saving lost people?

• Matthew 28:19
• Luke 4:43
• Matthew 20:4
• Luke 9:60
• Luke 19:10
• Mark 1:38
• Mark 16:15
• Acts 16:10
• Romans 1:14-15

5. Look up the word “lost” from verse 4 in your concordance and find the definition for the Greek word. How does this help us look through the eyes of Jesus as He sees those who are “lost?”

• The Strong’s Concordance number for lost is 622. The Greek word is apollumee. It means to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin, render useless, to kill, to declare that one must be put to death, to perish, be lost, ruined, destroyed.

6. In this story, how long did the shepherd look for his sheep?

7. Read verse 7. In the previous verses, the word, “repent” is not found. Why do you think it appears here? Shouldn’t verse 7 read, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who is found……?”

• Repentance is a key component of being “found.”
• Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

8. For a person to be “found” or “saved,” what must happen? How do you see yourself playing a role in that?

• Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

9. Often, when we talk about evangelism at our church, we refer to the “go and tell” method and the “come and see” approach. What are those two phrases describing? Which are you more involved with?

• The “go and tell” method could be described as evangelism proper. In other words, it is the activity of preaching the Good News to people from your own mouth.
• The “come and see” method is inviting someone to a setting where the Good News is being preached by someone other than you.

Putting it into practice:
10. How will you embrace the activity of evangelism in your Christian walk? Pray about that in your group.

11. Make the decision today, to act on one of the opportunities that are listed on the Sunday message outline and were mentioned on Sunday morning. Discuss with your group, which you will choose and why.


Quote Of The Week:
Saving knowledge is diffused over the earth, not like sunlight but like torchlight, which is passed from hand to hand.
--James Strachan

Leader Guide 4-20-08 / Luke 14:16-24

Small Group Leaders Guide
April 20, 2008

Putting Priorities In Perspective
Luke 14:16-24

Getting Started:
1. Would you buy a house without looking at it first?

2. Have you ever said yes to an invitation and when the time came, backed out?


Going Deeper:
3. In this parable, people were invited to a banquet and people were told the banquet was ready. Which happened first? Or, did the invitation and the news that the banquet was ready both come at the same time? Why is this an important question regarding this parable?

• The people knew ahead of time that a banquet was being prepared for them. Presumably, the invitation had been accepted otherwise there would be no need to send a servant to let them know it was ready.
• The time to decline the invitation would have been at the time the invitation was received, not after all of the arrangements have been made.
• The reasons these people are giving for being unable to attend the banquet are frankly, insulting.
• What reason would the owner of the house have for being angry if the guests had not known and committed to the banquet beforehand?

4. In verse 18, what kept this guest from coming to the banquet? On a scale of 1-10, how lame was his excuse?

• I give him a 10! However, if you were here for the Sunday message, Mike made the case that the end result is the same even if the reasons given are completely legit!
  
• Maybe the owner of the house should have tried a little harder to schedule the banquet for a time that would have been more convenient for the guests.
• Is it right for the owner of the house to expect the guest to make good on his commitment?

5. In this parable, who are the invited guests? Why don’t they come?

6. Read Luke 14:24 and Matthew 21:43. What are the consequences of rejecting the invitation referred to in this parable?

7. In Luke 14:21, the owner of the house became angry. Why is he angry? Do you think anger is the appropriate response? What right does the owner have to be angry?

• One reason he could have a right to anger would be if the invitations were already agreed to. If they hadn’t been, he should have simply dealt with the fact that people were unable to attend and had other plans for that particular time.
• Another reason anger could be justified would be the nature of the excuses. These excuses were personal insults. One man “must” go to see a purchased field he probably had seen before he bought it. The second excuse is as worthless as the first; would anyone have bought oxen without examining them? In both instances, materialism got in the way of honoring an invitation already extended and accepted.
• The third excuse has more validity in the light of Deuteronomy 24:5. Yet, marriage was not, especially in that society, an abrupt decision and could hardly have been an unexpected factor that intervened between the first and second invitations.

8. Where else in the Bible would you find teaching about a feast or banquet that people are being invited to attend.

• Isaiah 25:6-8
• Revelation 19:9
• Matthew 22:1-14

9. From your own experience, how do you explain why so many say “No” to God’s incredible “banquet”? What view of God does the average un-churched person have?

10. Last week we talked about entering through the narrow door. How does this parable compliment or elaborate on that teaching?


Putting it into practice:
11. How have concerns about other things caused you to put God second? Pray about this in your groups?

12. Are there commitments that you are leaving unfulfilled? Pray about this in your groups.


Quote Of The Week:
Erase all thought and fear of God from a community, and selfishness and sensuality would trample in scorn on the restraints of human laws. Virtue, duty, and principle would be mocked as unmeaning sounds.
--William Ellery Channing

Leader Guide 4-13-08 / Luke 13:23-30

Small Group Leaders Guide
April 13, 2008

Putting Eternity In Perspective
Luke 13:23-30

Getting Started:
1. Some people say that “all roads lead to God.” What is your response to that?

2. One a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you’re saved? Why?

3. Today’s passage talks about entering through Jesus (the narrow door) into eternal life. Can you point to the time in your life when you entered through the “narrow door?” When was it?

Going Deeper:
2. In Luke 13:24, Jesus twice uses the word, “enter.” Enter what?

• Salvation seems to be in view based on the question that Jesus was asked.
• The kingdom of God is mentioned in verse 28.

3. Why do you think Jesus uses the word, “narrow” to describe the door in verse 24?

4. Read Luke 13:24. In this verse, many people are trying to enter but are not able. Why? Are they trying to enter through the narrow door or some other door?

5. Read Matthew 7:13-14. Is this verse describing more than one entry point? Where do the gates described in this verse lead?

6. Verse 25 describes the door as being closed. What do you think this phrase is pointing to?

7. In verse 26, the people are disputing the statement that “I don’t know you or where you come from.” If it’s true that they ate and drank with him and that he taught in their streets, how can the owner of the house say he doesn’t know them?

8. Read Numbers 21:4-9. How many ways to be saved are described in this passage? Where in the New Testament do you find a reference to this Old Testament event? What was the point of this New Testament reference?

• John 3:14

9. Read Exodus 12:1-23. How many ways to be saved are being described in this passage? What is the Passover symbolic of? Read 1Corinthians 5:7.

10. If someone told you that he sincerely believes in God and worships God, but rejects Jesus, do you think that person is “saved?” Why or why not? What Bible passages help to answer this question?

• John 5:23, 5:37-38, 8:19, 8:42, 12:48-50, 15:23
• 1John 2:22-23, 4:2-3, 5:9-12
• 2John 1:7-9
• Luke 10:16
• Jude 1:4

Putting it into practice:
1) The "Getting Started" question above asks, “On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you’re saved?” If you have questions about your standing with God, take time to talk about that with your group.
2) Are there people close to you that don’t know Jesus is the only way to Heaven? Pray for them in your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
--Jesus

Leader Guide 4-6-08 - Luke 12:22-34

Small Group Leaders Guide
April 6, 2008

Putting Worry In Perspective

Luke 12:22-34

Getting Started:
1. How many synonyms and antonyms can you come up with for the word, “worry”?

• Synonyms: Be anxious, agonize, brood, panic, get worked up, get stressed, be unsettled, agitated, scared, flustered.
• Antonyms: Faith, peace, prayer,

Going Deeper:
2. Read Luke 12:22 and 12:32. Would you describe worry as a type of fear?

• Worry is either a type of fear or it is based on fear.

3. Is there a difference between worry and concern? If so, what is it? How are the two similar?

• Many people think worry is "just a part of life." However, worry is an activity that is destructive, worthless, and always counterproductive. Some people think that the opposite of worry is apathy. This is not so. Apathy’s opposite is concern. This can sometimes be confusing because it seems these two are really the same thing. But they’re not. In as much as a phobia is an unreasonable fear, worry is an unreasonable concern.
• Our culture is often quite supportive of worry because of the misguided connection with caring. Often, if you tell someone you do not worry about an issue, they may wonder if it is because you do not care. But worry is not a sign of caring; concern is the real companion of caring.
• So, concern and worry are two different things. You can be concerned about what you will eat or what you will wear without being worried about these things.

4. Read Luke 12:32. What do you think Jesus is trying to communicate by calling the people, “little flock?”

5. Read Mark 4:18-19 and Luke 10:41-42. What are some of the dangers of worrying? How has worry caused something negative in your life?

6. Read Luke 12:32-34. Do you think this is a command for today? In verse 33, what do you think the main point is?

• Jesus did not ask His disciples to sell everything they had. Notice that the word “all” is neither present nor implied in this verse. Do you think Jesus meant to free His disciples up from some of their belongings to simplify their lives? To alleviate worries?
• Do you think the point of verse 33 is that His disciples should own nothing? Own less? Do whatever it takes in life to be able to put God first?

7. Verse 34 refers to “your treasure.” What does Jesus mean by that? What is your treasure? Have you experienced your heart being where your “treasure” is?

8. Having your heart where your treasure is sounds very warm and fuzzy. How might having your “heart where your treasure is” be a negative thing?

9. Do you think a person could stop worrying simply by choosing not to? Read Luke 21:14-15 and Philippians 4:6-7. How do these Scriptures encourage/teach you not to worry?

10. What are some of your favorite Scripture passages or verses that encourage you when you feel worried? Share them with your group.

Putting it into practice:
1) On Sunday, we were challenged to find one way that worry was keeping us from putting God first. What area is that for you?

2) Do you find it hard to keep from worrying? What do you think would help? Pray about this in your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
--Jesus

Therefore - Bible Study Tip

Therefore, to more fully understand a statement that begins with the word therefore, you have to take an additional step.








This is a good case-in-point. You're probably wondering what this blog post is all about. Scroll down to find out.

Therefore - Bible Study Tip

Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

Good question huh?

Assuming you have never read this passage from Matthew 21, what do you think the answer might be?
Obviously, you’ll never know what answer Jesus is looking for without some additional information. And the information you will want is whatever information explains “therefore.” Since this sentence starts with the word, “therefore” it is apparent that the answer to the question is somehow connected to something that is referred to by the word, “therefore.”

In other words:

The word, “therefore” appears 159 times in the New Testament.
What does therefore mean? Another way of saying therefore, would be by saying “because of this,” “in response to this,” or “consequently.”
That seems to prompt a question, doesn’t it?
“Because of what?” “As a consequence to what?”
Whenever you see the word, “therefore,” keep in mind that it is referring to something previously stated in the passage you are reading. This word connects at least two sections (sometimes more) of Scripture together in a type of cause/effect relationship.
Therefore, to more fully understand a statement that begins with the word therefore, you have to take an additional step. You must have an understanding of what preceded it. Stop where you are, back up and read the passages that come before. This will provide more context and will help you to better understand and apply what the Scripture is teaching.