Leader Guide 5-18-08 / Luke 18:18-24

Small Group Leaders Guide
May 18, 2008

I Just Can’t Give It Up

Luke 18:18-24

Getting Started:
1. If you saw Jesus walking around teaching the crowds, would you approach Him? What questions would you ask Him?

Going Deeper:
2. This story begins with a man asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Since it is clear later on that he believes he has kept God’s commandments, why do you think he asked this question?

• Maybe, by calling the teacher good, and thinking that he himself is also good, this was a way to identify with the teacher and become a comrade of sorts. You could imagine his despair in finding out how much he wasn’t like his teacher.
• Maybe, while he realized that he had kept the commandments, he still had the sense that he was missing or lacking something but just couldn’t put his finger on it.

3. Read verse 22- The man’s original question is “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” If most of us were asked that question our answer would be something about repenting of sins and believing in Christ. Not “sell all you have…” Why does Jesus give this answer in this instance?

4. In Luke 18:23, why is the man sad?

• It appears that when he found out what it would cost to inherit eternal life, he realized that he wasn’t willing to pay the price.
• He discovered that his wealth was his god.

5. In Luke 18:22, Jesus said to the man, “You still lack one thing.” What do you think the one thing was? What makes you think so?

• A relationship with Christ? (“come follow me”)
• Spiritual treasure? (“give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven”)
• A commitment to the first commandment? (The man had kept commandments 5 through 9 since he was a boy and when asked to sell everything, he went away sad.)
• A correct understanding about what it takes to get to heaven?
• A correct understanding about what might keep him out of heaven?
• All of the above?

6. In Luke 18:19, Jesus asked the man, “Why do you call me good?” Why do you think Jesus asks this question?

7. In Luke 18:20, Jesus tells the man, “you know the commandments.” Why does Jesus point the man to the commandments as a response to the question posed?

8. Read verse 24. Why is it “hard” for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Can you think of verses that talk about reasons wealth presents unusual spiritual challenges? If it’s hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Is the opposite true, is it “easy” for poor people to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

9. Does this story mean that everyone who comes to Christ has to give up everything they have? If you say “no” how do you reconcile a “no” with Luke 14:33 and even the disciples own response in verse 28?

10. Read verse 29-30, and then compare it to Mark 10:30 Both verses promise a reward in this age and also the age to come. What does it mean to receive “many times” as much in this age? In Mark 10:30, it’s even more specific, it says “a hundred times”. What is Jesus promising? What do we get on this side of eternity?


Putting it into practice:
11. Is there something you need to give up in order to go up in your relationship with Christ? Pray about that in your groups.


Quote Of The Week:
Wealth takes away the sharp edges of our moral sensitivities and allows a comfortable confusion about sin and virtue.
--Henri Nouwen