Finding Party

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting September 1 to study Luke 15 (since we didn't even touch it last week).  This chapter is made up of 3 parables about the rejoicing in heaven over repentant people.  The first two setup the third.

Read through these a few times.  Their familiarity, especially with the third will be the biggest barrier to really understanding them.  I found it very helpful to keep Luke 14:25-35 in view as you read through these parables because together they provide balance to the issue of evangelism, an intrinsic issue in these parables.

If you're only going to read it once, or focus on it once, do it with an unfamiliar translation.  Jot down things you notice, questions that come up, and details you don't remember quite that way before.  After making your own study, go back through with the questions below:

• After Jesus turns to the many crowds following Him and tells them how expensive it is to be a 'disciple', now "all the tax collectors and sinners" are following Him.  Considering the previous passage, how committed do you think these tax collectors and sinners were about following Jesus?
• Both the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble about all the tax collectors and sinners around Jesus and His close association with them.  What does that tell you about these two ends of the spectrum of "righteousness" among those following Jesus?
• Why do you think the Pharisees and scribes always seem to be around Jesus as well?
• Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, explaining how the shepherd leaves the 99 in the fields to find the lost one.  And then finding celebrates with his friends and neighbors.  Jesus explains this to illustrate the celebrating in heaven over one repentant person.  So, what do you think is the point to those following Jesus?  Where are they in the parable?
• Jesus then tells the parable of the lost coin where the woman seeks diligently, and then celebrates with her friends and neighbors when she finds it.  Again the rejoicing in heaven is the explanation.  So where are the listeners around Jesus in this parable?
• Then the parable of the lost son.  Now there is a lot more detail.  The lost son repents for one thing (only found in the previous explanations).  The father goes out while the son is still far off, but how diligently is the father seeking the son, as in the previous two parables?
• The lost son is welcomed back and they throw a party.  The elder son is upset (like the Pharisees and scribes).  So, how do you think the father's explanation to his elder son clarifies the response of heaven, and what Jesus expects of the "righteous"?
• Consider again the cost of discipleship from the previous chapter.  How do you see that relating to these parables of rejoicing over finding lost?  How do you see "discipleship" related to elements of the parables or their explanations?

It is likely we won't get through all of chapter 15, but it's possible we will.  The "AHA" of this chapter should be easy since we spent so much time on this parable through that study.  But see what you can do tying the cost of discipleship to the parables, and what you learn from that?

The High Cost of Following

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting August 18 to study Luke 14:25-35.  This passage wraps up the chapter, but it also serves as a transitional narrative between the banquet which begins Chapter 14 and the set of parables about God's perspective of kingdom people living outside the kingdom (all of chapter 15).

This is essentially about the cost of discipleship but with lots of other elements sprinkled throughout.  Read through the passage asking "why" a lot.  This is a familiar passage, but there are some elements that should give us reasons to ask why Jesus said that, and said it that way.  Once through, see what you think about what it means to be a disciple.

After reading through making your own notes and questions, go back through with the questions below:

• Jesus has basically just come away from a meal where He says the people assuming they're in with God won't be.  So now many throngs of people follow Him.  What do you think these crowds are seeking from Jesus?
• Jesus says to "be His disciple" means to hate ones own family and even themselves.  First off, what do you think Jesus means by "disciple"?  Second, how do you understand this familiar but difficult statement?  How do you think this "hate" for ones family and self would look today?
• Jesus speaks to them as if the cost of being one of His "peeps" is very expensive.  So what do you think Jesus thinks the crowd is after Him for?
• Jesus has used the "cross carrying" motif before (Luke 9:23).  But here it's a bit different.  What do you think is the difference in Jesus' point here from before? (be sure to look at the context of both passages)
• In each element (hating family or carrying cross), the result is that if someone does not do it they cannot be a disciple.  Why do you think it's not possible without these two things?
• Jesus gives two examples of how to approach the desire to be His disciple.  Both advise making sure upfront that you have what it takes before venturing to be a disciple.  How do you think this applies to "missionary" or "evangelism" work? (Consider Matthew 28:19-20)
• Considering the use of the term "disciple" by Jesus, what should people think through before deciding to become one?
• Who comes to your mind when you think of a foundation but no complete building, in terms of people following Jesus?
• The king is already on his way and hasn't yet figured out what he's going to do when he meets the other king.  What sort of picture does this paint for you?
• Verse 33 is very much in line with Luke's theme of discipleship.  What does this do for you and the "cost of discipleship"?
• After discussing the cost of discipleship, Jesus then uses this illustration of salt.  In what way do you see tasteless salt relating to the cost of discipleship?
• How is the tasteless salt like either one of the preceding examples of a tower and going to war?
• Look up Matthew 5:13 and Mark 9:50.  How do you think these two other uses of the tasteless salt relate?  Same point or different?

The one having ears to hear, listen!

A Difficult Dinner Guest

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting August 11 to study Luke 14:7-24.  This passage wraps up the banquet narrative begun in verse 1.  In it Jesus essentially makes sure He doesn't miss insulting anyone, host to guests.  Consider this passage as best as you can from the perspective of a First Century Jew.

The passage strings together an address to the guests as they pick places to sit, a criticism of the host, a 'depressurizing' comment of one of the guests, and a final parable denouncing the Jewish inclusion in the 'Kingdom of God'.  Read through these and imagine you are one of those around the edges of the event looking and listening in.  What do you hear?  What do you see?  Imagine the look on everyone's faces, and so on.

Read through the passage in a couple of translations.  I think you'll find they are mostly in agreement except for word choice.  Make some notes and jot down questions.  Think through the scene, starting at verse 1.  As you 'walk through', what do you notice?  After having gone through a few commentaries, go back through with the questions below:

• Luke calls Jesus' comment to the guests as He sees them picking spots a parable.  Do you see any 'story' elements here? What makes Jesus' response to them a parable?
• Jesus says to pick the spot at the bottom of the table, the least honor.  What do you think is risky about following His advice?
• According to Jesus, by picking the chief place you risk humiliation, if someone of greater honor shows up and all the other spots are taken.  What does that sound like to you?  Who's actually invited, and how do you imagine seating is arranged?
• Jesus claims that by taking the lower seat, the guest would be raised up.  What if he isn't?
• Jesus claims that there will be a reversal in verse 11.  So, do you think this is a general rule of life or something about 'end-times' or something about life in church, or what?
• Jesus then begins on the host saying he invited the wrong people.  Why do you think Jesus would start in on the host?  What do you think is the problem with not inviting those close to you to a banquet?
• Jesus recommends inviting those who cannot repay by reciprocating.  How do you think this applies to us today?  How can we follow this advice?  How comfortable are you with it?
• Jesus says the repayment for following His advice comes in the resurrection of the righteous.  Why do you think Jesus put it that way?  What do you think He meant by that?
• Some random guest takes Jesus final comment, and probably tries to relieve the awkwardness of the host and guests by declaring common ground.  Why do you think he would do that?  What do you see as his assumptions?
• Jesus begins another parable, this time of a host inviting guests.  The excuses given are very specific.  What are the odds that those at the table have used them before, and might see this as a very personal example?
• Jesus then says the host, having been rebuffed by the invited guests calls those Jesus has suggested to His host.  What do you think this meant to the guests and host hearing this parable?
• Then, there's still room, and the servant is told to go outside the city to get people.  What do you think this is a reference to?
• Jesus wraps up the parable by stating that none of those invited at first will eat of the banquet.  What do you think that means to the other guests and host?
• What do you see as Jesus' point with this last parable?

Keep in mind that so much of this is applicable today, and none of us would be or should be all that comfortable with the application.  Consider how the spiritual gift of "hospitality" is played out considering this passage.  It's a little or a lot disturbing.  What can we do about that?