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?

Dealing With Pharisees Part I: Testing The Teacher

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 4 to study Luke 13:31-14:6.  I believe that I told everyone last Thursday that the "Dinner Party" started in verse 7, but I was wrong.  Chapter 14 verses 1 through 24 are the same "dinner party" in Luke.  So, we'll begin it this week and finish it next.

It will be helpful to read the context of this dinner party.  It forms one event in Luke, but could possibly have been a composite of several dinners with any number of hosts.  Luke has this as one event, which is also a possibility.  Either way, Jesus is not all that comfortable a guest to have in the house of this particular host.  He eventually insults the host and the other guests, thoroughly.

Read through the passage (this part, and the rest through 24 for context) several times.  Try and get a sense of the setting.  Journey, Pharisees coming to Jesus to warn Him about Herod, and then a chief of theirs invites Him to dinner.  How nice.  Everyone seems to be getting along.  Make notes from the perspective of yourself standing among the crowd witnessing this.  Including looking in on the dinner party as they recline with some diseased person standing there with them (how does that look in your mind?).  Make notes on what you see, what you hear, who is doing what, and why.

After you gone through your own observation journey, perhaps read it through in different translations, then maybe read a commentary or two.  See if that helps to define the scene better for you.  Adjust your notes and questions accordingly.

Then go back through with the questions below:

• Luke is clear to point out the immediacy of the next event.  Why do you think Luke would tie the Pharisees warning so closely with the previous statements?
• They warn that Herod wants to kill Jesus.  How likely, based on the crucifixion account later, do you think it is that they are right?
• Jesus responds that He must go to Jerusalem, because no prophet can die outside of the city.  While that's not strictly true, what do you think Jesus is getting at?
• Jesus has to cast out demons and perform cures on His way, but look at the timing.  To what do you think Jesus may be referring in His "third day" reference?
• Jesus then prophesies over Jerusalem in the form of a lament.  How do you feel about Jesus' words?  What emotions do they evoke for you?
• Jesus has wanted to gather the city like chicks under the wings of a mother hen.  As people hear this, what do you think they think about His words?  What do you think this sounds like? See if you can find a reference to this imagery in the Hebrew Scriptures (Hen gathering her chicks).
• What do you think Jesus' last comment refers to, His Triumphal Entry or His eventual appearing later? 
• Jesus then enters the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees.  How possible do you think it is that the preceding account was some sort of test?  What do you think the connection is?
• The "Guests" are watching Jesus very closely with a diseased person standing there.  He's obviously a plant (a human planted intentionally at the scene, not a shrub).  Jesus has already healed on the Sabbath several times already in Luke, so why would they be watching for what shouldn't really surprise them?  Have they not heard Jesus defend healing on the Sabbath before?  Don't these guys talk to each other?
• The man has a disease referred to in the KJV as "dropsy" and many other translations have picked this term as well.  Other modern versions call it "swelling".  Look up the word here in the Blue Letter Bible site.  What do you think it means, and what problems do you see in figuring that out?
• Jesus asks the guests (lawyers and Pharisees) about the legality before He heals.  Why do you think He would do that?
• They remains silent when asked about the legality.  Considering that Pharisees and lawyers don't always agree on things, why do you think they might have remained silent?
• Jesus heals the man and send him away.  Then starts the discussion.  What does it tell you about Jesus that He heals and sends him away first, then discusses it?
• Jesus then asks, who doesn't pull a son or a cow (really? cow?) out of a well on the Sabbath.  Again no one says a thing.  What is interesting to you about His question?  Consider His previous questions (13:15-16 for example), what is different here?
• They could not give an answer.  The NIV says they had nothing to say, but other translations state they were not able, and the Greek reads that way.  What do you think it means that they could not answer, why not?

That should keep us busy for some time.  Remember to be looking for the AHA moments as you read.  Let this stuff sink into your heart and remember it's for you in your walk with Jesus.  Let His Spirit interpret for you what He wants to reveal about you.  These are growth opportunities, let's grab them!