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!

Choosing Followers; Giving Marching Orders

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 3 to study Luke 6:12 through as far as we get.  We probably won't get much further than the choosing of the Twelve.

Seeing the choosing and the immediately following sermon as connected ties who was chosen to the 'job description' for the position.  These can be disconnected, but I believe in Luke's mind they are very closely connected.  The main reason is that, between them, the distinct grammatical element of "Now it happened..." (v.1), or "And it came to pass..." found in verse 1 and 12 is missing in verse 17.  This construction also appears in verse 6 but is left untranslated in nearly every translation due to a textual variant leaving it out.  Luke has used this structure nearly every time he transitions from one event to another.  So that it's missing in verse 17 is something to consider.

If you're still awake, go ahead and read through the remainder of the chapter.  Keep in mind that this passage generally parallels Matthew 5 through 7.  Reading them together is helpful, but can also be confusing.  Matthew doesn't connect the sermon to the selection of the Twelve, but does mention the disciples.  He also has more than double the amount of sayings of Jesus; many of which do not occur in Luke at all (others are located in other places in Luke).

But we may not get further than the distinct differences between the different lists of the Twelve this week.  For comparison, these lists are found in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, and Acts 1:13 (also by Luke).  Some name differences, like two, are easy to reconcile.  Others can be, but some can't. So work through them, but also be ready to accept that we just simply don't know.

The order of study should be to read the passage first, jotting down your own thoughts and questions.  Only after you have studied on your own should you look at other sources.  Let the Spirit lead you first so He can point out to you the areas He wants to work on in your life; your own AHA moments.

After you have a good handle on the passage, let me shake it up a little as you go through the questions below.  These only go through the selection of the Twelve and the setup for the sermon.

• What does it reveal to you about the Trinity that Jesus has the need to pray all night before He selects the Twelve?
• Jesus selects twelve of His disciples and designates them apostles.  Considering that the word apostle basically meant "emissary" or simply "someone on a mission for someone else", why do you think this designation was used here?
• Andrew, the brother of Peter makes the top, right behind his brother. In Matthew he's in the same place, in Mark though he's buried in the middle.  Since Mark gets his material from Peter, why do you think he would put Andrew so much lower?
• At least Andrew is in every list.  In Luke, who is this other "Judas" (see also John 14:22), and where is Thaddeus?  And why does no one include Nathaniel (see John 1:45)?
• Consider the other lists.  What do you think about differences in order?
• In Matthew 5, the sermon occurs on a mountain (Matthew 5:1).  Here Luke has Jesus descending to a "level place".  Considering the content similarities why do you think that the "places" are different?
• Luke has Jesus working as He speaks.  He's healing, and people are being healed just by touching Him.  Luke mentions that the power to heal is radiating from Him.  Why do you think this element of the setting is important for the content of the sermon?
• People came from Tyre and Sidon, not just Jerusalem and Judea.  Look Tyre and Sidon up on a map.  Do you think that there were Gentiles in the group?  Why do you think the possibility might be important to Luke?

After going through the questions, consider your observations, what you've read in commentaries, and whatever you been able to glean from the questions above.  What AHA moments have you discovered in this passage?  What actions do you need to take in light of what you've discovered?