Ready and Waiting

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 23 to study Luke 12:35-48.  This is all about being ready, and the clear sense is that readiness refers to Jesus' return.

I figured this was a good stretch to try to get through.  There's a lot just in these verses without going further, but please read ahead if you like.  These verses have imagery of masters and slaves, but there are some really strange elements.  Some of the element refer back or forwards to other parables and statement of Jesus.

Read through the passage a few times.  Reading to the end of the chapter helps develop a local context as the topic of end-times is consistent through the end of the chapter.  Jot down notes, questions and observations.  Be sure to use different translations.  Then use commentaries with your notes.  After that go back through with the questions below:

• The first imagery Jesus uses is servants waiting for their master to return from a feast.  The idea (and custom) was that the feast could go long into the night, perhaps even into the next day (see verse 38 with the "watches" of the night).  So how do you think that applies to us, waiting day-to-day, for Jesus to return, knowing it hasn't happened in 2,000 years?  How do you understand this sort of "readiness"?
• When the master comes and finds the servants ready, he serves them.  This isn't Jesus using local custom, so what do you think He is referring to?  What do you think the people thought about that statement?
• The night was separated by the Romans into 3 watches, so what do you think it means for us that He may return in the "third watch"?
• Next the image is guarding the house against the thief.  This is reminiscent of the parable where the strong man had to be subdued before the house plundered (see Luke 11:21,22).  But here the problem being addressed is different.  There it was being strong enough to defend, here it's being awake enough to defend.  What do you think Jesus is wanting His followers to learn from this?
• Peter then asks about who this is for, the people or the disciples?  And Jesus then becomes very specific about "lead servants".  So what do you think was the answer for Peter?
• Who do you think the "lead servants" refers to today?
• Here the we find the statement in Luke that the one faithful over little is given much, but what does that mean in this context?
• This part of the passage has a parallel in Matthew 24:43-51.  What differences do you see between them?  Is the point the same?
• What do you think of the punishment for the unfaithful "lead servant"? in verse 46?
• Verses 47 and 48 don't really have a parallel with the other Gospels. What do you think Jesus is saying here? It sounds a bit like some bad servants are worse than others, so what do you think Jesus' point might be to the disciples?

That should keep us occupied for a bit. Remember to seek out and pay attention to those elements that jolt you Awake, be Honest about why and what you need to do, and then take that Action. 

Good Boy, Bad Boys

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting May 23 to study 1 Samuel 2.  This chapter has a lot in it; lofty praise, debased worship, a faithful servant, and unfaithful ones.  In it is the foreshadowing of much what happens in this book, and the prophecy at the end is seen fulfilled in stages throughout.

Read through the chapter several times.  It's good to read ahead a bit as well.  There are interesting descriptions, strange happenings, and harsh judgments.  After reading through a few times, read through again with the questions below:

• What is a "horn" refer to here?
• Hannah didn't go into battle, so to what is she referring here?
• In verse 8 what is God doing to everyone?
• What king?
• What is immediately strange about Eli's sons?
• Read Leviticus 3 and 7 about offerings.  Does this sound like the "custom" described here?
• On the other hand, read Number 6.  Now why does this sound so familiar?
• How did the sons of Eli deviate from the custom?  What was it they weren't waiting for?
• What is the reason they chose to get raw meat instead of cooked?
• What about not waiting was "despising" the offering of Yahweh?
• How often did Samuel see his mother?
• What did Eli think of this arrangement?
• What happens to Hannah after dropping off Samuel?
• What else were Eli's sons up to?
• What sounds odd about what Eli says about sin?
• Why didn't his sons listen?
• What does verse 26 sound like?
• Who comes to visit Eli?  What is he?  Keep this in mind as we get into the next chapter (or read ahead), it's peculiar.
• What is the charge of Yahweh against Eli?
• If you have an NASB version, what does all the italics in verse 32 mean?  Read the verse leaving those words out, what does that do to the meaning?
• Why won't Yahweh cut off every man of Eli from the altar?
• What sign does Yahweh give that these things will begin happening?
• Who is this "faithful priest"?

That should be enough for now.  Be sure to be reading and jotting down your own questions as well.