The Care and Feeding of Dinner Guests

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 3 to study Luke 7:36-50. This is one of a couple of dinner parties Jesus is invited to where He winds up embarrassing the host.

As you read through the passage a few times, be sure to look for cultural things that sound strange, customs, word choices; try to imagine what the whole scene looks like.  Make notes of these things, and jot down questions along with observations.  Once you've gone through a few times with your own observations and questions, go back through with some sort of commentary.  Some of your questions will be answered, and other questions will come up.

After you've worked through the passage on your own, go back through with the questions below:

• We're not told where this event happens, but it seems to immediately follow Jesus' statement about the Pharisees and Lawyers disbelief.  How likely do you think it is that this Pharisee, Simon heard and understood Jesus' prior statement about "this generation"?
• The woman is considered a "sinner in the city".  It's not like a secret or anything, so what do you think it would take for her to reach Jesus through the people at or around the dinner party?
• Why do you think she would go through all that to reach Jesus?  To this point, He hasn't done much more than heal, cast out demons, and preach about forgiveness.  Like the Centurion, we're left wondering what she heard about Jesus that prompts this response.  What do you think it is about Jesus at this point in His ministry that prompts this woman to go to Him?
•  The woman has purchased a vial of perfume.  We're not told details about cost here, but that aside, what do you think it took for her to weep, to wipe His feet, and then anoint Jesus' feet with the perfume?  Why do you think she thought to honor Him in this way?
• The Pharisee "said to himself", why not out loud?  What does this tell you about "Simon the Pharisee"?
• Simon the Pharisee thinks of Jesus as a prophet.  Why a prophet?  What sort of "Messiah" do you think this indicates the Pharisee is looking for, or is he looking?
• Jesus calls Simon the Pharisee out on what he's thinking by telling him a "parable" about debtors and forgiveness.  What do you think the Pharisee is thinking about the "rhetorical" question Jesus asks about who "loved" more?
• The city-sinner woman hasn't been forgiven yet so what do you think Jesus is getting at with His comparison of her treatment of Him and the Pharisee's?
• If Jesus' comparison is between two people who have been forgiven, what does that tell you about Simon the Pharisee? Do you think that Jesus considers Simon the Pharisee forgiven?
• Do you think Simon considered himself "forgiven", or would he have understood himself as one of the debtors along with the city-sinner woman?
• Jesus tells the woman that her many sins are forgiven.  What do you think Simon the Pharisee thought of that?
• The others at the table begin "saying among themselves", but the grammatical structure is very similar to Simon the Pharisee's except it's plural not singular.  Do you think they spoke out loud and among each other or silently to themselves?
• These at the table also see the woman touching Jesus and hear His parable with explanation.  So why do you think they focus on Jesus' statement about her sins rather than the love for the "forgiver" which is Jesus' point?
• Jesus sends her away in peace.  What do you think was said after the city-sinner woman leaves?
• There are possible parallel accounts in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8.  How likely do you think it is that all of these are the exact same event or woman?

 Now consider what element of this account of Jesus, whether from what you discovered in the text or from a commentary, woke you up to something in your life that needs to change.  If you're honest about yourself in light of that element, what action is the Holy Spirit leading you to take?  What change needs to happen in you based on what you learn here?

That should do it for this week!

You Want Me to Do What? Part 1

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 17 to study Luke 6:20-49 (or as far as we can get).  This is Luke's "Sermon on the Plain".  Like the "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5 through 7, it can be very difficult to receive.  It teaches a completely different perspective on living than human cultures have developed.  Other religious views (like Buddhism) have approximated this sort of view without actually going this far with it.

As you read this passage through, I want you to really fight the urge not to take these teachings at face value.  Think, "This is what Jesus wants me to do, and how He wants me to think." I really, truly, want you to take it seriously.  With that perspective, take notes, jot down questions, go through it a few times.  You may get angry, in fact there could be a whole range of emotions that you discover with this passage.

Once you've been through it yourself, go back through it with a commentary or two.  You will, no doubt, find some rationalization in commentaries.  Where you do, see if you can work past their rationalizations.  Try and maintain a sense of plain meaning with this text.  Only after you have been through the passage yourself, and then through with some commentary go through again with the questions below.

• The "Beatitudes" start with the actual poor instead of the "poor in spirit" as in Matthew.  Why do you think the social/economic category of "poor" would be so important for Luke?
• The next is aimed at the hungry, how might this be different from "poor"?
•  The next is aimed at those mourning, but what they mourn is not mentioned.  Why do you think Luke would use this as a category without narrowing it down based on what is being mourned?  Notice the range of explanation in commentaries.  That usually means that no one really knows.
• The fourth is about how others outside the fellowship of faith treat you.  This is very similar to the final Beatitude in Matthew 5.  How much of this do you think the disciples had to deal with during Jesus' ministry?
• Go back through the four "Beatitudes".  Why are the poor "Blessed" or happy?  Why are the hungry blessed?  Why are the mourning blessed?  What value is there in being mistreated for our faith?  In each case, what is Luke pointing toward?  Why do you think we don't we hear more of this today?
• Go through the "Woes" the same way as the "Blesseds".  Why the rich as a category, why the "well-fed", why the "laughing"?  Ask the same questions about them we did of the blesseds above.
• The sets of four "Happy" and "Woe to" statements are aimed at social/economic categories of people.  What does this tell you about how God views these categories?
• Jesus says to "Love your enemies" and moves on to explain how: do good to those hating you, bless the ones cursing you, pray for the one abusing you, turn the other cheek, give more than asked, do not resist a demand.  How does all this feel to you?  What is your emotional response?  Why do you think that you respond/feel that way?
• Jesus' underlying reason for His charge to love your enemies is to treat others how we want to be treated (v.31).  What does this tell you about how Jesus views your "enemies"?  How do you feel about that?
• Jesus then proceeds to explain how His followers are to be different from "sinners".  If we do merely what they do, there should be no expectation of a benefit from God.  How do you feel about that?  Why do you think you feel that way?
• Look up "kind" from verse 35 here. Really consider the fist (I.) definition listed.  Read that statement of Jesus replacing "kind" with "useful".  Now read Jesus' final explanation of how we are like God when we behave and think this way.  How do you feel about that, and why?
• In the Hebrew Scriptures, there's no exact quote from verse 36.  But look at this phrase repeated in Leviticus over and over:  Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7,26; 21:8.  How do you think these two phrases might be related, or could they be?
• The next section, especially verse 37 is often quoted, but not necessarily understood.  Look up 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 5:3, 9-13.  Based on Paul's understanding of 'judging others', what do you think Jesus means here?
• Consider the context with verse 37.  The next set of statements has to do with forgiveness and giving.  Why do you think Jesus would connect that with judgement? How does this connection help you better understand judging others?
• Jesus moves through four reciprocating attitudes toward others.  In each case do you view the reciprocation coming from God or other people?  Why did you choose whichever one you chose?
• Jesus then threads blind leading blind, disciples and teachers, and beams versus splinters in the eye.  We have probably heard a lot of these taken on their own, but what connection do you see between blind leading blind and disciples being above teachers?  How about disciples being above teachers and helping someone with a splinter when you have a beam in your own eye?  What's the connection there?
• Why do you think Jesus is telling them these parables?  Jesus is a power radiating healing machine as He tells them this.  Would they really think that they're smarter than Him?  Who is this for, and why is Jesus telling them?
• Fruit shows the kind of tree...how do you see this related to the blind leading blind, disciples and teachers, and board-eyed splinter helpers?
• From the treasury of the heart the mouth speaks.  This is related to fruit, but also to the previous parables.  Again, what do you see as the connection?
• Jesus wraps up with obedience and what it looks like for disobedience.  How do you see this connected to the previous "fruit/words" point, and the three parables?
• If Jesus is so adamant about obedience at the end, then how should we approach the treatment of the poor versus rich from the beginning?  What about the treatment of enemies?

I can't imagine there being no AHA moments from this.  I don't think I even need to list out how to process it as such.  You know what to do...

One More Last Thing

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Group meeting November 13 to study the last chapter of 1 Corinthians, sixteen.  This chapter is a typical concluding chapter of Paul's letters.  It's full of lots of housekeeping and last minute challenges, greetings, soft words, and hard words.

Read through it a few times, perhaps, if you're ambitious, read through the whole letter, and then through this chapter a few times.  Try and get a sense of what Paul is trying to make sure is not lost, what he is attempting to shore up or emphasize, and perhaps a view of his heart.  Jot down notes, observations, and questions to bring Thursday.

After reading through a few times, made notes, and questions, read through again with the questions below.

• The 'collection' is a new topic for the letter, but do you think it is new to the church in Corinth?
• What is the purpose of verse 2, why do you think he's giving this instruction?  Do you think it is a slight to the church in Corinth or a general suggestion/rule?
• The collection is for believers in Jerusalem.  Why would the church in Corinth be all that interested in the church in Jerusalem?  What would be their motivation for sending money?
• Paul's travel arrangements are simply details, but do you see a pattern of his travel?  What route is he following to get to them?  (see Acts 16 and 17)
• Why do you think Paul would want to spend so much time with a group with whom he seems to have so many problems?  What does his tone sound like to you?
• Timothy may come before he gets there.  Why do you think Timothy may have cause to 'fear' from the Corinthians?
• So, do you sense Apollos does or does not want to go see them?  What do you think about Paul encouraging him to go?  What do you thing that might mean for other comments made by Paul in the beginning of the letter (see chapter 3)?
• Verse 13 begins a 'staccato' stream of commands, what do you think of these?  Why do you think they would be necessary for the believers in Corinth?
• In verse 15, is a charge to submit to leaders, and Paul names one specifically.  Considering the problems he has sited throughout may have been with 'leaders' or household 'church hosts', what do you think of his 'short list'?  Why do you think naming this one is important?
• Now the named leader is also the one who, with some others delivered help from them to him.  So, what does that tell you about 'collections' in the church?  What does that tell you about Stephanas?
• Review Aquila and Prisca (Acts 18). What do you think of these two?  How does this greeting fit their depiction in Acts 18?
• Greetings like this seem odd to us in our culture, but aside from that, what do you think of the differences between the greetings from 'Asia' and how Paul says to greet each other?  Why do you think he may have used that term?
• Why do you think it is important for Paul to write something in his own hand?  Why the additional 'love' charge?  This term for 'love' isn't the normal 'agape' love normally used, it's more a 'friendship' sort, more emotional.  Why do you think that might be important here?
• In his own hand he says that his love is with them all.  Why do you think that is important for the church in Corinth to know?

 That should keep us busy for a few minutes anyway.  Remember to bring any notes and questions you've made in your own study!

The Only Eternal 'Gift of the Spirit'

This is now, the Study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 9 to study 1 Corinthians 13.  Since no one showed October 2, we'll try this again on the 9th.  This chapter is probably made more difficult by its familiarity more than anything.  There are few real problems with translation but we will spend most of our time in word study through verses 4 through 7.

Read this chapter through slowly.  Then go back and read chapters 12, 13, and 14 together.  Then read through thirteen again slowly.  Jot down observations.  What are your thoughts about the overall tone, and unpack some of the implications of how Paul describes love.  What would this sort of love look like on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at home, work, school, traveling, and shopping?  Be sure to use several translations, especially on the middle four verses, but really everywhere you will see some diversity in translations.  I suspect this is more an attempt to shake up the familiarity so we think more, than it is about some difficulty in understanding the words.

After reading through the chapter a few times, read back through with the questions below:

• What do you think the 'context' of verse 1 means for the 'clanging' and 'noisy' instruments?  In other words, where does the 'speaking in tongues of men and of angels' happen that they would correlate to such horrible 'music'?
• If, in verse 2, Paul says the result of not having love is nothing, and then in verse 3, gain nothing, what do you thing the 'nothing' is in verse 1?  Is it 'sound like nothing'? or what?
• The first 'gift' referred to in verse 1 is tongues; then prophecy, knowledge, and faith in verse 2; then giving, and martyrdom.  What do you think about these as 'gifts of the Spirit'?  The list differs somewhat from chapter 12, so do you think these are all truly spiritual gifts?
• Look at Galatians 5:22, 23.  How many of these qualities of love in this chapter match those in the list of 'Fruit of the Spirit'?
• As you read these qualities in verses 4 through 7, what are your fears?  What concerns you about this list or living this way every day?
• There are 'is' and 'is not' qualities listed.  How many of each kind do you find? (I found 7 'is' and 8 'is not', but I only looked in verses 4 through 7)
• With the list containing 'is not' qualities, Paul contrasts love with other, possibly more common, behavior.  What do you think the people of Corinth thought of this list?  What do you suspect may have been their qualities?  Now, what about you?  How do your qualities match up?  Is your 'is' and 'is not' list somewhat inverted from this one? (Mine is)
• In the last verses of this chapter, Paul moves to another set of contrasts that demonstrate the priority of love.  Why will prophecy, tongues, and knowledge all 'pass away'?  When do you think that will happen?  Why do you think that will happen?
• What do you think Paul means by his illustration of being a 'child' versus a 'man'?  When does that happen in this discussion?
• When will we see face-to-face and know fully?  So, Paul is pointing to a future when none of these 'gifts' will be necessary, yet love will remain.  What does that mean for 'gifts' today?
• Look at Hebrews 11:1.  Since faith substantiates hope, what do you think 'substantiates' faith?  Or do you think Love is also substantiated by faith, or hope?  How do these relate in such a way that love is 'greatest'?  Do you think James 2:14-26 sheds light on this relationship?  If so, how?

That should keep us busy for an hour.  Hopefully, at the end of this we will really have a better understanding, not of love itself, but how we are to love every day.  How's that for a challenge?