Families And Squalls

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting February 18 to study Luke 8:19-25.  This is a short passage, including only two stories, but following it is a very long story, and we couldn't do all three in one night.  The key to these we will look at is to look at them with the parallels in Matthew and Mark.

Read through these two accounts, but try and keep them somewhat separate.  Normally I don't recommend that, but you want to avoid the idea that Jesus is hiding from His family.  That's unlikely for a variety of reasons.  As separate accounts of Jesus, they stand up well to individual scrutiny.  Jot down questions, and with Jesus and His family, there should be several.  The account of Jesus calming the storm has some interesting details as well.  In each of these cases, compare Matthew and Mark, especially Mark since both Matthew and Luke seem to borrow from his material.

Only after making some initial observations on your own should you go to commentary or study Bible notes.  Prior to that, you may find it helpful to look some items you question in a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia.  After these resources, revise your notes and questions.

After going through on your own, go back through with the questions below:

• Look at Matthew 12:46-50 and Mark 3:31-35 (and perhaps v.19-21) along with this passage in Luke.  Why do you think Jesus' family were trying to see Him?  Mark 3:19-21 aside, why else might they be trying to see Jesus?
• His family can't get through the crowd, but a message to Him can.  Why do you think one was easier than the other?  Why, if they knew these were Jesus' family, wouldn't the crowd make way for them?
• Jesus is told His mother and brothers are outside.  The accounts are longer in Mark and Matthew, but essentially He ignores their request.  He instead points out that those around Him doing the word of God are His family.  Considering the way He uses parables, and how He speaks to the crowds, how obedient are these people really?
• Where do you think Jesus' family has been during His ministry up to this point?  Why?
• The account of Jesus calming the storm is also in Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41.  No real reason is given, so why do you think Jesus wants to go to the other side of the lake (and no He's not running from His family)?
• It's hard to tell from Matthew and Mark, but from Luke's account how long do you think Jesus stays awake?
• Mark includes the detail that Jesus was asleep on a cushion.  What does that tidbit tell you about the source of Mark's account versus Luke's?
• Look up "gale" and "wind" as used by both Mark and Luke.  They are different, but why do you think the first "gale" would need the second "of wind"?
• The boat is swamped and the men are panicking.  Jesus is sleeping.  Why do you think that is significant?
• The men wake Jesus up saying that they are about to die.  In Matthew, Jesus rebukes them first, then the storm.  In Mark and Luke, Jesus takes care of the storm then the disciples.  Only Luke does Jesus ask where is your faith?  When do you think they "lost" it?
• Jesus rebukes the storm "elements" (wind and waves).  Why do you think He would "rebuke" them (in Mark He speaks to the waves, he tells them to "hush")?  What do you think might have been going on that there was anyone to "rebuke"?
• The disciples have seen the raising of the dead, so why do you think this is so amazing to them?  What is so different about Jesus' calming of the storm versus His power over death?

That should keep us occupied for a while.  Remember to bring any notes and questions you have.

Some Home Town Hero?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 27 to study Luke 4:14-30.  This begins Jesus' ministry, and only Luke starts Jesus out in Nazareth.  There are some really peculiar elements and curious behaviors on both sides.

Read through the passage a few times, jot down notes and questions. After you have a few notes of your own, go through some commentaries looking for different perspectives.  Lastly go back through with the questions below:

• Jesus goes to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit. Why do you think it made sense to get some experience under Him before he went back home?
• Jesus returns to the place where He was raised.  He follows His custom of going to the synagogue.  How do you imagine the scene in the synagogue in Nazareth?  How does the scene progress?
• Readings are specific, and the passage Jesus chooses isn't on the list (so some say).  Why do you think Jesus would deviate from the prescribed readings?  What do you think the people in the synagogue thought about that?
• Jesus sits and declares that this prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing.  Why do you think the people respond as they do?  What is their point?
• How do you think their response affirms or denies Jesus' declaration that He fulfills the prophecy?  Or what do you think of their response?
• Jesus' response supposes their request that He do the things in Nazareth that He's done elsewhere.  Why do you think this is a criticism of the people of Nazareth?
• Jesus also supposes that He is not welcome there (v.24).  What do you think it was in what they said or how they responded to Him in the synagogue that gave Jesus that impression?
• He then sites examples from Elijah and Elisha.  In Sidon, Elijah was hiding from Ahab.  Why do you think this fits this situation?  With Elisha, Naaman goes to the king of Israel, not Elisha, so how does that fit this situation?  How sure can we be that neither prophet did anything in Israel for widows or lepers?
• Jesus' point obviously isn't in the details of the lives of these prophets.  So what do you think His point is?  Why do you think it was meaningful to site these particular two prophets?
• The people are full of wrath.  They take Jesus to the 'brow of the hill' except Nazareth doesn't seem to have a 'cliff' or some such.  So what do you think they meant? 
• Jesus simply passes through them and leaves.  How do you imagine that happening?

That should keep us busy for a while.  Remember to bring your questions and notes to the group.