Seeing Things God's Way

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 7 to study Luke 13:1-17.  This begins the thirteenth chapter finally.  We'll be looking at a teaching, a parable, and a healing.  Some commentaries think they're separate (at least the healing from the parable/teaching), but I think there's a common connection.

Read through the passage in a few different translations, jot down notes and questions, and then check out some commentaries.  Revise your notes and questions if necessary, and then go through the questions below:

• Current events were circulated by word-of-mouth in that day, so the report in verse 1 isn't unusual or surprising in a sense.  It's even expected since everyone knew Jesus was from Galilee and would think He'd want to know.  So why do you think He responds so negatively?
• Jesus hears their report and begins challenging a belief that "things happen in proportion to the degree of sin of the people who suffer in it".  Jesus instead puts everyone in the same "sin-bucket".  Why do you think people would believe that sin drives the degree of suffering?
• Jesus says, "repent or perish", this sounds pretty strong and in the context, people actually died.  So, what do you think Jesus meant by this warning?
• What do you think it means to "repent"?
• In the context of the report, Jesus simply tells people to repent, but doesn't explicitly tell them from what (except the belief that suffering is directly related to the degree of sinfulness in a persons' life).  What do you think Jesus had in mind for them to repent from and to?
• The parable of the fig tree happens in a vineyard.  In their day this wasn't that unusual, and vineyards often are imagery for Israel, so what do you think the fig tree represented in parable?
• Who is the vineyard owner?  Who is the vinedresser/vineyard keeper/gardener/vineyard worker?
• If the tree has one more year, what do you think this means for the "fig tree"?
• So, if the problem the fig tree has is producing figs, what do you think this means for those needing to repent?  What do you think they need to do to survive after the year?
• If (and I believe it does) the parable related to the need for repentance, then what do you infer from it about repentance?  What do you think it teaches about what repentance means?  What do you learn about repentance for your own life?
• Immediately it's the Sabbath, and Jesus is teaching in the synagogue.  What do you think it means that Jesus is allowed or asked to teach in a synagogue?  Why do you think He would be allowed to do that when His popularity with the religious leaders is on the decline?
• Jesus sees a woman who is bent over and it is from spiritual oppression.  He heals her, but not with the wording associated with casting out demons.  So, what do you think was going on with the woman?
• Jesus calls her over to Him (up front), declares her healed, and then touches her.  Why do you think He healed her this way?
• The synagogue leader cites the law about abstaining from your occupation on the Sabbath.  What do you infer about what he believes about Jesus' occupation?  What do you think is Jesus' occupation?
• The synagogue leader doesn't address Jesus, he addresses the crowd.  Who do you think he had a problem with?
• Jesus wastes no time in calling out the legal problem.  Do you think the leaders would have considered animals more important than this woman?  So why would such exceptions be made for animals but not for people?  What sort of "healing" was going on besides Jesus that they would have prohibited its exercise on the Sabbath?
• Jesus points out the problem of priority in the oral tradition or explanation of the law.  What do you think God intends for the Sabbath?  What is it supposed to be about?
• His "opponents" were humiliated.  What does that tell you about those in attendance?
• Why do you think the crowd would be so favorable when the leaders were humiliated?  Why wouldn't that bother the crowd?

That should keep us busy.  Remember to apply the "Awakening", "Honesty", and "Action" process to find the application the Holy Spirit has for you in this passage.  What would repentance look like for you?

Dividing Fire and Divining The Times

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting June 30 to study Luke 12:49 through 59.  This passage has the feel of being disjointed and difficult to understand as organized.  Spend the time with it though to get the sense of why these three pieces are interrelated to each other and to what just preceded them.

For this passage it will be helpful to read all of chapter 12, and perhaps ahead into chapter 13 to get a better sense of the context.  Different translation may shed some light on details within the passage, but reading around this passage may help in overall understanding of these details.  I recommend doing both.  Make notes with observations and questions before looking at commentaries.

After you have worked through this passage yourself, go back through with the questions below:

• Jesus has just been talking about His "appearing" or His "return".  His disciples are possibly wondering when He might leave, and Jesus says that He has a "baptism" to endure and something about bringing fire on the land.  Putting those two things together, what do you think Jesus means? What do you think the disciples understood or thought about it?
• Jesus begins discussing how He has come and it will result in family division.  Throughout Acts (the other half of Luke's account), households convert together (Cornelius in Acts 10, the Philippian Jailer in Acts 16).  Households in the Ancient Near Eastern cultures were much more enmeshed than in our culture today.  How do you think Jesus means this effect, and what do you think it will look like?  What do you think this means for the structure of the Early Church which was founded on groups of households?
• Within the family structure Jesus says will become divided because of Him, He mentions mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws.  What do you think is the significance of that here?  Why include that in Jesus' claim that households will become divided?
• Jesus switches to criticizing the crowd for being better able to predict weather than the times.  What about the times do you think Jesus is referring to?  What do you think that has to do with divided families, Jesus' "baptism" or "fire", or even going to court for damages?
• Finally Jesus brings up the topic of going to court for damages.  I surmise it's about "damages" (or some sort of debt) because of the punishment relating to "paying back".  But there also seems to be the underlying assumption that the party really is guilty of the damage/debt.  What do you think this is about?  Why "make friends" or "give work to be freed from him"?  What problem do you think Jesus is trying to fix with this lesson?
• How does freeing one self from the punishment of being sued relate to family division and predicting the "times"?  What do you think this has to do with Jesus' "baptism" or the fire He is bringing?
• If you've read ahead, and reviewed was came before, what do you think this passage or these elements have to do with what's going on when Jesus says them?

This should be plenty to keep us occupied for a time.  Remember to seek out the things in this passage that the Holy Spirit wants to use in your life to change you.  What snaps you "awake"? If you're honest, what action(s) do you need to take to respond to what the Spirit reveals?

See you all Thursday!

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. 

Where's The Wealth?

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting June 9 to study Luke 12:13-34.  This is a familiar parable and explanation.  It contains more of the material Matthew placed in the Sermon on the Mount, but also this parable which is only found in Luke.

Read through the parable and material following a few times, and try to use a few translations.  Make notes of details, questions, and observations you discover as you read.  The point is about greed, but see if you can find other, related points Jesus is making and jot those down as well.

Read a commentary or two, Study Bible notes, online commentaries, or what you can find.  See how these help answer some questions, and what new questions they bring up.  After you revise your notes and questions, go back through with the questions below:

• Why do you think the one brother wanted Jesus to be the arbitrator of the inheritance?
• Look up this article on "inheritance" on the Blue Letter Bible site.  What can you find here that would explain what the man asked Jesus to do?
• Jesus avoids the issue with the man, but He also uses this to discuss greed with His disciples.  What could that mean about the requestor's motivation?
• Read verse 15 in a few translations.  What do you think Jesus means here?
• In this parable the rich man has a problem.  Why do you think having too much is such a problem?
• From Jesus' setup, what do you think Jesus thinks is so wrong about saving?
• The man speaks to his soul, and then God speaks.  In verse 20, God says, "This night, they require back your soul."  From the context, who do you think is this they requiring the man's soul?
• The wealth of the man should have been toward God, but it wasn't.  Yet right off the bat, Jesus dives into talking about worrying about possessions.  What do you think is the connection between the request for Jesus to make the brother share, the parable about a rich fool, and the encouragement not to worry?
• What do you see as the connection between worry and wealth?
• It's possible that Jesus spoke to the Pharisees/Lawyers earlier, but her speaks to those struggling to make ends meet.  If that's the case, what do you think Jesus is saying to them about their situation?
• Where Jesus was pretty harsh with the lawyers and Pharisees, here He seems almost gentle.  Why do you think this required a different tone, whatever the difference?
• In verse 29, Jesus repeats Himself telling them not to worry.  Read it in the King James though, and consider the difference.  It's the same Greek word, but rather than anxious or worry, it's translated as doubt.  How do you think doubt relates to worry or being anxious?
• Look up the Greek word Luke uses here (he's the only one to use it in the Christian Scriptures). Consider the range of meaning and use.  What do you think the connection is between all of those possibilities?  What does that tell you about worry or anxiety?
• What do you think it means to "seek the Kingdom of God"?

That should keep us busy for the time we have.  Keep in mind the AHA process of application of what you read.

Don't Be That Guy

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 2 to study Luke 12:1-12.  This passage is made up of related statements of Jesus which Luke has compiled and placed together here.  I believe he intends them as a commentary on Jesus' immediately preceding dinner discourse.  So, Jesus is explaining to His disciples why and how they shouldn't be like the Pharisees.  Like most of the stuff I suspect, that's not a given, nor is it necessary.

Read through the passage several times.  I have it broken into six small paragraphs.  You can divide it any way you like, but be sure to use at least two translations (one old and one new if possible).  Jot down notes and questions as you read.  Then browse a commentary or two, maybe one of the ones on Blue Letter Bible.  Revise your notes and questions if necessary.

Then go back through with the questions below:

• Why do you think Luke feels it's necessary to include the details of the crowd trampling each other and Jesus speaking to His disciples first?  How do you think they connect?
• Jesus tells the disciples to beware the "leaven" of the Pharisees which He labels hypocrisy.  Look up "leaven" at the Blue Letter Bible site.  What's the danger Jesus is pointing out about the Pharisee's hypocrisy?
• Jesus then goes into a series of short (as I see them) statements that sort of remind me of the Sermon on the Mount. He basically says there are (or will be) no secrets.  What does that mean to you?  How does that affect how you live out your salvation and choices you make?
• Next Jesus speaks of contrasting sorts of fears.  He goes from "Fear Not" to "Fear This" and then back to "Fear Not".  He ends with the statement that God "values" us.  Look up "value" (or "worth more") at the Blue Letter Bible site.  What do you learn from the range of meaning for this word?  Why or how do you think we are valuable to God?
• Next Jesus says that confession and denial of Him before men brings reciprocity in heaven.  What do you think Jesus is saying here in light of what He's just said about the Pharisees?  Which previous statement do you think most closely ties into this one?
• Then Jesus speaks of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  Matthew has this statement at the point where people thought Jesus cast out demons by the power of their leader, but Luke has it here.  What do you think about this context made this placement make more sense for Luke?
• If Jesus and the Holy Spirit are both part of the Trinity, why do you think blaspheming One is any different than blaspheming the other?
• What does it mean to "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit?
• Finally Jesus winds up with how to respond when the disciples stand before judges for their faith.  How do you feel about such a charge?  How hard would it be for you to simply, peacefully, confidently wait for the Holy Spirit to bring stuff to your mind?  What are somethings you can do beforehand to perhaps give the Holy Spirit "more to work with" in the spur of the moment?

That should give us plenty to discuss this Thursday.  Can you believe it's June already?

This Generation Needs Help

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 19 to study Luke 11:29-54 (the end of the chapter).  This is a collection of passages bristling with bristling, insults, condemnation, flagrant offense, and an uncomfortable meal.  Just bristling!  Say the word out loud, you know it's fun.

Reading through these passages, it might be easier to break them up into the smallest cohesive pieces.  Then you perhaps group the pieces.  It's up to you where you think the breaks should be, but breaking them up might make them easier to understand.  If you look at the passages in various translations, you'll see that translators don't even know where to break them up.  The two biggest elements are the condemnation of the ones looking for a sign and the dinner with the Pharisee.  But beyond that, you may find it easier to break into smaller pieces.  It's up to you, you may not find that easier at all.  If not, don't do it.

Once you have the passage grouped in a way that makes sense, focus on the relationships between each element (even if it's only two).  Then look at the elements within each, like the woes on Pharisees versus lawyers.  How do those relate?  And so on, it's like assembling a quilt sort of.  Stepping back gives you the sense of how the whole works together.  Zooming in helps get a sense of how Jesus addresses what problems He sees.  On that note, what problems does He see?  What problems seem to draw most of His attention?

Jot down questions and insights you gain from your own study.  Then look at commentaries or notes, or whatever you have at hand.  Revise your notes and questions.  Bring those to the group, Thursday.  After you have all that, then go back through with the questions below:

• Verse 29 seems to address those mentioned in verse 16 who were demanding a sign.  Jesus says it's wicked to want a sign.  What do you think Jesus and the people mean by "sign"? Sign of or for what?
• In Matthew 12:38-42, we have a parallel to verse 29 through 32, but there Matthew explains how Jonah is a sign to the Ninevites.  So, how do you think Luke understands Jonah as a "sign" to the people of Nineveh?  Is it the time in the fish, or his preaching, or what?  
• The "Queen of the South" came to hear Solomon, and Jonah went to Nineveh.  She desired to hear Solomon's wisdom and the Ninevites needed to hear from God.  How are these two things related to each other?  I think it relates to what the people around Jesus are not doing.  If that is true, what do you think they are not doing?  Do we do these things or are we not doing them either?
• Starting at verse 33, I think we have another separate element that, for Luke, is related to what precedes it.  From 33 to 36, Jesus is referring to "light", but what do you think that "light" is a metaphor for here?  In other places it refers to other things, but what does Jesus use it for here?
• Jesus says that light is meant to be displayed.  How do you think the people around Jesus have been hiding theirs?
• Jesus says that the eye enlightens the body.  How do you think the people around Jesus have been "darkening" their vision?
• From the two elements, about signs and about light, what is Jesus trying to get across to the people around Him?  What do you think is the unifying truth behind both?
• Next, a Pharisee invites Jesus to a meal.  As I've told you in the past, this is always dangerous.  Right away, the Pharisee is surprised Jesus doesn't wash.  The word used is "baptize".  What does that tell you about "baptism"?  So why do you think the King James would not, nor does any other translation, use the word "baptize" for this?
• The Pharisee is "astonished" or "surprised" that Jesus doesn't wash.  There's nothing inherently negative in this word, so what do you think might have been going on in the Pharisee's mind?
• Jesus launches into a condemnation of the Pharisees.  The first condemnation is appearing clean but not being clean on the outside.  But what do you think Jesus means when He says, "But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you."?  How are all things "clean"?  In what way?
• Jesus then goes into tithing every little thing, but not behaving in just and loving ways.  How do you think this is like or unlike us today?
• The Pharisees have come to love the "trappings" of their station.  What do you think is the alternative?  Luke really doesn't say, so what do you think Luke and his hearers have in mind?
• What do you think is the problem depicted in "hidden tombs"?  Why do you think it is a problem to walk over a grave?
• Now a lawyer stands up...again.  And this genius claims that Jesus is also insulting them, as if by accident.  Why do you think the lawyer would exclude his group from the Pharisees?  
• He clearly seems to see some of Jesus' criticisms as applying to lawyers also.  What or which ones of Jesus' woes do you think the lawyer thought applied to him and the other lawyers?
• Jesus takes up the challenge to be more direct toward the lawyers, and so begins His woes on them.  What do you think are these burdens these lawyers are laying on the people they do not lift themselves?  Do you think the lawyers would agree with Jesus assessment of them that they don't lift them either?
• How do you think building the tomb for a prophet makes a person in agreement with those who killed him?
• Literally, the wording of verse 49 says, "Through this also the wisdom of God said..."  The NIV reads "God in His wisdom", the NASB has "the wisdom of God", and the ESV has "the Wisdom of God".  So, which do you think makes more sense here?  Who do you think Jesus thinks said this?
• Why would the blood of Abel be charged to the generation to whom Jesus spoke?
• Why would the blood of Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22) be charged to them?
• Lawyers were supposed to be making the law clear to people.  So in what way do you think they kept the "key" to it from people?
• Understandably, the lawyers and Pharisees began to plot against Jesus, but what do you think of their "plan"?  Considering how much fun everyone had at the meal, does this sound like a great idea to you?  Why do you think they wanted this approach?

This should be plenty to keep us busy.  See you all Thursday!

Don't Mess With An Exorcist At Work!

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 12 to study Luke 11:14-28.  This is a collection of accounts of Jesus that center around demonic activity at first, then ends with Jesus' response to a comment about His mother (it's not as bad as it sounds). 

Per our normal set of instructions, read through the passage in as many different translations as you can, ESV, NIV, KJV, and NRSV are good ones to choose if you're looking at Blue Letter Bible for instance.  Make notes on what's going on, who says what, to whom, when, and so on.  Once you have a good handle on what's happening, see if you can figure out why.  In other words, why would someone accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of their prince?  Why would that make sense then, because it doesn't now.  Stuff like that.

Once you have your notes, then look at other sources, commentaries, and so on.  Again there are several on www.blueletterbible.org to choose from, and they're easy to find.  Revise your notes and questions as you find more stuff.

After you've followed these three steps, go back through with the questions below:

• This charge about Jesus casting out demons through the power of their prince is also found in Matthew 9:32-34, but without Jesus' response.  In Mark12:22-30 we have the unpardonable sin attached to this claim about Jesus, along with His defense.  So, why do you think this claim would seem to make sense to those in that culture?
• Luke has a unique challenge to the people about those among them who cast them out.  Who do you think are their "sons" that Jesus refers to?
• Jesus defends Himself in both Mark and Luke by point out that the devil wouldn't work against himself.  But the most common explanation is that the people are claiming that the devil is "making Jesus look good to deceive people."  What do you think the people accusing Jesus are thinking?
• Why do you think the others were "testing" Jesus seeking a sign from heaven?  What's more of a sign than a demon-possessed mute speaking free of the demon?
• Jesus' description of the "strong man" is much more developed in Luke's account than Mark's.  Why do you think that might be?
• In verse 23, Jesus seems to reverse His position of Luke 9:50. Or does He?  What do you think might be the connection between these two statements?
• The discussion of Jesus about the demon leaving and then returning to the person seems somewhat disjointed with verse 23, and more tightly connected with the preceding passage. Why do you think that might be?
• Jesus gives the warning of verses 24 through 26, but doesn't really provide a solution.  Is this referenced elsewhere where a solution is presented?  What cross references were you able to find that explained this or used it differently?
• Finally, a woman has a really weird comment to make about Jesus, or more specifically, about His mother.  What do you think of her statement?  Look at it in a few other translations.  What about this sounds...left-handed, as compliments go?  Or does it? What do you think?
• Jesus doesn't seem to skip a beat, and fires off a correction of the woman's cry.  Jesus seems to think that those hearing and obeying God's word are blessed rather than His mother.  What does that seem to imply about Mary?  Why do you think He would say that?  Do you think this is really negative toward His mother (look back at 8:19 through 21)?

That should keep us more than busy for the time we have.  Remember to also be thinking in terms of the things that seem to shake you Awake!  If you are Honest, what Action is God leading you to take in response what He's shown you?