Godswriter

What is the point of the parable that precedes the incident of Jesus and the Little Children? Why is that important to the interpretation of this passage? (18:9-14) A. The point of the parable to teach about true humility versus false humility or pride. Someone who truly seeks the Lord needs to humble themselves before the Lord. Why would parents want to bring their babies and little children to Jesus? (18:15a) A. The main reason is to be blessed by Jesus. Why did the disciples rebuke the parents? What was the disciples' view of the children's importance? How did they see their actions as serving Jesus' interests? (18:15b) A. The disciples did not see children as Jesus did. Jesus saw them as precious in His sight. The disciples considered them a nuisance and not truly important. Why did Jesus interrupt his teaching to call all the children in the crowd to him at this point? In what sense is this a "teachable moment"? (18:16) A. Jesus used the children as a teaching point about humility and how much humility is something that God is looking for in a What point is Jesus making by inviting the children to come freely? How does Jesus follow up on his action? The point was to show that children are welcome in the Kingdom of God because they have faith that is innocent and very trusting. He says that anyone who comes to Him like a child with childlike faith will be accepted. 6. Children have lots of endearing (and not so endearing) characteristics. Which characteristics of children is Jesus pointing to in this context that he wants would-be disciples to emulate? It is their childlike faith where they trust very easily and innocent. This is part of what He was talking about as well as humility. In what way does Jesus' teaching here offer hope to us who read it today? A. We can choose to come to Him anytime and He will be ready to answer us.

1. What makes us confident in our own righteousness? (18:9) Have you ever known anyone like this? Been this way yourself? What causes it? What are the symptoms? That we can save ourselves and make ourselves clean. Yes. Once. We choose to look down on others because we think we are better than them. Looking down on others, parading around as humble and even saying you are when you are not. 2. In what ways do twenty-first century Christians look down on others? Who are the people we look down on? How does this grieve Jesus' heart? How does it injure the cause of Jesus' church? I think some of us consider others as worse than others. We consider that others need God more than we do. We look down on those who don't believe and those who don't do enough. It causes Him to yearn for us to quit doing it. Divides it and causes strife. 3. What did the Pharisee's prayer consist of? What does that tell us about him? (18:11-12) What did the tax collector's prayer consist of? What do his prayer and his body language tell us about him? (18:13). Pharisee's prayer was full of pride and self-righteousness where he said thank God I am not like that lowly tax collector and that I tithe and so on. Pride and self-righteousness. He could not even look up towards heaven and asked God to have mercy on him. A spirit of humility.

1. Describe the judge in this parable. What do we know about his motivations? (18:2, 4-5) I believe that the judge is self-centered and egotistical and also only concerned with obeying the law but not respecting the law or the widow. The fact that the widow would not quit pestering him at all. 2. Describe the widow. What makes her tick? Why do you think she is so persistent? (18:3) She was a woman who was Godly and wanted vengeance against her enemies. She didn't want to continue to be pestered by her enemies. 3. What is the stated purpose why Jesus told this parable? (18:1) That we are continue pray until something happens with our prayers. 4. What kinds of things can happen that cause us to lose hope, and lose any heart to pray consistent and believing prayers? How can we get out of these "pits"? When our prayers are not answered the way we expected them to. Also because sometimes when He says no we feel let down. The one way I think of is da 5. How can we believe in swift justice from God when he hasn't brought it yet? By remembering that He is a just and faithful God. 6. Do YOU think Jesus will find faith on the earth when he returns? Why or why not? Yes, however some of them may not be as close to God as they should be. 7. What is this parable saying to you personally? What disciple-lesson are you taking away from this? That I need to trust God and practice the spiritual principle of fasting and prayer. That God wants me to focus on Him.

What two things do the "days of Noah" have in common with the "days of Lot"? What point is Jesus making by comparing his coming to those events? (17:26-30). Both of them have in common the fact that there was judgment on the places and people involved. Their destruction was the other thing in common. When He comes, He will destroy the enemies of the believers and destroy this world and the current heaven and create a new heaven and earth as well. At his coming is Jesus going to bring peace or punishment? I believe He will bring judgment because He will judge the unsaved for not choosing Him. Peace will be for those who know Him. Jesus warns those on the roof or in the field not to go back to get their possessions. Why? What does this have to do with Lot's wife? (17:31-32) When we choose to love our possessions and not love Christ more. We are selling ourselves short. Lot's wife loved not her own life enough to not look back at Sodom and Gomorrah. In doing so, she became a pillar of salt. What does "trying to keep one's life" have to do with turning to get one's possessions? What is the paradox here that trying to save one's life results in losing it? Explain. (17:31-33) It means that we love our possessions too much to see that through losing them we keep our lives and have eternal salvation. Jesus tells of people in close physical proximity to each other, and warns that one will be taken and the other left. What does this teach us about the nature of Jesus' coming? Where will they be taken? What happens to those who are left? (17:34-35) The ones taken will be taken into heaven by HIm and the others left will remain on earth. What does Jesus' parable of the gathering vultures teach us about his location when he comes? (17:37) He will come through the air and gather us up into heaven.

How could the Kingdom be in or in the midst of the Pharisees? (17:20-21) He was talking about the Kingdom of God being Himself as the Messiah How do we know for certain that the real messiah won't be the subject of messiah- sightings in the next decade or two? (17:22-23) Because He said that He would come back again on the Mount of Olives and only one Messiah can do this and that is Christ. According to 17:24, will Jesus' coming be secret or public? It will be public because He will come down from heaven through the air and stand on the Mount of Olives. Why was it so difficult for the disciples to comprehend that Jesus had to suffer? They could not understand that the Messiah would have to suffer and die for our sins to save us from them. There's been a lot of speculation in our own day about the coming of Christ. Witness the huge mainstream popularity of Tim LeHay's "Left Behind" series. What are the problems this creates for disciples? What are the strengths this offers disciples? The problems would be how can someone be saved after the rapture. It offers hope that we won't be left behind because we are His own.

1. What do you think the lepers expected when they called out to Jesus for mercy? (17:13) Food, shelter, clothing, or actual healing? They probably were looking for money or something other than being healed 2. What is the significance of the lepers showing themselves to the priests? (17:14a) According to Levitical law once they were healed of leprosy they were to show themselves to the priests to be considered clean from it. 3. Why does Luke make the point that the lepers weren't healed until they started to obey Jesus' command? (17:14b) Faith is an act of obedience and also because there was a Levitical law on this they had to show themselves to the priests. 4. What about the thankful leper's actions showed his thankfulness? (17:15-16) He chose to return to Jesus and thank Him by bowing himself low in doing it 5. What was Jesus' attitude toward the thankful leper? Toward the other nine lepers? (17:17-18) He told him that his faith had healed him meaning that he would be healed and also be saved. He lamented about the other 9 and asked why they didn't thank Him. 6. In the phrase "Your faith has saved you" (17:19b) is Jesus speaking of the leper's physical healing, or his spiritual salvation, or both? Were the nine lepers saved or healed spiritually? Why or why not? He is talking about His spiritual salvation because the leper acknowledged that Jesus was the one who healed him. No they were not they never came back to thank Him 7. Why is it so easy to forget to thank God for his blessings? I believe it is because we live in a thankless society that demands their rights and also says everything, they deserve no matter what. However, if we choose to be ungrateful to Him it will eventually show up in other areas as well.

1. In Jesus' parable, should a slave expect his master to prepare dinner for him, or should the slave expect to prepare dinner for his master after doing his other chores? In American history, a female slave was expected to prepare the meal for the master and his family regardless if they were thanked or not. The slave was never treated as an equal by the master but something that was owned. The slave were basically told to prepare the meals and were not generally thanked at all. It basically was a given that they do what they are told without it. 2. In the parable, the slave should not expect thanks for fixing the family dinner. Why? However according to our history in America the slaves were basically servants who worked at the will of their masters. Because they are doing what they are told. However in the case of God our Father, He expects us to be grateful for what He has done and who He is not the other way around. 3. What does this parable say to the Pharisees, who expected God's special favor towards them because of their strict observance of the law? That they should be grateful that God chose the seed of Israel to be the chosen people of God. They should thank Him for that gift. And not expect special favors from God. 4. In what ways do we citizens of the twenty-first century take God for granted, expect him to do our bidding, and become petulant when he doesn't grant our wishes? I would say one of the biggest ways is we demand we work on our behalf sometimes because we think He isn't working fast enough for us. So we charge ahead of HIm not thinking that maybe God wants us to wait. 5. Why is "duty" such a bad word in our culture? It makes people think that it is an obligation to do something for God when truthfully it is a privilege because of what He does for us.

1. Why do you think Jesus warns his disciples so strongly about not being a cause of temptation to others? Why does Jesus use a millstone to make his point? (17:1-2) Because the temptation to sin is always present in some way and that means they needed to be on guard for it. Because the millstone is what was used to sink the guilty party for what they had done. It was used to make a point that sin is a serious matter. 2. Who are the "little ones" that Jesus seeks to protect from sin? (17:2b) Little ones could be immature believers or children. 3. Why are we tempted to keep silent in the face of the sins of our Christian brothers and sisters against us? Why do we disrupt God's redemptive process when we fail to rebuke them when they sin against us? Because we are afraid of being ridiculed or being treated unfairly. We do it by not telling someone else they have sinned and need to repent and ask for forgiveness. 4. Extra Credit. Why is it important for every Christian to be regular part of a congregation? If churches are filled with such sinners, why bother? So that we can support each other and have accountability. They are supposed to be supported by one another and be accountable to each other. 5. What kind of repentance is necessary for us to forgive our brother or sister? What are the things we're looking for in their repentance? Why is it so difficult for us to confess to our brother or sister that we have sinned against them? We need to show remorse that leads to repentance and be willing to make things right. Because we fear retribution. 6. What does it mean to forgive a Christian brother or sister who has repented of a sin against you? Is it possible to maintain a meaningful relationship with a person who is unwilling to repent of sin? Why or why not? It means to be willing to forgive as Christ forgave us. No because Scripture states if they won't repent; we are regard them as a sinner. 7. Isn't there a danger in forgiving a person who isn't "truly" repentant? How repentant is repentant enough for us? Enough for God? Yes but it is better to forgive so you can be forgive. Repentant enough that there is a change of heart and mind. What I just said. 8. Why does Jesus add the "7 times" and the "7 times 70" part of his teaching? What is his intent? We need to continue to forgive so we don't become embittered. To keep us from being bitter. 9. Why do the disciples balk at this by asking for more faith? What does Jesus' answer about the mustard seed and the mulberry tree mean? What is his point? They feel that they are not able to do what He is asking. It means that we need to have enough faith to believe that we can forgive. That faith as small as a mustard seed can bring forth action.

1. Jesus has been teaching about money in chapter 16. What has been the essence of his teaching up to this point in the chapter? That it is okay to have money but it ultimately comes down to how it used that can be a problem. Because He said that in another gospel that you can't serve God and money because you love one and hate the other. Or love one and despise the other. The point He is making is that how you choose to monetary resources ultimately determines who you love and will serve. 2. What word brush strokes tell us that the rich man was rich? Which tell us of Lazarus' poverty? The rich man technically was dressed in the finest clothes and ate like a king while the beggar named Lazarus was at his gate covered with sores. He desired to be fed with what the rich man had eaten but it never happened. 3. In this parable, why was the rich man punished? Because he chose to use his monetary resources for selfish things and not to help the poor. 4. What does the Old Testament teach about helping the poor that the rich man was responsible for knowing and obeying? (See Exodus 22:25-27; Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22; Leviticus 25:25-28; Leviticus 25:35-37; Leviticus 25:39-43; Deut. 14:28-29; Deut. 15:2-14; Deut. 24:12-21; Deut. 26:12-13; Neh. 8:10; Psalm 37:21; Psalm 37:26; Psalm 41:1-3; Psalm 112:4-5; Psalm 112:9; Proverbs 28:27; Proverbs 29:7; Proverbs 31:9; Proverbs 31:20; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 16:3-4; Isaiah 58:7; Isaiah 58:10; Ezekiel 18:1-32; Daniel 4:27; Zech. 7:10) The basic context of the Scriptures are that the community of Israel was to help out the poor and needy. A very good example of this is found in the book of Ruth. Ruth and her motheer in law Naomi were widows. Ruth was gleaning from the edge of the barley field and this was how the poor and needy were to be able to have nourishment through gleaning from the field after the harvester had finished. 5. Is Jesus teaching justification by works in this parable? If not, what IS he teaching? No He is teaching that our faith should be the vehicle that causes us to do good works in the end. 6. Why do some people have struggles being around poor people? What are the difficulties we face in giving to the poor? Because they feel that it is not their responsibility to help out the poor and needy. Some people in the church have the basic order of who is to help out each other incorrect. It is supposed to be family church then government. Not the opposite. There is someone at the church I used to attend who referred mom and me to a government resource thinking nothing of what scripture states. 7. What ministries and agencies in your community could you give to that directly aid the poor? Food banks and shelters for the homeless.

1. Extra Credit: How did John the Baptist's message (3:3, 16) differ from the prophets who came before him? The prophets before Him spoke of the Messiah and His ministry but did not talk about repentance. John the Baptist however spoke of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God being near and to repent and turn from your sins. 2. Just what is the "good news of the Kingdom of God"? Put in your own words what this good news is. That although we have sinned, fallen short of God's standard for us, there is a Savior who will reconcile us to God through His death and resurrection. 3. Why do you think Jesus was accused of doing away with the Law? Did he? I believe that the religious leaders were stuck on the rules they had created they had no idea what law they were talking about. They wanted to be rid of Christ because He was creating a following and they felt threatened. Also the religious leaders were not really Jews truthfully at least some of them were not. Since according to my theology and Bible classes they came from Rome and were appointed to lead the people. 4. Is it possible to hold a high view of the sanctity of marriage at the same time as we love as Christian brothers and sisters those who have been divorced and remarried? Yes because although our fellow believers has committed adultery via divorce and remarriage that doesn't make it our right to judge them. Because sometimes in these cases they had a reason that truly was valid. 5. Why do we need to "force" our way into the Kingdom of God? Why should it be so difficult? Shouldn't salvation be easy? Jesus clearly stated in Scripture that if you intended to follow Him, you must first deny self and take up your cross and follow Him. What does this mean however theologically speaking? It means dying to our desires as sinful as they are, dying to self in every aspect and becoming alive in Christ by choosing to spend time in His word so our minds are renewed and changed through the Scriptures we read and apply to our lives. 6. How can we both press fervently towards perfection and at the same time have peace and contentment in Christ? Aren't these mutually exclusive? We can do so by learning to be like Christ and choosing to become more Christ centered instead self centered. This means reading the Word, listening to sermons and applying the truths of Scripture to our lives daily. We can have peace and contentment by learning to obey Christ and not allow our desires to lead us astray. No actually they are not; they are inclusive because it is all part of our life in Christ.

1. Why was the steward in Jesus' parable (16:1-8) being fired? What in the passage displays his character He was actually not doing his part to secure the money from any loans from his master's debtors. By being lazy about it he was found to be irresponsible. The fact He did everything last minute to save his butt. 2. In what way did the steward use money to secure his future? By having the ones in debt to write a debt off for less than the actual amount in the first place. He ensured that they would be in debt to his master for a longer time. 3. What about the steward's actions does the master commend? What is the point that Jesus draws from this parable? How he went about having the pay off the debt only partially. That we cannot serve God and monetary goods. We have to choose which one will be lord over us. 4. Extra Credit: In what ways should we use money to secure our eternal future? (16:9) (This is a difficult verse for most of us. Study the exposition for clues to the answer.) Learn to befriend those who are dishonest and learn from us the true value of honesty in issues in money. 5. In what kinds of experiences does Jesus test and seek to mold our trustworthiness with money? Is it possible for a money-obsessed person to become a committed disciple of Jesus? If not, how might this occur? He will use everything in our lives to test and mold our character. From the smallest purchases to the very biggest purchases or how we pay our bills off. No as Jesus clearly states you will love one and hate the other or love one and despise the other. We choose to commit everything to Him including our money. 6. Why are giving alms and tithing (or sacrificial, generous giving to God's work) so difficult for money-obsessed people? (Let's not debate tithing, but look to the heart issues instead that are the focus of Jesus' teaching here.) They are so focused on getting more money that they don't realize that money will not get them into heaven. They are all focused on worldly things. 7. In what ways are we not property "owners" but property "stewards" of what God owns? What are the implications of this for our lives? As Scriptures clearly state that everything on the earth is the Lord's and even the creation itself. We cannot hold onto anything too tightly because we will end going backwards instead. 8. Why is it so difficult to try to serve both God and Money? Because once you are serving the money there is no way Christ can have control because you are worshiping an idol instead of Him. 9. Extra Credit: Jesus states that high human values tend to be the things most detestable to God. How can we know that we have really conformed our lives to God's values rather than just kidding ourselves? By daily checking out whether or not our priorities line up with His.

1. Who do the younger brother, father, and older brother represent in this parable? The father clearly represent God our Heavenly Father who sent His only Son to the cross for us to die for our sins. The younger brother is the ones who are sinners like tax collectors and outcasts and orphans and Gentiles that are in need of salvation. The older brother is the Scribes, Pharisees, Saduccees and Herodians who all believe that Jesus is not supposed to pardon our sins. 2. What was the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees towards the kind of people who were being converted? (15:1-2) They are judging Jesus as a hypocrite and considering the people who were converted as rejects and outcasts who don't deserve salvation. 3. What is at the root of the elder brother's anger towards his father? Have you ever experienced that kind of anger toward God? How do you get rid of that kind of nasty hidden anger? He felt that his brother didn't deserve pardon or forgiveness at all since he chose to spend his money on sinful living. Yes when I lost my friend Amber I felt He was letting me down. I chose to actually tell God how I felt and let Him know I was angry and wanted to know why He took her home early. 4. The parable ends with the father urging the elder son to come into the celebration. As you read the characters, how do you think the story turned out? Did the elder son soften and come inside, or did he stiffen and remain outside? I believe the older son joined it but begrudgingly because he felt that his brother didn't deserve such a celebration. 5. How does your own compassion level match your Heavenly Father's compassion towards the lost? What can you do to conform your heart to his? It is getting closer because my walk with the Lord is much deeper than it was years ago because I constantly reach out to them and ask for them to come to Him. By choosing to surrender to Him and obeying Him. 6. How should we celebrate the repentance of sinners in ways that we are not already doing? Through praise and worship of our Heavenly Father and rejoicing at the sight of one of them coming to Him.

1. What does this story tell us about the father's character? About the younger son's character? A patient loving father with an enormous amount of love for his son. The younger son was selfish only thought about himself. 2. Why do you think that the younger son asked for his share of the father's estate ahead of time? Why do you think the father granted his request? I believe that he wanted to be free from the constraints of his father and so he chose to do what would hurt his father anyway. I believe it was out of love but also to see if the son would come back to him. 3. How can the father be so patient? Why doesn't he run after the son and try to convince him to return? I believe the father knew not fully but at least partially that his son would eventually feel guilty about what he asked for. Because the father knew running after his son would not solve anything nor would it keep his son from leaving. He like our heavenly father has patience and chooses to give us free will to do what he want. 4. What are the four elements of the son's prepared speech? (15:18-19) In what ways do they model an appropriate apology? An acknowledgement of his choice to leave and realizing that He had sinned against both God and his father. His choice to actually renounce his sonship speaks of true repentance. This models an appropriate apology because of his actual sincerity. 5. Why does the father restore the son so quickly to full sonship? What do we learn about God in this parable? What difference should this knowledge make in our life and ministry? He knew that the son would return in a spirit of true repentance and knew that once he did. He would no longer desire the things of the world. That God loves us enough to want us to return to Him in full repentance and welcome us back home. It should cause to be fully obedient to Him. But He will give us free will to choose Him or our desires but will wait for us so we can realize how much He loves us. But also will choose to restore us to a restored relationship in Him. 6. What is the point of this parable in its context with the Parables of the Lost Sheep (15:3-7) and the Lost Coin (15:8-10)? The point that some thing that is lost is always something that needs to be found and restored.

1. Why was Jesus' being criticized by the Pharisees and scribes? The main reason is because they considered Jesus a hypocrite and judged Him as one based on what He did. Not even realizing that they were the hypocrites by their own actions. They chose to judge and criticize because they did not understand how He coulfd associate with them. Was Jesus' mission to these outcasts active or passive? I think it was active. 2. Compare and contrast the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. What are the similarities? What are the differences? The main similarity is the fact they were lost and needed to be found. The difference is that the sheep strayed on its own and the coin was misplaced by the owner. 3. What is the ,point of these two parables? How does it relate to the criticism Jesus had received? The point of these parables are the fact that God is the owner of everything and that nothing belongs to us. We have it on loan from Him. Also the point is that He came to save the lost and as He also said that the sick are the ones who need a physician not the well. He is telling them through the parables that they were not in deed well but actually spiritually sick and dead to their sins. 4. What is the chief lesson here for disciples? What are we supposed to get out of these parables? That as God's children we need to be willing to be like Christ and bring back the ones who have strayed to the fold by correcting them of their sin and let them know that they need to repent. 5. Identify the demographic groups in your community who, as a whole, are presently "lost" to Christian faith. Who in your community should be responsible to reach out to them? Who is their "neighbor"? What are you or your church doing to reach them? In my community it is people in my recovery group who say they believe but have chosen to reject the truth. People like me who know Christ. In my community in general it is people who believe they are saved but probably are not at all because of the religion they have been involved with. I am that neighbor. We are actually using music events to reach them but I don't believe it is working. 6. What are you or your church doing to reach the lost peoples of the world? Are you active in your church's foreign missions program? Why or why not? I am actively involved in my own ministry for the lost and I converse with different beliefs weekly sometimes daily to challenge them to believe in Christ. No I can't pay to help out.

1. What do "large crowds" (14:25) have to do with Jesus' teaching in this passage? A large crowd is the ones are the only ones who are after the miracles that He does not to learn from Him. 2. How can we rightfully honor our father and our mother, and at the same time not water down Jesus' command to hate them? (14:26) Jesus meant that He is to be number one in priorities in our lives and learning to obey Him but also to put no one above or before HIm. 3. What does "carrying your cross" having to do with "hating your own life"? (14:26b-27) Being a disciple of Jesus means that you may suffer persecution, ridicule, discrimination and even death because of our faith and also because the world hated Him they will hate us. 4. What is the point of the Parable of Building the Tower? (14:28-30) Following Jesus means learning to examine not only the cost but priorities to see if we will follow through with what we say. 5. What is the point of the Parable of Assessing Military Strength? (14:31-32) It means relying on Him as our true source of strength when we choose to obey Him. 6. What do Jesus words about "giving up everything he has" (14:33) have to do with owning a house and car? With purchasing a refrigerator? With seeking an academic degree? What He means by this is that nothing should become an idol to us and that we are to keep our priorities in proper order so that nothing stops us from serving Him. 7. What does saltiness represent in 14:34? Should people be able to tell that you are a Christian? How? How can we walk the fine line between being a witness and coming across "holier than thou"? Saltiness is about how we appear and look to the world. They need to tell us apart from the ones who don't believe. Through both actions and words and our walk. By learning to keep in the word and continually obeying the Lord no matter what.