- To the 3 people who approached him or were called by him (Lk 9:57-58, 59, 61), why did Jesus respond so abruptly/bluntly/curtly (Jn 2:24-25)?
- Would this discourage him, like the rich young man (Mt 19:22; Mk 10:22; Lk 18:23)? What does Jesus’ reply (Lk 9:58) mean to him?
- What does this reveal about the lifestyle of a disciple (Mt 6:34; Lk 14:33)?
- Was the request to bury a father (Lk 9:59) and say farewell to family (Lk 9:61) unreasonable? How does Jesus response (Lk 9:60, 62) expose their core issue and their priorities?
How can you balance honoring family (Exo 20:12) with undivided loyalty to Jesus (Mt 22:37) and his kingdom (Mt 6:33)?
- Does Jesus' words about following him sound extreme (Lk 14:26), especially when large crowds were excited about him (Lk 14:25)?
- Is following Jesus about simply believing in him (Jn 6:29; Jas 1:22, 25)?
- What is the difference between “traveling with Jesus” (the crowds) and truly being his disciple (Lk 14:27; 9:23)?
- How does this balance grace (Eph 2:8-9) with the demand for total commitment (Lk 14:33)?
- Was Jesus making it hard to follow him (Jn 6:60, 66)? Do you make it easy to be a Christian?
- As a Christian, is it "easier" to repent of disgusting sins, or to prioritize God's interests over your loved ones who will be hurt by your commitment to Christ?
- "There is no bigger word and no word made more shallow than “surrender.” To say “I surrender all” may be a meaningless sentiment, or it may be the deep passionate utterance of life." Oswald Chambers.
"...you go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:60). Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62). “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:26).
No comments:
Post a Comment