Paradox (Matthew 10:37-42)

Full quote below.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it" (Mt 10:39).

1. Priority/Allegiance. Why does Jesus' command you to love Him more than your family (Mt 10:37; 22:37-38; Dt 6:5; Lk 14:26)?
   
• Does this contradict the command to "Honor your father and mother" (Exo 20:12)? Why or why not?

God is Light (1 John 1:1-2:11)

“God is light” (1 Jn 1:5). “...walk in the light...” (1 Jn 1:7). “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 Jn 2:6).

1. Why emphasize Jesus being “heard,” “seen,” “looked at,” and “touched” (1 Jn 1:1; Jn 1:14; Lk 24:39)?
• Is this your experience of Christ?
2. What is eternal life (1 Jn 1:2; Jn 17:3; 1 Tim 3:16, 1 Cor 1:9)?
• Why does sharing this message bring joy (1 Jn 1:3-4; Phil 2:2; 2 Jn 12)?
• Do you have joy from sharing Christ?
3. What does it mean that “God is light” (1 Jn 1:5; Ps 27:1; Jn 8:12; 1 Tim 6:16)?
• What does "light" do (Jn 3:19–21)?

Live Free Without Fear (Matthew 10:26-33)

Live Free, Leave Fear. 12th Sun in Ordinary Time.

"So do not be afraid of them..." (Mt 10:26). "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body..." (Mt 10:28). "So don't be afraid..." (Mt 10:31).

• What do you (people) fear?
• Being lonely? Disliked? Unpopular? Critized?
• Not loved? Honored? Acknowledged? Recognized? Given credit?
• Being insignificant? Ignored? Betrayed? Taken for granted?

What is a Christian?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Therefore, the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17).

• Why has Gal 2:20 and 2 Cor 5:17 been regarded as among the best verses that describe what a Christian is?

An Extravagant Expression of Emotion (Luke 7:36-50)

"...her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little” (Lk 7:47).

"She has done a beautiful thing to me." "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mk 14:6, 9).

1. Why did Simon the Pharisee invite Jesus to dinner, yet fail to provide basic hospitality (Lk 7:36, 44, 45, 46; 11:39, 42-43; cf. Rom 12:10)?
   
• Why did he question Jesus' prophetic credentials (Lk 7:39; Isa 64:6)?
• How does the parable of the 2 debtors:
• Expose Simon's spiritual condition (Lk 7:40-43; 18:9, 11-12; Mt 7:3-4; Jer 17:9)?