Opening Question: What are some things you enjoy about being alive?
Read Luke 7:11-17 as a group, and then again by yourselves.
11 Some time later, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 He approached the town gate. Just then, a dead person was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother. She was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. So he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin. Those carrying it stood still. Jesus said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 The people were all filled with wonder and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread all through Judea and the whole country.
Word List:
widow - a woman whose husband has died.
coffin - a box in which the dead are buried.
prophet - someone who spoke for God to the people.
Judea - a region in the middle of the nation of Israel.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you believe in life after death?
2. How would you describe the woman and her situation?
3. Why would Jesus say “Don’t cry” to such a sad woman?
4. How could the dead man hear Jesus speaking to him, and how could he get up?
5. What are some things we can learn about Jesus from this story?
6. Are you experiencing a new life because of Jesus? If so, please share with the group.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
March 21st
Opening Question: Have you heard of Easter? If so, what does it mean to you?
Read Matthew 16:21-26 as a group and by yourselves:
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples what would happen to him. He told them he must go to Jerusalem. There he must suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law. He must be killed and on the third day rise to life again. 22 Peter took Jesus to one side and began to scold him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This will never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are standing in my way. You do not have in mind the things of God. Instead, you are thinking about human things." 24 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me. 25 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will find it.26 "What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what can anyone trade for his soul?
Discuss the following questions:
1. Tell the story in your own words.
2. Why did Jesus have to be killed?
3. Why did Jesus call Peter “Satan!”?
4. What does Jesus mean in verses 24 and 25?
5. Is it easy or hard to be a follower of Jesus? Explain.
6. How valuable is your soul? And the soul of others? Explain.
Read Matthew 16:21-26 as a group and by yourselves:
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples what would happen to him. He told them he must go to Jerusalem. There he must suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law. He must be killed and on the third day rise to life again. 22 Peter took Jesus to one side and began to scold him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This will never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are standing in my way. You do not have in mind the things of God. Instead, you are thinking about human things." 24 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me. 25 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will find it.26 "What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what can anyone trade for his soul?
Discuss the following questions:
1. Tell the story in your own words.
2. Why did Jesus have to be killed?
3. Why did Jesus call Peter “Satan!”?
4. What does Jesus mean in verses 24 and 25?
5. Is it easy or hard to be a follower of Jesus? Explain.
6. How valuable is your soul? And the soul of others? Explain.
Friday, March 7, 2008
March 7th
Opening Question: Whar are some things or people you put your faith in?
Read Luke 7:1-10 as a group, and then again by yourself.
1 Jesus finished saying all those things to the people. Then he entered Capernaum. 2 There the servant of a Roman commander was sick and about to die. His master thought highly of him. 3 The commander heard about Jesus. So he sent some elders of the Jews to him. He told them to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him, "This man deserves to have you do this. 5 He loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them. When Jesus came near the house, the Roman commander sent friends to him. He told them to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself. I am not good enough to have you come into my house. 7 That is why I did not even think I was fit to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 I myself am a man who is under authority. And I have soldiers who obey my orders. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned to the crowd that was following him. He said, "I tell you, even in Israel I have not found anyone whose faith is so strong." 10 Then the men who had been sent to Jesus returned to the house. They found that the servant was healed.
Word list:
Capernaum – a city in northern Israel, where Jesus did some teaching and healing.
commander – a military leader in charge of 100 men.
elders – religious leaders
synagogue – The place where Jews met for fellowship.
Discussion questions:
1. How would you retell this story in your own words?
2. What do you think the Roman commander meant in verse 6?
3. What did the commander do that amazed Jesus so much?
4. How could Jesus heal people without even seeing them?
5. How’s your faith in Jesus? Growing? Just starting? Not started yet? Explain.
6. Is there anything we can do to make our faith in Jesus stronger?
Read Luke 7:1-10 as a group, and then again by yourself.
1 Jesus finished saying all those things to the people. Then he entered Capernaum. 2 There the servant of a Roman commander was sick and about to die. His master thought highly of him. 3 The commander heard about Jesus. So he sent some elders of the Jews to him. He told them to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him, "This man deserves to have you do this. 5 He loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them. When Jesus came near the house, the Roman commander sent friends to him. He told them to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself. I am not good enough to have you come into my house. 7 That is why I did not even think I was fit to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 I myself am a man who is under authority. And I have soldiers who obey my orders. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned to the crowd that was following him. He said, "I tell you, even in Israel I have not found anyone whose faith is so strong." 10 Then the men who had been sent to Jesus returned to the house. They found that the servant was healed.
Word list:
Capernaum – a city in northern Israel, where Jesus did some teaching and healing.
commander – a military leader in charge of 100 men.
elders – religious leaders
synagogue – The place where Jews met for fellowship.
Discussion questions:
1. How would you retell this story in your own words?
2. What do you think the Roman commander meant in verse 6?
3. What did the commander do that amazed Jesus so much?
4. How could Jesus heal people without even seeing them?
5. How’s your faith in Jesus? Growing? Just starting? Not started yet? Explain.
6. Is there anything we can do to make our faith in Jesus stronger?
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