Opening Question: What are some things you (or other people) think you do pretty well?
Read Luke 9:46-48 and some related verses from the Bible:
46 The disciples began to argue about which one of them would be the most important person. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had the child stand beside him. 48 Then he spoke to them. "Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me," he said. "And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. The least important person among all of you is the most important."
Related verses:
Jesus called a little child over to him. He had the child stand among them. Jesus said, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who becomes as free of pride as this child is the most important in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4)
The Lord hates all those who have proud hearts. You can be sure that they will be punished. (Proverbs 16:5)
If a man's heart is proud, he will be destroyed. So don't be proud if you want to be honored. (Proverbs 18:12)
Young men, follow the lead of those who are older. All of you, put on a spirit that is free of pride toward each other as if it were your clothes. Scripture says, "God opposes those who are proud, but gives grace to the humble." So don't be proud. Put yourselves under God's mighty hand. Then he will honor you at the right time. (1 Peter 5:5,6)
Word List:
disciples – the followers of Jesus.
kingdom of heaven – where God lives and rules as King.
Scripture – the Old Testament part of the Bible, written before Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
1. Is pride good or bad?
2. What were Jesus’ disciples saying, and how did Jesus know what they were thinking?
3. Who are the most important people in your culture? And in the kingdom of heaven?
4. Why did Jesus use a little child to teach the disciples what is most important?
5. How can we become like little children, and what good will it do?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday, May 23rd
Opening Question: What is the most important thing to you?
Read Luke 9:18-26 together as a group, and then again by yourselves.
18 One day Jesus was praying alone. Only his disciples were with him. He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" 19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." 20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 Jesus strongly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. The elders will not accept him. The chief priests and teachers of the law will not accept him either. He must be killed and on the third day rise from the dead." 23 Then he said to all of them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross every day and follow me. 24 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will save it. 25 What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses or gives up his very self? 26 "Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words. The Son of Man will come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Then he will be ashamed of you.
Word list:
disciples – followers.
Baptist – John was a prophet who baptized people in the Jordan River, which runs through Israel.
prophets – those who spoke for God.
Christ – anointed (give special blessing and honor).
Son of Man – representative of mankind.
elders / priests / teachers - the religious leaders of Israel.
glory – power and greatness.
Discussion questions:
1, Do you ever pray alone? If so, what do you pray about?
2. Why do you think the elders / priests / teachers didn’t accept Jesus, and instead wanted to kill him?
3. What does it mean to:
a) say no to yourself?
b) pick up your cross?
c) lose your life for Jesus?
d) follow Jesus?
4. How can we follow someone who lived and died 2000 years ago?
5. Have you decided to follow Jesus yet? If so, has it been difficult in any way?
Read Luke 9:18-26 together as a group, and then again by yourselves.
18 One day Jesus was praying alone. Only his disciples were with him. He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" 19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." 20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 Jesus strongly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. The elders will not accept him. The chief priests and teachers of the law will not accept him either. He must be killed and on the third day rise from the dead." 23 Then he said to all of them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross every day and follow me. 24 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will save it. 25 What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses or gives up his very self? 26 "Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words. The Son of Man will come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Then he will be ashamed of you.
Word list:
disciples – followers.
Baptist – John was a prophet who baptized people in the Jordan River, which runs through Israel.
prophets – those who spoke for God.
Christ – anointed (give special blessing and honor).
Son of Man – representative of mankind.
elders / priests / teachers - the religious leaders of Israel.
glory – power and greatness.
Discussion questions:
1, Do you ever pray alone? If so, what do you pray about?
2. Why do you think the elders / priests / teachers didn’t accept Jesus, and instead wanted to kill him?
3. What does it mean to:
a) say no to yourself?
b) pick up your cross?
c) lose your life for Jesus?
d) follow Jesus?
4. How can we follow someone who lived and died 2000 years ago?
5. Have you decided to follow Jesus yet? If so, has it been difficult in any way?
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, May 16th
Opening Question: What is one of your favorite foods?
Read Luke 9:10-17
10 The apostles returned. They told Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him. They went off by themselves to a town called Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds learned about it and followed Jesus. He welcomed them and spoke to them about God's kingdom. He also healed those who needed to be healed. 12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him. They said, "Send the crowd away. They can go to the nearby villages and countryside. There they can find food and a place to stay. There is nothing here." 13 Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." The disciples answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. We would have to go and buy food for all this crowd." 14 About 5,000 men were there. But Jesus said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each." 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke them into pieces. Then he gave them to the disciples to set in front of the people. 17 All of them ate and were satisfied. The disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces.
Word list:
apostles / the Twelve – the 12 men who followed Jesus for three and a half years.
disciples – the 12 followers of Jesus.
Discuss the following:
1. How did Jesus treat the different people in this story?
2. Do you see anything that’s strange or hard to understand in this story?
3. Why did Jesus stop and give thanks before he broke the food into pieces?
4. What do you guess the disciples were thinking as they picked up the leftovers?
5. Do you feel like you don’t have enough of something? If so, what does this story teach you?
Read Luke 9:10-17
10 The apostles returned. They told Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him. They went off by themselves to a town called Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds learned about it and followed Jesus. He welcomed them and spoke to them about God's kingdom. He also healed those who needed to be healed. 12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him. They said, "Send the crowd away. They can go to the nearby villages and countryside. There they can find food and a place to stay. There is nothing here." 13 Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." The disciples answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. We would have to go and buy food for all this crowd." 14 About 5,000 men were there. But Jesus said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each." 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke them into pieces. Then he gave them to the disciples to set in front of the people. 17 All of them ate and were satisfied. The disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces.
Word list:
apostles / the Twelve – the 12 men who followed Jesus for three and a half years.
disciples – the 12 followers of Jesus.
Discuss the following:
1. How did Jesus treat the different people in this story?
2. Do you see anything that’s strange or hard to understand in this story?
3. Why did Jesus stop and give thanks before he broke the food into pieces?
4. What do you guess the disciples were thinking as they picked up the leftovers?
5. Do you feel like you don’t have enough of something? If so, what does this story teach you?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday, May 9th
Opening Question: How do you feel about being in a crowd?
Read Luke 8:40-56 out loud as a group, and then again silently:
40 When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. He fell at Jesus' feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house. 42 His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her. 44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped. 45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. They all said they didn't do it. Then Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you." 46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me." 47 The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant. 48 Then he said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," the messenger said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore." 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed." 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. 52 During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. "Stop crying!" Jesus said. "She is not dead. She is sleeping." 53 They laughed at him. They knew she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55 Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Vocabulary:
synagogue – the place where the Jewish people met for fellowship, worship and Bible study.
Discuss the following:
1. Make a list of everything you can about the man and the woman in this story.
2. List all the ways that Jesus treated the people in the story.
3. Is there anything in this story that you don’t understand?
4. What do you like the most about this story?
5. Why is it so important to Jesus for people to have faith and “just believe” in him?
6. Do you have faith and “just believe” in Jesus? If so, how do you do it, and how does it help you?
Read Luke 8:40-56 out loud as a group, and then again silently:
40 When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. He fell at Jesus' feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house. 42 His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her. 44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped. 45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. They all said they didn't do it. Then Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you." 46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me." 47 The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant. 48 Then he said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," the messenger said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore." 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed." 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. 52 During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. "Stop crying!" Jesus said. "She is not dead. She is sleeping." 53 They laughed at him. They knew she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55 Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Vocabulary:
synagogue – the place where the Jewish people met for fellowship, worship and Bible study.
Discuss the following:
1. Make a list of everything you can about the man and the woman in this story.
2. List all the ways that Jesus treated the people in the story.
3. Is there anything in this story that you don’t understand?
4. What do you like the most about this story?
5. Why is it so important to Jesus for people to have faith and “just believe” in him?
6. Do you have faith and “just believe” in Jesus? If so, how do you do it, and how does it help you?
Friday, May 2, 2008
Friday, May 2nd
Opening Question: Is there anything you’re worrying about these days?
Read Luke 8:26-39
26 Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don't hurt me!" 29 This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. His hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside. 30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned. 34 Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside. 35 The people went out to see what had happened. Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed. 37 Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Discuss the following:
1. What was the demon-controlled man like before and after he met Jesus?
2. What was the relationship like between Jesus and the demon(s)?
3. Why did the people of the Gerasenes want Jesus to leave them?
4. Can Jesus help us think clearly and have peace of mind today? Explain.
5. How much has God done for us, and who can we tell about it?
Read Luke 8:26-39
26 Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don't hurt me!" 29 This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. His hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside. 30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned. 34 Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside. 35 The people went out to see what had happened. Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed. 37 Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Discuss the following:
1. What was the demon-controlled man like before and after he met Jesus?
2. What was the relationship like between Jesus and the demon(s)?
3. Why did the people of the Gerasenes want Jesus to leave them?
4. Can Jesus help us think clearly and have peace of mind today? Explain.
5. How much has God done for us, and who can we tell about it?
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