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?