Today’s passage: Luke 8:26-39

Helpful thoughts:

• The people of this region were Gentiles.
• A Roman legion could consist of up to 6,000 men.
• These demons did not want to be sent to eternal hell before the end (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10).  They know their future judgment is coming.  They know who is in charge.
• The demons were only allowed to move to the pigs because Jesus gave them permission.  God is not struggling to keep Satan and the Demons at bay.
• John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Questions to consider:

1. What kinds of emotions might have been swirling in your mind had you been there that day?  What emotion does verse 37 say these people felt?  What did this emotion push them to ask Jesus?
2. How do verses like 2 Corinthians 4:4 and John 3:19 help us to answer the question, “Why would these people not see this amazing miracles and then believe?”  Why did they ask Jesus to leave?  How many people in this region were in need of a miracle (Conversion!)?
3. How much could Jesus have told this newly healed man?  How much training did he get before Jesus sent him off as a missionary to his region?  What do you need to know before you are “qualified” to share the Gospel message with others?

Today’s passage: Luke 8:22-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus, fully God and fully man, needed to sleep.
• The disciples who were fishermen and knowledgeable in sailing had tried everything they knew to save themselves.  There was only one on that boat who could save them.
• Jesus knew what He had taken on flesh to do.  There was no reason to fear.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the answers to the questions asked in verse 25?  How do the commands and questions in this passage set Jesus apart from the disciples?
2. What response would have showed faith in the disciples?
3. How can this passage encourage us to show faith during “storms” in this life?  Even if God allows the storm to continue?  (Jesus was going to the cross.  Where are you going?)  What promises has God made that you can specifically count on?

Today’s passage: Luke 8:16-21

Helpful thoughts:

• This illustration is given after the parable of the good soil where the seed was the Word of God, the Gospel message.  Whoever has received this light is to shine it before others!
• A false disciple will hear the message and will not share it with others.  A true disciple will shine the light.
• Jesus clearly did not disregard his mother and his brothers (John 19:26-27).  In verse 17 and in verse 21, Jesus is confirming that the true people of God (The family of God) will truly follow Him.

Questions to consider:

1. When people might doubt their salvation, what could we point them to that would be more evident than reminding them that they prayed a prayer?  What evidences did Jesus point to in this passage that assure us that we are in His family?
2. How should the great access we have to the Word of God today be a challenge to us for continued study and growth (To whom much is given, much is required)?
3. In what ways are you shining the light of the Word of God?  Who have you shared the Gospel with recently? Who could you share Christ with today?

Today’s passage: Luke 8:1-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus’ earthly ministry at this time was contrary to the cultural expectations in three ways according to this passage:
  • Instead of the big cities and the hub of Judaism, Jesus traveled through towns and villages in Galilee.
  • Jesus traveled with men and women.  Women were not excluded.  Rabbis would not have allowed women to be among those who accompanied them.
  • Jesus did not use His miraculous powers and teaching skills to make Himself financially rich.  They had what they needed.  They took advantage of no one.  When they cast lots for His garment at the cross, they got everything He owned.
• Rabbis often used parables to illustrate and help people remember their teaching.  Jesus used them to confuse people.  Israel had rejected her Messiah and was now under judgment.
  • Isaiah 6:9-10
• “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

Questions to consider:

1. Who all is involved in the process of evangelism according to this parable and Jesus’ interpretation?  What is going on?  Who is doing what?
2. How do passages like 1 Corinthians 3:6, Isaiah 55:11 and Ezekiel 36:26 help us to think more about God’s role in the process of evangelism and conversion?
3. How might Jesus’ example in ministry cause us to rethink some popular methods and ministry philosophies in our day?  Who needs to hear?  What do they need to hear?  How might we define faithfulness in our ministry?

Today’s passage: Luke 7:36-50

• Jesus ate with sinners, including Simon the Pharisee.
• When this woman came into the room, there were now two sinners presented.  Only one of them saw themselves accurately.
• If you think Jesus didn’t have to suffer that much for your sin on the cross, you won’t appreciate and love Him rightly.

Questions to consider:

1. What should be on the forefront of our minds after reading this passage, how we compare with the sinfulness of others or how we compare with the righteousness of God?  Which matters?
2. Is there anyone who really only owes “50 denarii”?  How does a right view of our sinful helplessness give us a fervent love for Christ?
3. How could Simon the Pharisee’s rebuke of Jesus bring us conviction?  In what ways might we be living and viewing people more through the eyes of an unbelieving Pharisee?  How did Jesus view these people?  Who received forgiveness and salvation?

Today’s passage: Luke 7:18-35

Helpful thoughts:

• John the Baptist wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah.
  • Jesus confirmed this and also confirmed that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1.
• Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”  Then when he preached good news to the poor, some were glad and others were offended (Verses 29-30).
• When people do not repent and become followers of Christ, it’s not because the message isn’t relative enough or because it wasn’t sweetened enough for them to hear.  When people do not repent it’s because they don’t want to follow Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did Jesus do these miracles to strengthen John’s faith when He told the Jewish leaders, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” (Matthew 16:4)?  What was different about John the Baptist’s request of confirmation and the request of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
2. What do these miracles prove?  What do they also represent?  In what ways were we blind, lame, unclean, deaf, poor and dead?
3. What is the good news preached to us?  Why is it so good?  Why are people offended by it?

Today’s passage: Luke 7:1-17

Helpful thoughts:

• The greatest faith Jesus found in Israel was that of a Gentile.
• The faith of the centurion was evidenced by the way he viewed/treated people, the way he shared his resources, and the way he showed respect to the Son of God.
• God is sovereign and all-powerful over His creation.
  • Jesus showed up in Nain at just the right time, for just the right purpose.
  • Touching the coffin of a dead man didn’t make Jesus unclean.  Jesus touched the coffin of a dead man and His creation was brought back to life.

Questions to consider:

1. Who asked Jesus to go heal the centurion’s servant?  What might be surprising about this?  What seems to have motivated them to go to Jesus?
2. What did the centurion believe that Jesus was able to do?  What did this communicate of Jesus’ identity and power?
3. What motivated Jesus to raise the dead man in Nain?  What was He accomplishing?