Life Group Discussion Guide for January 8, 2023
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Resolute: A Focused Study of Luke
1.8.23
Are You Sure?
Luke 9:51-62
Dinner Table Questions
In an age when there is easy and instant access to a multitude of competing perspectives and ideas about virtually any given subject, do you find yourself struggling to be sure of much of anything? What are two or three things that you are absolutely sure about? How can you be sure? What makes you so sure?
Open Bible Questions
Read Luke 9:51.
– What initially strikes you about this pivotal statement in Luke’s Gospel?
o What awaited Jesus when he eventually arrived in Jerusalem? (Luke 9:22, 44)
o Where does that kind of resolve come from? Knowing what you know about what we often call the Gospel” (good news), what motivated Jesus to make such a difficult decision?
Read Luke 9:52-56.
– A bit of context…Jesus was Jewish. There was quite a bit of animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans even though they had a similar heritage and story. So, in this case, their refusal to welcome Jesus and his disciples because they were headed to Jerusalem has much to do with a long-standing disagreement about where you ought to worship.
– James and John seem to think they are able to call down fire from heaven on command. What would our world be like if we each had that ability?
– Elijah calls down fire on enemies. Check out 2 Kings 1:9-10. Why does Jesus rebuke James and John?
Read Luke 9:57-62.
– Jesus’ words are unnerving, especially given that…
o Honoring your parents was a significant command (one of the big ten).
o Elijah offers a very different response to Elisha when he says virtually the same thing about going back to tell his family goodbye (1 Kings 19:19-21).
– Why does Jesus respond like this to these people who simply want to follow him? How does this relate to Luke 9:51?
– Read what follows the verse that we have already looked at where Jesus shares the fate that awaits him in Jerusalem…Luke 9:21-25. How does this all fit together with the difficult things that Jesus says in Luke 9:57-62.
Monday Morning Questions
Considering both Jesus difficult but resolute decision to go to Jerusalem and his difficult reminder that following him is costly…what do you think following Jesus will look like for you specifically this coming week? If you are resolute in your decision to be like him, what do you anticipate it might cost you this week? What has it already cost you?