Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five
Part 1
If God gave you the challenge of changing the world, who would you invite to help you accomplish it? Would you put together a team of the world’s greatest humanitarians, philosophers, scientists, communication specialists, media experts and social media influencers?
Jesus did change the world, and the team He chose were not experts. He gathered fishermen and they asked some mates to come too. He spent time with lepers, prostitutes, adulterers and tax collectors. The people in Jesus’ team often had messy and imperfect lives and yet they were able to share the good news with the people they knew.
Engage with God’s Word
Read [bible]Luke 5:27-31[/bible]
Discuss
- What do you notice in the passage about Jesus and Levi? Why do you think Levi followed Jesus?
- Have you been excited about something or someone in a way that has caused you to share the news with others? What made it ‘shareable’? Is inviting others something you do naturally or need to be intentional about?
- Jesus doesn’t ask Levi to forget about his friends and family, instead Jesus joins them at a banquet. Are there friends who listen to you, who share your insights with others, who will do things to serve you? How can you get to know their friends and family better?
- How has Jesus impacted your life? Tell your story to one another. Practice sharing your personal experience and pray for God to show you who to share it with.
Respond
Most of us have had an experience where God may have answered a prayer, prompted us to do something or nudged us to check in with a friend. These are experiences we can share with others! Levi invited a whole heap of people over to meet Jesus. He was excited by this guy who took the time to talk to him, and he wanted others to know Jesus, too. Consider what has held you back from sharing your faith in the past and how you can be like Levi, excited and bold enough to invite people to read the Bible or spend more time with you.
Part 2
Sometimes we default to ‘cruise control’ in our relationship with Jesus. We can be busy with the day-to-day routine of life and get stuck at one speed going straight ahead. Our passage today challenges us to renew our relationship with Jesus, to consider our Lord God in His fullness and to be open to what He is doing in us.
Engage with God’s Word
Read [bible]Luke 5:36-39[/bible]
Discuss
- The Pharisees carefully followed the rules of how to live as God’s people but they did not understand the heart of God behind those rules. Are there particular ways you worship, talk to God, or share your faith with others? Discuss why these ways have been significant for you.
- Old wineskins lose their capacity to stretch and at times we may feel that we have no capacity to grow. How are you being stretched and growing in your relationship with God?
- We can overlook the transformative power of the Holy Spirit who can help stay supple like new wineskins. In what ways have you seen His transformative power at work in yourself and in others?
- Throughout Luke 5 we see Jesus’ provision, healing, forgiveness and love for the sick. Consider how you exhibit His heart in how you treat others. Are there any behaviours or patterns of thought that Jesus is asking you to renew? Share one with each other.
Respond
Our relationship with God is not meant to be set and forget, it is meant to be a lifelong transformation as we build and grow in relationship with Him. To be transformed, however, we have to be open to His voice, His words and His ways. Take a moment to pray. Listen to His voice and write down what it is He is helping you to transform now. Discuss together what that might look like for you and what your first step is today.
Part 3
Travelling back from Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary took 24 hours until they realised they had lost Jesus.
We can often find ourselves swept up in the weekly routine of church, work, socialising and family. We can become consumed with the daily tasks of life and lose sight of our purpose as followers of Jesus.
Engage with God’s Word
Read [bible]Luke 2:41-50[/bible]
Discuss
- Where was Jesus in this passage and what was He doing?
- What is the Passover festival that the family were attending? Why is it celebrated annually?
- Why do you think Mary and Joseph took a day to realise that Jesus was not with them? Have you ever had a moment when you lost sight of your child? What did you feel?
- Have you ever found yourself going down a certain path, a fun option, making a logical decision and realising along the way that you had not checked in with God? What did you do at that point? What leads to that happening?
Respond
We can find ourselves caught up with the business of life, even with celebrations like Christmas or Easter, and forget the real meaning of the event and why we are here. When did you last share the impact that Jesus has in your life?
Part 4
Jesus models for us how we should grow and develop our relationship with God. He shows us we are to make time for deep conversation with God, helping us to see things through His eyes and build our trust in Him.
Engage with God’s Word
Read [bible]Mark 1:35[/bible], [bible]Hebrews 5:7[/bible], [bible]Matthew 26:36-42[/bible]
Discuss
- We each have a preferred method of communicating with others and this can affect how we communicate with God. How do you share with God? How do you hear God?
- How does Jesus make time for God? In what order does Jesus prioritise time with God, time with disciples and time for ministering to others?
- Consider Hebrews 5:7 and Matthew 26. What does reverent submission look like for Jesus? How is this different to your thoughts on submission?
Respond
What sacrifice would it take for you to make time for deep conversation with God this week? Are there things you could rearrange? Perhaps, like Jesus, it may mean getting up earlier in the morning. Discuss what it would look like and make a plan to start, in a small way, to have intentional time with God this week.
Part 5
When we read the Word of God we not only gain an understanding of ancient times and God’s love for us, we also learn how we are to live in our world today.
Jesus lives out what is important to God. Reflect on the Bible passages and consider the works and the ways of Jesus.
Engage with God’s Word
Read Luke 4:43-5:15.
Discuss
- What catches your attention regarding what Jesus is doing or how he does it? Why?
- Touching a leper was completely out of the ‘norm’ for a Jewish man. What would be the equivalent today? Why do you think Jesus did this?
- Consider your own journey of faith and discipleship. Which of your actions or views have changed on this journey? Who in your life has felt the ripples of that?
Respond
We know there were many witnesses to Jesus healing the leper, resulting in the news of Jesus spreading. Discuss the implications of the words, works and ways of Jesus. What could it look like if as believers we were more like Jesus in our community? What is something you could do this week, month or year to impact those around you?