Teaching Series Introduction:
One man changed history more than any other. Our calendar is based on his life. Our symbols of hope are based on his death… but do we really know who he is?
Session 6: The FAITH
TEACHING SERIES: Jesus
TITLE: Session 6: The Faith
BY: Judy Moore
DATE: 14 November 2021
PASSAGE: Luke 7:11-17
EXCERPT:
The heart of Christianity is not the strength of our faith, but the strength of the one in whom we have faith – the one who welcomes outsiders (v1-10), raises the dead (v11-17) and forgives sins (v36-50).
CHILDRENS & YOUTH RESOURCES:
These resources will be used within the various groups in-person on a Sunday morning. This means that if you are unable to attend one of our Sunday Gatherings, you can still study and follow along with the same material at a time that is best for you. However you study, we encourage you to engage with your group as much as possible. If you would like to know about how you can get connected with our children’s or youth groups please contact us, we would love to hear from you.
SESSION 6: CHILDREN’S RESOURCES
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SESSION 6: YOUTH RESOURCES
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Study Questions
There are three different sets of questions for you to use, whether you are exploring God’s word within your Life Group, in other group settings, or simply using them on your own.
A. DISCUSSION STARTERS
These are simple questions to provoke discussion together out of the talk (ideal if you are watching our Sunday Service online with others in your group):
- What did you agree with in the talk, or find particularly helpful or meaningful?
- Was there anything in the talk that you didn’t agree with, or found difficult to understand or take in?
- From the talk, is there anything that you want to change or implement into your life?
B. QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE
These are questions that are based on the talk and the surrounding themes:
- One day a friend says to you, ‘What was Jesus like?” How would you answer?
- Read Luke 7:11-17. What aspect of what Jesus does do you find to be most incredible? Why?
- Why do you think Jesus’ heart particularly ‘went out to her’ (v13)? What was it about her circumstances? What might that tell us about Jesus’ heart today?
- If you compare this story to the surrounding stories in Luke 7 (eg. Vs 1-10, vs 36 onwards) a common theme emerges about the kind of people that Jesus helps. This is explained in v22. What ‘type’ of person is most impacted by Jesus, does it seem? Why?
- Author Dane Ortlund, in his wonderful book ‘Gentle and Lowly’, writes the following: ‘Time and again it is the morally disgusting, the socially reviled, the inexcusable and undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ’s mercy but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates. He is, by his enemies’ testimony, the “friend of sinners”.’ What do you make of that quote?
- Read v16-17. Their reaction was naturally one of awe and praise. And, it is no wonder that news about Jesus spreads – why wouldn’t it!? If Jesus both cares so much for the outsider and has the power to overcome death, what might be the natural response to him in our lives?
- Take some time to pray, asking that Jesus would help you see how he sees you, and those you love. Ask him for the courage to keep on spreading that news about him widely.
C. GOING DEEPER
These are questions to help you go a little deeper, by exploring the wider biblical context.
- If someone asked you to describe Jesus to them what would you say?
- Read Luke 7:11-17. What strikes you about the woman that Jesus ministers to in this passage? Read 1 Kings 17:7-24. What parallels do you see between the two passages?
- And do you notice some key differences between the account of Elijah raising the son from the dead, and Jesus in Luke 7? What might these show us about the difference between Elijah and Jesus?
- Compare the response, therefore, of the woman in 1 Kings 17:24, the people in Luke 7:16 and the way that Peter responds to Jesus in Luke 9:18-20. The obvious question is this – who do people today say Jesus is? And what about us? How do we help bridge that gap?!
- Read Deuteronomy 18:15-18. For generations, they people of Israel had various prophets. And yet none had been quite like Jesus. What do you notice about their reaction in v16-17? See also Luke 5:25-26 and 13:13. What is the natural response to Jesus? What about us?
- Author Dane Ortlund, in his wonderful book ‘Gentle and Lowly’, writes the following: ‘Time and again it is the morally disgusting, the socially reviled, the inexcusable and undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ’s mercy but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates. He is, by his enemies’ testimony, the “friend of sinners”.’ What do you make of that quote?
- Take some time to pray, thanking God for the power of Christ to beat death. Ask for courage to share the message of hope widely.
RESOURCES
Watch Online: YouTube
Listen Online: Podcast
Coming Soon
