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 7: The CALL
TEACHING SERIES: Jesus
TITLE: Session 7: The Call
BY: Tim Chilvers
DATE: 21 November 2021
PASSAGE: Luke – Chapter 8, verses 4-15.
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
Download Children’s Script
SESSION 6: YOUTH RESOURCES
Download Youth Script
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:
- What do you think it takes to truly change the world?
- Read Luke 8:4-15. Jesus tells a story about a farmer sowing his seed. There are four different responses. Can you summarise them on your own words. What particularly strikes you?
- Which of those responses do you most easily identify with?
- In verse 13 Jesus talks about initial joy abut then going through ‘testing times’ and ‘falling away’. What practical steps do you think can be taken to ensure that this doesn’t happen to us?
- In verse 14 Jesus refers to those that are “choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Can you give some examples of what that could look like today? How do we help ourselves, and each other, to prevent that from happening?
- The seed that grows becomes fruitful in v15. This involves persevering, and results in a harvest that is 100 times bigger (v8). What do you think it means to bear fruit in this way?
- Take some time to pray, asking that God would help us persevere through the doubts, the pleasure, the pain, to bear fruit for him.
C. GOING DEEPER
These are questions to help you go a little deeper, by exploring the wider biblical context.
- What in your life do you feel might ‘compete’ with being a follower of Jesus?
- Read Luke 8:4-15. This parable of Jesus is quite well-known, and likens the ‘word of God’ to being a seed that bears fruit. Read Hosea 2:21-23 and Ezekiel 36:8-12. What encourages you about the metaphor of the growth of God’s kingdom being like a seed?
- Jesus outlines 4 responses to the message. Some reject it (v5 & 12); some initially receive it but then ‘fall away’ (v6 & 13); some hear the message and begin to grow, but then get ‘choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures’ (v7 & 14); and yet still others see significant growth (v8 & 15). Which of the four responses to the message particularly strikes you, and why?
- In verse 8-10, Jesus describes the purpose of telling parables like this. Read Luke 10:23-24 and 1 Corinthians 2:12-15. In a sense, the use of parables by Jesus has two results – communicating truth in an accessible story form, but also has the affect of separating out those who do understand and those who don’t. What challenges you about this and what encourages you?
- Notice the role of ‘the devil’ in v12. Read 1 Peter 5:8-9 and Ephesians 6:11-12. How easy do you find it to forget that the there is always a spiritual opposition to the kingdom of God? What encouragement might there be in this truth?
- Both the seed that has no root (v6 & 13) and the seed that gets choked (v7 & 14) get knocked by various aspects of life. What are they? Read James 1:19-25. What things can be done to help navigate these ‘barriers to faith’?
- The fruit that grows has a real impact – 100 times the fruit! Read James 1:2-4. What might a fruitful life look like, do you think?
- Take some time to pray, asking that God would enable you to persevere and bear fruit. Pray also for your friends and family that you would love to receive the message of Christ wholeheartedly.
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Listen Online: Podcast
Transcript:
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