Life Group Questions for April 7, 2013

The Bottom Cookie: Luke 6:46-49
What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize 6:46-49? What is the big idea?

2. Describe the person who calls Jesus, “Lord, Lord” (v. 46).

3. What are the 3 action words in v. 47?  What is the key difference between the person described in v. 46 and the person described in v. 47?

4. What is Jesus’ implied connection between calling him “Lord, Lord” and doing what He says?

5. What words of Jesus do you think He intends we “do”?

6. What, in Jesus’ mind, do you think the “flood” represents”?

7. What, in Jesus’ intent, do you think he means by “the ruin of the house was great”?

8. Why do you think obedience matters to Jesus?

How does it apply?

1. What are you doing to ensure that you are building your “spiritual house” upon the rock?

2. Do you feel like your foundation is pretty solid?  Rate yourself as you think Jesus might.  What do you base your evaluation on?

3. (For personal reflection) What have you done to weaken your spiritual foundation?  What is your plan to address your weaknesses?

The Sweet Creme Middle: Luke 7:1-18
What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize 7:1-18? What is the big idea?

2. Describe the Centurion. What did the Jews say about him?

3. What was the basis for their plea on his behalf?

4. What did the Centurion say about himself?

5. Why do you think Jesus marveled at the Centurion? How did He describe the Centurion?

6. What did Jesus encounter outside the gates of Nain?

7. How was Jesus affected by the woman’s circumstances?  How does this story portray Jesus?  How would onlookers have described Him?

8. What conclusions did the Jews make about Jesus? 

How does it apply?

1. Jesus identified the Centurion as a man of great “faith.”  Why?

1. What was the reasoning behind the Jews’ motivation for seeking help on behalf of the Centurion? What was Jesus’ motivation for actually helping him?

2. How did the Centurions words reflect a proper understanding and disposition towards Jesus?  Is this same disposition reflected in your own prayers?

3. What character qualities of the Centurion are worth developing in your own life?

4. After reading this story, what character trait of Jesus’ do you see more clearly?  Does this move you to worship and adore Him?

5. What is the difference between the mourners in the procession and Jesus (hint: think in terms of actions)?

6. What was Jesus’ motivation for helping the widow? 

7. As we imitate Jesus, what actions can we do to represent His passions and priorities?  How can we “walk as He walked? (1 John 2:6)

8. Did the Jews arrive at the correct conclusion about Jesus?  Does being close count here?

The Top Cookie: Luke 7:18-23
What does it mean?

1. How would you summarize 7:19-23? What is the big idea?

2. How many people did John send to investigate Jesus?  Why is this important to Luke? (Hint: Luke 1:3-4)

3. What was John’s question?

4. What is Jesus’ doing and saying when the two witnesses found Him?

5. What was the most important aspect of Jesus’ replay to John’s question?

6. What was Jesus communicating to John when He quoted Isaiah 61:1-2 in reference to what He was doing?  Was this a Messianic claim?

7. What information did the two witnesses bring back to John?  What conclusion should he have reached about Jesus?

How does it apply?

1. Luke presented facts about Jesus. Are facts incompatible with faith?  Why or why not?

2. John the Baptist was a “pastor’s kid.” What kind of upbringing can we assume he had?  Would he have known more of the Old Testament than the average person?  What accounts for his question about Jesus?

3. Since we know that John was in prison when he sent his witnesses out, what do you think contributed to his questioning?

4. (For personal reflection) What do you base your understanding about God on; personal study of the Scriptures, or exposure to knowledge of Him in church and home?  Which is better?

5. In what ways do we create expectations about God and how He works?  Do you ever judge God?

6. What can we take away form Jesus’ gentle warning to John (v. 23)? 


Download the questions here