Integrated sermon and bible study series

28 February to 13 March 2016

LUKE 13What Jesus says about…

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

…………………………………………………………………………

………………………… 2

Community Groups

…………………………………………………………………………

……….. 3

Series Overview ……………….………………………...

……………………………………………… 4

Bible study – week 1

…………………………………………………………………………

……… 5

Bible study – week 2

2

…………………………………………………………………………

……… 8

Bible study – week 3

…………………………………………………………………………

……… 11

Feedback

…………………………………………………………………………

………………………… 14

3

OVERVIEW

I always love studying the gospels in detail, and in particular Jesus various teachings and parables. The middle part of Luke is particularly interesting as we see Jesus and his disciples on the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem.

It’s an eventful journey, with crowds and crowds following Jesus everywhere he goes, much opposition and many healings. Jesus keeps using everything that’s going around him to teach, in particular about who he is and what he’s come to do. In chapter 13 Jesus focuses on what is to come – that is how God’s kingdom will come about. It’s full of encouragements for the vulnerable and the suffering and warnings for the Jewish leaders at the time.

I hope that the three weeks of studies, along with the sermons Geoff Lin will preach on the same passages, are encouraging and helpful for you and your community group.

God Bless,

4

Matt WinterMinistry Apprentice

5

COMMUNITY GROUPS

COMMUNITY GROUPS AT TRINITY INNER SOUTHRegular Bible study in small groups is a great way to grow as a Christian. We see three things as being really important to our groups:

1. GROWING AS DISCIPLES OF JESUSThis is a central goal of all we do at TIS and God’s appointed way of doing so is through ministry of the word and through prayer.

2. GROWING IN LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHERGod has called us to be in community with one another and there are many “one another” tasks in the Bible, which simply can’t be achieved at a big Sunday gathering and are better done in smaller groups.

3. SERVING THE GOSPEL TOGETHER We’d love all our groups to be growing in their commitment to the gospel and how that works out practically at a local church level.

JOINING A COMMUNITY GROUP

6

If you are able to join one of our community groups and haven’t done so yet, please consider it in the next few weeks. The easiest way to get into a group is to go to our website at www.trinityinnersouth.org.au/#/connect and launch the form at the bottom of the “Community Groups” page. Karl Forsyth our Community Group co-ordinator will get in touch with you.

7

SERIES OVERVIEW

These studies are intended to be used in conjunction with the sermon series on Luke 13, preached by Geoff Lin at Trinity Inner South in February/March 2016. Luke 13 is a short but dense chapter of the bible and there is much to be learnt from Jesus words, both for Christians and for those who don’t know Jesus, but have questions.

STUDY TOPIC PASSAGEStudy 1 What Jesus says about… repentance Luke 13:1-9Study 2 What Jesus says about… his kingdom Luke 13:10-21Study 3 What Jesus says about… the narrow door

Luke 13:22-35

We hope you really enjoy the series and there’s a feedback form at the end of the booklet which we’d really like your group to complete.

8

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 1(Blue text like this denotes leader’s notes – these will not appear in the general booklets)Key Idea: This passage helps us to know that our response to suffering should be repentance. We are all sinful, with no special entitlements, and were it not for Christ we would all perish.

WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT… REPENTANCEOVERVIEW: Midway through Luke chapter 9, Jesus began to journey towards Jerusalem along with his disciples and many others who are following. Along the way he teaches, and in the first part of Luke 13 we see Jesus using some terrible news as a warning to everyone listening.

1. It seems almost every week we’ll see on the news some sort of tragedy on either a small or large scale. When something like this happens, how do you think society tends to react? How do you react?

Worth emphasising that generally the response is to feel sorry for the ‘innocent victims’ of any tragedy. That’s not necessarily a bad response, but Jesus critiques it helpfully.

READ LUKE 13: 1-92. While Jesus is travelling to Jerusalem, there appears

to have been two tragedies that the crowd has

9

recently heard about. What seems to have happened (v1, v4)?

There’s a tower falling over in verse 4, as well as the ‘blood Pilate mixed with the sacrifices of the Galileans’ in verse 1. This likely means some Galileans had travelled to Jerusalem to make sacrifices and were slaughtered there by the romans. This is in keeping with the character of Pilate, who is historically recorded as a very cruel ruler.

3. How does Jesus respond to the tragedies? Were the deaths of the people in the two tragedies caused by their sins?

Jesus makes it clear that the people who died were not worse sinners than everyone else. But he also doesn’t call them innocent – so yes their deaths were because of their sin. The point Jesus makes is that everyone else is just as sinful.

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 1

4. In Jesus response, is there any reassurance for those who experience suffering?

Their suffering is not because they are worse sinners – this should mean we don’t look down on people who are suffering as if they are to blame…

5. What should our response be when we see others experiencing suffering around us?

10

6. Often when a terrible suffering occurs, people will ask: ‘why would God let this happen?’ What insight does this passage give to the question? How might you respond when someone asks this?

You don’t have to try and fully answer this tough question that people will often ask. The passaged says that actually suffering is what we all deserve, but we can repent - God has given us a way to avoid perishing in Christ.

Jesus then tells a parable about a fig tree planted in a vineyard that is given one more year to produce fruit before it is to be cut down (v6-9).

In pairs, briefly look up the following passages:Psalm 80:8, Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21.Jeremiah 8:13; 24:1-10; Mic 7:1, Hosea 9:10.

7. What do vineyards and fig trees seem to represent in these passages? What do you think the fruit represents?

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 1

Vineyards and fig trees are often used to represent Israel. The tree represents the people, who are sinners and in danger of being cut down. I think in context the fruit represents repentance. Bringing up Luke 3:8 could be helpful. The parable is a warning that time is short, and as the tree must bear fruit quickly, we must quickly repent.

11

8. In what ways have the Jews who are listening to Jesus been privileged? Or in what ways did they assume they were entitled to the Kingdom of God?

Israel is God’s chosen people, yet they have failed to understand the or interpret the present time (12:56). This sense of entitlement means that they are unwilling to repent. If you want to stretch your group you might think about reading Romans 2, which puts this argument clearly.

9. What things in our lives today might cause us to have a similar sense of entitlement?

Pray that God would help us to respond appropriately to suffering with repentance, and thank him that because of Christ we can repent and be saved!

12

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 2

Key Idea: Jesus healing this one woman is just the start. The kingdom of God has a place for everyone, including the sick and the poor and the vulnerable. In fact, it is through these that the kingdom of God grows.

WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT… HIS KINGDOMOVERVIEW: Having used suffering as a warning to his followers in verses 1-9, Jesus now heals a woman who has suffered for many years. Jesus has ended the suffering for this woman, but he’s criticised for healing her on the Jewish Sabbath.

1. How do you picture life after Jesus returns, living in God’s Kingdom?

Don’t go too deep. Just – what do you think heaven will be like? What are you looking forward to?

READ LUKE 13: 10-172. What do we know about the woman in verse 11?

What happens to her? What is her response? What do you think the woman would say to her work colleagues on Monday morning?

13

3. What do you think of the synagogue ruler’s response to Jesus in verse 14? Is there anything you like about the response? What do you dislike about the response?

Might be helpful to not paint this guy as a bad guy – he’s following the rules of the Old Testament, just overly legalistic and unaware of the new freedom Jesus is bringing.

READ LUKE 13:18-21BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 2

4. Jesus tells two parables about the Kingdom of God. The first is about a seed becoming a tree. What is the point of this parable?

A tree as metaphorical of a kingdom occurs in Ezek 17:23; 31:16; Dan 4:10-12. Be careful not to confuse the parable with that in Matthew’s gospel. The emphasis does not seem to be on the comparative size of the mustard seed and tree but rather on the idea that birds will be able to perch in its branches. There is a place in the Kingdom for those who desire to shelter there.

5. The second parable is about a baker mixing yeast into dough. How is yeast / leaven usually depicted in the bible? Refer to Exodus 12:15-20, Luke 12:1, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

Yeast normally is a negative – representing sin / sinners and the spread of sin as yeast spreads through dough.

14

6. Who is Jesus talking to at this point and what has he been accused of?

He’s talking to the synagogue ruler and he’s been accused of blasphemy as he heals on the Sabbath.

7. What would be surprising about this parable for Jesus’ listeners? What does this say about the nature / style of Jesus ministry?

The parable is unusual in the way yeast is representing something good (the Kingdom), when yeast is normally referring to sinners. The kingdom of God will spread through the misfits, and the sinners – the ones at the bottom of society, not through the Jewish rulers and the top rungs of Jewish society.

8. In the story Jesus offers great hope for the suffering woman. Does this hope of physical healing still exist today? What would you say to a Christian friend, struggling with illness?

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 2

9. At Trinity Inner South, do you think we are caring for those with physical or mental illness well? In what ways could we continue to care for and embrace those who are suffering?

15

Pray for God’s Kingdom to come soon, and for endurance for Christians struggling with illness. Praise God that these people have a place in the Kingdom to come.

16

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 3

Key Point: There is a narrow door by which me must enter to be saved. The Jews have made the mistake of not entering this door and not allowing Jesus to gather them under his wings, we must hold firm to Jesus to avoid making the same mistake.

WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT… THE NARROW DOOROVERVIEW: As Jesus continues towards Jerusalem, teaching about the Kingdom of God, he’s asked about how many people will be saved. Jesus response would have been tough for his listeners to hear and it’s still tough for us today.

1. How do you think society in Adelaide feels towards Christianity? Positive / Negative / Indifferent?

Just to get people talking about how society thinks about Christianity. At times Christianity can be quite popular, but as we’ll see, the message of Christianity is very exclusive.

READ LUKE 13:22-302. Where is Jesus heading? Why is this important?

3. Who asks Jesus a question? What is the question Jesus is asked in verse 23? Does Jesus answer the

17

question? How would you sum up Jesus’ response?Jesus really doesn’t answer the question – he doesn’t comment on percentages or totals of how many will be saved, but he makes people think about their own personal destiny.

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 3

4. Israel is being redefined as those who heed God’s call and submit to God’s righteousness that is revealed in Jesus as the Messiah. Do we still need to ‘make every effort to enter through the narrow door’?

Emphasise this isn’t works or obedience – we’re saved by grace. It’s believing in Jesus and confessing he is Lord. It might be helpful here to look at some additional passages. 1 Cor 9:25-27 is particularly helpful. Also it might be helpful to look ahead to Luke 18:24-27.

5. What could you say to a friend who says: “I believe in God, but I wouldn’t say that Christianity is the only true religion”?

READ LUKE 13:31-356. Why does Jesus feel such pain when thinking of

Jerusalem?

18

They haven’t listened to God and they haven’t let Jesus gather them together. Jerusalem has not acknowledged Jesus as Lord. (see Acts 7:52) It is the centre of the religious hierarchy more interested in preserving power than in hearing what God has to say.

7. Read Psalm 106:47; 147:2; Jeremiah 31:8-10. In these passages, who is depicted as doing the gathering? What is Jesus saying about himself in verse 34?

Jesus claims he is God. He is the one to gather his people together. You may like to divide these passages up amongst your group to look up.

8. Read Isaiah 65:1-5. In what ways is Jesus right to suggest that the Jews have not been willing to come under his protective wing?

BIBLE STUDY – WEEK 3

9. What could hinder us from allowing Jesus to take us under his protective wing, and hinder us from entering the narrow door?

Pray for each other that you would hold firm to Jesus. Thank God that he has shown us grace and revealed to

19

us the truth of the gospel. You may like to read Psalm 118:1-9 to help guide your prayers.

20

FEEDBACK

We’d really appreciate feedback on the series, how helpful you found it and any suggestions for improvement. If you are able please send any feedback via email to: office@trinityinnersouth.org.au

BOOKLET1. Were the studies helpful?2. Would you use them again if they were produced in future?

OVERALL1. Did the series help you grow in your relationship

with, and knowledge of Jesus?2. How would you like to see them made better?3. Did the studies raise any big questions for you?

Any other comments would be welcome.

21

NOTES

22

NOTES

23