A Study In Luke - End of Week 5

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
Have you ever had the opportunity to go to the mission field and work, whether that mission field was on the other side of the world, or in your backyard?  Share one meaningful, albeit somewhat condensed, version of a story from those mission fields that deeply impacted you and why.

HEAD

1. Read Luke 9: 1-62 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. We know that when Jesus sent the disciples out, he sent them two by two, even though they could have covered more ground in individually.  Why was two by two so important for them?  For us?
3. Other than the response we know the disciples had in v 13 to Jesus command for the disciples to feed the 5,000+, how else do you think they responded, either verbally or not?
4. Do you think there was any significance to why there were 12 baskets of food leftover?  Numbers always meant something to the Hebrews, so why this one?
5. Jesus’ transfiguration was certainly a mountain-top experience for him and hte disciples he took.  But what happened immediately after that expeirence (read verse 37)?
6. In Jesus’ day, a child was one of the lowest in the food chain, but continually, Jesus speaks to a life of service and servant leadership.  What are one or two ways that you and I can practice this Jesus’ principle in our faith communities this week?  How about in our homes?

HEART

1. Many believe that answering the question of Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” is the most important question for you to answer.  So, in your group, who do you really believe Jesus is?  How does your answer inform how you live your life?  Jesus came down the mountain and there was…drama.  Knowing that most of our lives are lived in the valley, how can we hold onto those mountain-top experiences when our lives are filled with the drama of the day to day?
2. This may be one of the toughest questions I’ve ever written for one of our study guides, but I believe it to be in sync with Jesus’ teaching in Luke 9.  So here goes; What are some of the things you’ve given up to follow Christ?  What have you surrender?  What have you left behind?  What have you sacrificed?  If you can’t think of anything, why might that be?

HANDS
This week, in honor of our servant Lord, think of one way you could be a blessing to your pastor, or a neighbor, or someone in your community.  Then just quietly go and serve, not seeking any reward or recognition, but be a blessing simply to be a blessing.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11 NLT