Recognize Jesus - The Jesus Experience - Luke 24
How will you recognize Jesus? Now really think about that question because no one recognized Jesus after He rises from the dead. It seems those who recognize him throughout Luke’s gospel are all doing the same thing: eating with Him.
As you read through Luke, what has been one new thing you have learned about Jesus?
Read Luke 24:13-35. What things happened in order for the two men on the road to Emmaus to recognize Jesus?
What are physical ways that God comes to you today?
Read Luke 24:36-49. How do we know that Jesus’ resurrection was not just spiritual but, in fact, was also physical?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. What type of resurrection will we have? Why do some people only think about a spiritual resurrection? What is the importance of Christ’s physical resurrection for you? For further study on this, read all of 1 Corinthians 15.
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The Art of Life - The Jesus Experience - Luke 24
You were created, but you were not just as a sack of unfeeling chemicals. You were created as a great work of art. But what if the world does not seem like a great work of art? What if I think my life is just a dark mess? I imagine that's what the women carrying embalming spices to Jesus’ grave thought. However, what they saw that morning changed how they saw the world and changed how they saw themselves. Christ is risen, they saw the Art of Life.
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When To Weep - The Jesus Experience - Luke 19
Everything is going great! Jesus is finally showing us who he truly is. He came riding into Jerusalem to so many people crying out “Hosanna” and “You are the King of Kings.” All Jesus has to do now is take his rightful place on the throne in Jerusalem and in our hearts. Jesus must feel amazing today, but why is he over there weeping while overlooking Jerusalem?
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From Back to the Front - The Jesus Experience - Luke 18
Jesus says that the man went away justified. But who is this man? What if he did not deserve to be justified? What if he had hurt me or had stolen something from me? What if he was a tax collector, or if he was too young, or blind or too short? Yes, Jesus said he went away justified. Well then if that man went away justified, then perhaps I could as well.
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The Window - The Jesus Experience - Luke 17
The stories we have been reading have left us breathless, and now Jesus is calling for us to live a humble life. But how, Jesus?
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To Change or Not To Change - The Jesus Experience - Luke 16
Have you thought about Kodak in the last 10 years? In the 70s they were one of the largest American companies. However now, they don’t exist. Luke 16 is asking us if we will change, if we will adjust our behavior and actually follow God’s way. But it asks a question at the end. What happens to us if we don’t actually change?
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The Picture - The Jesus Experience - Luke 15
Jesus gives us a picture of the kingdom of God here in Luke 15. The picture is of a celebration when the lost have been found. Look at how the woman celebrates when the coin is found, look at how the man celebrates when the sheep is found, and look at how the father celebrates when his lost son is found. But this leaves us with a question: will we join the party or complain on the outside.
Lost Son Video Mentioned
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
Describe a time when you lost something very valuable to you. What was it like looking for it, and how did you feel when you found it?
Read Luke 15:11-24 This story describes a very rebellious son who squanders away everything his father has given him. How does the father respond when he returns? Why do you think he responds in that way?
Read Luke 15:25-32 How does the older brother respond to the party thrown by the father for the rebellious son? Why does the older brother respond in this way?
Have there been similar times when you have responded like the older brother, when God shows grace to someone you don’t think deserves it?
How does the Father respond to the older brother outside of the party? What is the Father’s response for you when you are acting like the older brother?
Bonus: For an interesting take on the older brother’s perspective, take a look at this video, done by Pastor Michael Ziegler, the speaker of the Lutheran Hour: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com/LostSon
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Just Out Of Reach - The Jesus Experience
The world is filled with struggle, and it leaves us wanting more. We’re struggling to get the things which are just out of our reach. But in this world of struggle, Jesus has us look to the creation, beckoning us to see how God takes care of the small things, how the birds are fed and beautiful and how we loves us even more than them.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
Who or what do you listen to that causes anxiety in your life?
Read Luke 12:13-21. What are some ways you build bigger barns both physically and spiritually?
Where does Jesus say our focus should be?
Read Luke 12:22-34. Jesus uses examples from nature to show how much God cares for you. Consider other examples that show how much God takes care of you.
How do you find comfort in the midst of anxiety? How does Jesus encourage you in those tough, anxious times?
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Hidden in Plain Sight - The Jesus Experience
Lord, when will your kingdom be here on earth? I find myself asking this frequently when I see nothing but sin and distress all around me. However, Jesus wants us to see how we give gifts. He says that we are still sinful and yet we still give good gifts. How much more does God give good things? Just look for them; they may be hidden in plain sight.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
When you pray, what do you typically pray for?
Read Luke 11:1-4. In your own words describe what Jesus wants us to pray for (a Small Catechism might help here ;-) http://catechism.cph.org)?
Read Luke 11:5-13. What are the gifts from God that he eagerly desires to give to you that are often hidden in plain sight?
What are the things that you should persistently ask God for in your life?
How can the Lord’s Prayer be a model to pray for you?
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Lambs Among Wolves - The Jesus Experience
Jesus gathers his followers together and sends out 70 (Or is it 72?) to go bring his kingdom to those who need it. But he says, “You will have struggle, for I am sending you as lambs among wolves.” The world is dangerous; however, he sends his sheep out to bring peace to the house.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
What does being an effective missionary for Christ entail?
Read Luke 10:1-24. How does Jesus describe their missionary calling? How is being a lamb among wolves similar to what Christ has done for us?
When we do work in the kingdom of God, it is common to rejoice in the victories we are gaining. However, Jesus wants us to rejoice in something else. See Luke 10:20 for help. How does your understanding of mission work change with this response of Jesus?
Read Luke 10:25-37. How does Jesus define a neighbor? And who is your neighbor?
The kingdom of God has come near to you. Who can you asct as a person of peace to this week?
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We're Not in Kansas Anymore - The Jesus Experience
Jesus asks the disciples “Who do people say I am?” They get it right and say he is the messiah. Jesus then goes to the top of the mountain, becoming bright and shiny. We’re not in Kansas anymore - this is literally a mountain-top experience. But when there are mountains, there are also valleys, with crosses, death, and suffering. We’re not in Kansas anymore.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
What are some of the peaks and the valleys of your life? What was it like being on that peak? What was it like being in that valley?
Read Luke 9:18-22. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, Messiah or Savior. What do you think Peter thought Jesus was going to do as the Christ? How are your expectations of Jesus similar to Peter’s?
How does Jesus respond to Peter? What does Jesus tell us about what the Messiah actually will do? How is this different than your expectations of Jesus in your life?
Read Luke 9:46-48. Like the disciples we often want to be great. How does Jesus define the greatest?
Read all of Luke 9. Identify the peaks and the valleys that Jesus leads the disciples through.
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You Have Enough - The Jesus Experience
Jesus sends out his disciples with enough to bring good news. Five thousand people have been listening to Jesus in the wilderness. They are getting hungry, and there are only 5 loaves and 2 fish. But Jesus says it is enough. We often feel like we don’t have enough, that we will be so much better if we just had more. However, Jesus says you have enough.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
What are some things that you trust in for security in your life? Be honest with yourself here.
Read Luke 9:1-6. What does Jesus instruct his disciples to take with them as they go out on their missionary journey? Why do you think he gives these instructions?
Read Luke 9:10-17. The disciples have just returned from doing great things with limited resources (see 9:1-6). Yet now that they are with Jesus, what is their critique when Jesus asks them to feed the 5,000?
The disciples still have trouble trusting that Jesus gives us enough. When have there been times that you’ve had trouble trusting Jesus? What bread does Jesus give us to sustain us in those tough times?
Read Philippians 4:10-14. What is the Christian secret for being content?
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How's Your Soil - The Jesus Experience
Chapter Eight of Luke talks about soil. The great sower throws seed down, and it falls on different kinds to soil. In bad soil the seed withers and dies, but in the good soil the fruit rises up from the ground. This parable leaves an important question, “What if I’m not good soil?”
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
Describe your gardening experiences. Do you have a green thumb or a black thumb? What makes gardening easy or difficult for you?
Read Luke 8:4-15. Jesus describes 4 different types of soil.
Which type of soil is most troubling to you?
Which type of soil describes you most now?
What causes the seed to grow, (literally and how we can better understand the parable)?
Read Luke 8:26-39. As we read the stories around the parable of the sower, we see Jesus takes people in bad soil, tills it up, and makes it good, so that they can grow.
What was the bad soil here in this story of the man with the demon?
How does Jesus turn bad soil into good for him?
Jesus turns our bad soil into good by his Spirit.
Read the other stories from Luke 8 (Calming the Storm, Healing the Bleeding Woman and Raising the Daughter)
Can you identify the bad soil and how Jesus turns it to good?
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Shock and Awe - The Jesus Experience
Chapter seven is filled with shock and awe. An outsider shows great faith, a widow's son is raised, John the Baptist is not sure about Jesus, and a sinner is forgiven much. Many times when we encounter true faith, we are filled with shock and awe.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
Describe a time when you’ve seen someone act in faith. What did it look like?
Read Luke 7: 1-10. A centurion, someone who was a Roman military officer and was not Hebrew. He did not feel like he could ask for something from Jesus because he was an outsider to the faith. How does Jesus respond to him?
Why is it shocking that Jesus says “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”? (Luke 7:9) What does this tell us about the nature of faith?
Read Luke 7:36-50. Why do you think this sinful woman would have shown up at this Pharisees house where Jesus was eating?
Compare the responses of Jesus and Simon the Pharisee, as they encounter this sinful woman who comes into their presence. How does Jesus view the situation differently? What does this tell us about the nature of faith and forgiveness?
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All Or Nothing - The Jesus Experience
Jesus is giving us a picture of the kingdom of God: miracles, healings, and parties. However, some are very upset that Jesus is doing any of this and are threatening to kill him. Jesus just looks at them and says the way of God is all or nothing.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
When you think of all the miracles, healings, and parties that Jesus did and had, which one most excites you and why?
Read Luke 5:33-39. Jesus calls us to fully embrace his new way of trusting him completely rather than ourselves. It’s hard to move to the new way of Jesus because we like the old way so much. Why are we so comfortable in the old way?
Read Luke 6:20-42. Jesus describes the new way. Why is the new way so difficult to embrace?
For further reading about the dangers of holding on to the old way, read Galatians 5:1-15.
Give some examples of how Jesus completely lives out this new way as described in Luke 6:20-42.
This week look for ways you see Jesus’ new way breaking in where the poor are blessed, the hungry are satisfied, the weeping are brought to joy, and enemies are loved.
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Something New - The Jesus Experience
Jesus bursts onto the scene; he reads from Scripture and how God is doing something new, and he says that newness is Him. How do people respond? Will they be happy? How would you have responded?
Jesus falls the third time
He weeps with you and with you he will stay
When all your staying power has run out
You can’t go on, you go on anyway.
He stumbles just beside you when the doubt
That always haunts you, cuts you down at last
And takes away the hope that drove you on.
This is the third fall and it hurts the worst,
This long descent through darkness to depression
From which there seems no rising and no will
To rise, or breathe or bear your own heart beat.
Twice you survived; this third will surely kill,
And you could almost wish for that defeat
Except that in the cold hell where you freeze
You find your God beside you on his knees.
Questions to Go Deeper in your Faith
How many new year's resolutions have you made that you have not kept? Do you have a funny story about a failed resolution?
Read Luke 4:16-30.Jesus quotes from the scroll of Isaiah, that speaks of what the Messiah will do. According to his reading in Luke 4:18-19, what will the promised Messiah do? From what you know about Jesus how does he fulfill this promise?
Optional Deeper Reading
Read Isaiah 61, which Jesus quotes here to get the full context.How do the people react to Jesus saying he will be the one to fulfill this passage?
What does examples does Jesus allude to in response, to explain who God shows favor to? (See v. 25-27)?For deeper context read the stories Jesus alludes to in 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 5.
How do you respond when you find out Jesus loves people you may not like?
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Baptism of Jesus - The Jesus Experience
John was a man from the wilderness who “prepared the way of the Lord.” But when he baptized Jesus, it was not the normal pattern of forgiveness. Rather, this time the heavens opened up, and God said “this is my son whom I love.”
Advent Table Talk Questions
Use these questions to reflect on the message this week. Gather with your family, or a few friends and dig a little deeper into scripture and The Christmas Experience this year.
What is your favorite part of the Christmas story? Why is it your favorite?
Read Luke 2:1-20. In contrast with the power of the Roman empire, an angel appears to shepherds in the fields. The angel announces that a Savior has been born to these shepherds who were commonly considered to be lowly and powerless. Why do you think the birth of Jesus was first announced to people like these shepherds?
How has your understanding of Christmas changed the last few years as your faith has grown and your life has adjusted to new circumstances?
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Dec 15th. Starring Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, and Pete Holmes.