Luke - Study 1
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 4:16–21 and 5:1-11 - The call of Jesus (wk 1)
Bible Passage; Luke 4:16–21 and 5:1-11 - The call of Jesus (wk 1)
General Questions
1.In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus reads from Isaiah and declares “The Scripture you have just heard has been fulfilled this very day” What does Jesus’ mission statement (vv.18-19) tell us about what following him might involve?
2.Why do you think Jesus chose to announce his mission in his hometown synagogue? What does this teach us about starting where we are in our own discipleship?
Examining the Call
1.In Luke 5:1-3, Jesus uses Peter’s boat as a platform for teaching. Before the miraculous catch of fish, what does this detail suggest about how Jesus enters our everyday lives and work?
2.Peter, an experienced fisherman, had caught nothing all night but obeys Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets anyway (5:4-5). What does Peter’s response reveal about the kind of obedience required in following Jesus?
3.When Peter sees the miraculous catch, he says ‘Oh, Lord, please leave – I’m such a sinful man’ (5:8). Why do you think encountering Jesus’ power led Peter to this response? What does this tell us about self-awareness in discipleship?
The Cost and Promise
1.Jesus tells Peter “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll be fishing for people” (5:10). How does Jesus transform Peter’s existing skills and identity into something new? What might this mean for our own callings?
2.Verse 11 says they “left everything and followed him.” What did leaving “everything” mean for these fishermen? What does it mean for us today?
Application
1.Compare Jesus’ mission in 4:18-19 with his call to the disciples in 5:10-11. How are proclaiming good news to the poor and “fishing for people” connected? What does this suggest about evangelism and discipleship?
2.The disciples had just experienced their biggest catch ever, yet they left it all behind. What “big catches” or successes might God be calling us to leave behind to follow him more fully?
3.Both passages show Jesus meeting people in familiar settings (synagogue, fishing boats) and disrupting their normal patterns. How is Jesus inviting you to follow him in the ordinary places of your life? What might need to be disrupted or left behind?
1.In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus reads from Isaiah and declares “The Scripture you have just heard has been fulfilled this very day” What does Jesus’ mission statement (vv.18-19) tell us about what following him might involve?
2.Why do you think Jesus chose to announce his mission in his hometown synagogue? What does this teach us about starting where we are in our own discipleship?
Examining the Call
1.In Luke 5:1-3, Jesus uses Peter’s boat as a platform for teaching. Before the miraculous catch of fish, what does this detail suggest about how Jesus enters our everyday lives and work?
2.Peter, an experienced fisherman, had caught nothing all night but obeys Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets anyway (5:4-5). What does Peter’s response reveal about the kind of obedience required in following Jesus?
3.When Peter sees the miraculous catch, he says ‘Oh, Lord, please leave – I’m such a sinful man’ (5:8). Why do you think encountering Jesus’ power led Peter to this response? What does this tell us about self-awareness in discipleship?
The Cost and Promise
1.Jesus tells Peter “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll be fishing for people” (5:10). How does Jesus transform Peter’s existing skills and identity into something new? What might this mean for our own callings?
2.Verse 11 says they “left everything and followed him.” What did leaving “everything” mean for these fishermen? What does it mean for us today?
Application
1.Compare Jesus’ mission in 4:18-19 with his call to the disciples in 5:10-11. How are proclaiming good news to the poor and “fishing for people” connected? What does this suggest about evangelism and discipleship?
2.The disciples had just experienced their biggest catch ever, yet they left it all behind. What “big catches” or successes might God be calling us to leave behind to follow him more fully?
3.Both passages show Jesus meeting people in familiar settings (synagogue, fishing boats) and disrupting their normal patterns. How is Jesus inviting you to follow him in the ordinary places of your life? What might need to be disrupted or left behind?
Luke - Study 2
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Read the following passages of Scripture Luke 6:20-26, 27-36, 43-45 and pray as you begin.
Jesus teaches in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you.” He also warns in verse 26: “What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”(New Living Translation)
Bible Passage; Read the following passages of Scripture Luke 6:20-26, 27-36, 43-45 and pray as you begin.
Jesus teaches in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you.” He also warns in verse 26: “What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”(New Living Translation)
Counter-Cultural Challenge:
In our world today, we are constantly encouraged to protect our reputation, defend ourselves aggressively, respond to critics with sharp comebacks, cut difficult people out of our lives, and surround ourselves only with those who affirm us. We’re told to pursue comfort, financial security, and public approval above all else.
Your Challenge:
Identify one specific person or group who has opposed you, criticised you, or treated you unfairly—whether at work, in your family, on social media, or in your community. This week, instead of avoiding them, retaliating, or speaking negatively about them to others, do something radically counter-cultural:
•Pray for them by name each day this week
•Look for one practical way to “do good” to them (verse 27)
•If given the opportunity, speak a genuine blessing over them rather than returning their criticism
Reflection Questions:
•What does your natural resistance to this challenge reveal about what is “stored up in your heart” (verse 45)?
•How might living this way make you “poor” in the world’s eyes but “blessed” in God’s kingdom (verse 20)?
•What “fruit” (verse 43-44) might God produce in you and in this situation if you trust Him and obey?
Remember: Jesus calls us to “be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (verse 36) — showing love not because people deserve it, but because this is who God is and who He’s transforming us to become.
Spend some time praying for one another and the lofty challenge to be counter-cultural in our world today giving thanks for the knowledge that God is with us.
In our world today, we are constantly encouraged to protect our reputation, defend ourselves aggressively, respond to critics with sharp comebacks, cut difficult people out of our lives, and surround ourselves only with those who affirm us. We’re told to pursue comfort, financial security, and public approval above all else.
Your Challenge:
Identify one specific person or group who has opposed you, criticised you, or treated you unfairly—whether at work, in your family, on social media, or in your community. This week, instead of avoiding them, retaliating, or speaking negatively about them to others, do something radically counter-cultural:
•Pray for them by name each day this week
•Look for one practical way to “do good” to them (verse 27)
•If given the opportunity, speak a genuine blessing over them rather than returning their criticism
Reflection Questions:
•What does your natural resistance to this challenge reveal about what is “stored up in your heart” (verse 45)?
•How might living this way make you “poor” in the world’s eyes but “blessed” in God’s kingdom (verse 20)?
•What “fruit” (verse 43-44) might God produce in you and in this situation if you trust Him and obey?
Remember: Jesus calls us to “be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (verse 36) — showing love not because people deserve it, but because this is who God is and who He’s transforming us to become.
Spend some time praying for one another and the lofty challenge to be counter-cultural in our world today giving thanks for the knowledge that God is with us.
Luke - Study 3
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 9:1-11
The Mission of the Twelve: Kingdom Power for All of Life
Introduction
In Luke 9:1-11, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with extraordinary authority to proclaim God’s kingdom and demonstrate its power through healing. This passage reveals that God’s kingdom isn’t confined to “spiritual” matters but extends to every dimension of human existence—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
The Text: Luke 9:1-11 (Summary)
Jesus calls the twelve together and gives them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. He sends them to proclaim God’s kingdom and heal the sick, instructing them to travel light and depend on hospitality. They go from village to village preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Meanwhile, Herod hears about Jesus and is perplexed. When the apostles return, Jesus withdraws with them, but crowds follow, and he welcomes them, speaking about the kingdom and healing those in need.
Focus Verse: Luke 9:6
“They went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
This verse captures the holistic nature of kingdom ministry:
proclamation (“bringing the good news”) and
demonstration (“curing diseases”).
The gospel addresses the whole person and every village—no place or need is outside God’s concern.
Bible Passage; Luke 9:1-11
The Mission of the Twelve: Kingdom Power for All of Life
Introduction
In Luke 9:1-11, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with extraordinary authority to proclaim God’s kingdom and demonstrate its power through healing. This passage reveals that God’s kingdom isn’t confined to “spiritual” matters but extends to every dimension of human existence—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
The Text: Luke 9:1-11 (Summary)
Jesus calls the twelve together and gives them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. He sends them to proclaim God’s kingdom and heal the sick, instructing them to travel light and depend on hospitality. They go from village to village preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Meanwhile, Herod hears about Jesus and is perplexed. When the apostles return, Jesus withdraws with them, but crowds follow, and he welcomes them, speaking about the kingdom and healing those in need.
Focus Verse: Luke 9:6
“They went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
This verse captures the holistic nature of kingdom ministry:
proclamation (“bringing the good news”) and
demonstration (“curing diseases”).
The gospel addresses the whole person and every village—no place or need is outside God’s concern.
Key Themes
1. The Authority of the Kingdom
Jesus doesn’t just give the disciples a message; he gives them power and authority (v. 1). Kingdom ministry requires divine enablement, not just human effort or eloquence.
2. Holistic Ministry
The pairing of preaching and healing throughout this passage shows that God’s kingdom touches all of life. The good news isn’t merely about future salvation but about God’s present reign breaking into our broken world—bringing wholeness to bodies, minds, relationships, and spirits.
3. Dependence and Simplicity
The disciples are to travel without provisions (vv. 3-4), learning to depend on God and the hospitality of others. This strips away self-sufficiency and cultivates trust.
4. Universal Availability
“Everywhere” (v. 6) emphasizes that no village is too small, no person too insignificant. The kingdom is for all people in all places, addressing all needs.
Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean that Jesus gave the disciples both “power and authority”? How are these different, and why do we need both for effective ministry?
Note: Power is the ability to act; authority is the right to act. Consider how this applies to prayer ministry—we need God’s enabling power and the confidences that we minister in Jesus’ name and authority.
2. Why do you think Jesus paired preaching the kingdom with healing the sick? What does this tell us about the nature of God’s kingdom?
Exploration point: God cares about the whole person. The kingdom isn’t just “spiritual”—it addresses poverty, sickness, injustice, and brokenness. How should this shape our understanding of evangelism?
3. The disciples were instructed to take nothing for their journey (v. 3). What might God be teaching them through this instruction? How does this apply to ministry today?
Exploration point: Dependence on God, trust, simplicity, and reliance on community. Discuss how self-sufficiency can hinder our effectiveness in ministry.
4. Luke 9:6 says they went “everywhere” bringing good news and healing. What barriers (internal or external) might prevent us from seeing God’s kingdom as available for “all of life”?
Exploration point: We might compartmentalise faith (sacred vs. secular), doubt God’s concern for practical needs, or struggle to believe that God wants to work through us in everyday situations.
5. When you pray for someone, do you tend to focus more on their spiritual needs or their whole-life needs? How might this passage challenge or affirm your approach?
Exploration point: Examine whether we pray comprehensively for people—their health, relationships, work, emotions, and spiritual life—or whether we unconsciously limit prayer to “spiritual” categories.
6. Jesus welcomed the crowds even when he was trying to withdraw (v. 11). What does this reveal about his heart, and how should it shape how we respond when ministry opportunities interrupt our plans?
Exploration point: Compassion, availability, and flexibility. Consider the tension between rest and responsiveness to need.
1. The Authority of the Kingdom
Jesus doesn’t just give the disciples a message; he gives them power and authority (v. 1). Kingdom ministry requires divine enablement, not just human effort or eloquence.
2. Holistic Ministry
The pairing of preaching and healing throughout this passage shows that God’s kingdom touches all of life. The good news isn’t merely about future salvation but about God’s present reign breaking into our broken world—bringing wholeness to bodies, minds, relationships, and spirits.
3. Dependence and Simplicity
The disciples are to travel without provisions (vv. 3-4), learning to depend on God and the hospitality of others. This strips away self-sufficiency and cultivates trust.
4. Universal Availability
“Everywhere” (v. 6) emphasizes that no village is too small, no person too insignificant. The kingdom is for all people in all places, addressing all needs.
Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean that Jesus gave the disciples both “power and authority”? How are these different, and why do we need both for effective ministry?
Note: Power is the ability to act; authority is the right to act. Consider how this applies to prayer ministry—we need God’s enabling power and the confidences that we minister in Jesus’ name and authority.
2. Why do you think Jesus paired preaching the kingdom with healing the sick? What does this tell us about the nature of God’s kingdom?
Exploration point: God cares about the whole person. The kingdom isn’t just “spiritual”—it addresses poverty, sickness, injustice, and brokenness. How should this shape our understanding of evangelism?
3. The disciples were instructed to take nothing for their journey (v. 3). What might God be teaching them through this instruction? How does this apply to ministry today?
Exploration point: Dependence on God, trust, simplicity, and reliance on community. Discuss how self-sufficiency can hinder our effectiveness in ministry.
4. Luke 9:6 says they went “everywhere” bringing good news and healing. What barriers (internal or external) might prevent us from seeing God’s kingdom as available for “all of life”?
Exploration point: We might compartmentalise faith (sacred vs. secular), doubt God’s concern for practical needs, or struggle to believe that God wants to work through us in everyday situations.
5. When you pray for someone, do you tend to focus more on their spiritual needs or their whole-life needs? How might this passage challenge or affirm your approach?
Exploration point: Examine whether we pray comprehensively for people—their health, relationships, work, emotions, and spiritual life—or whether we unconsciously limit prayer to “spiritual” categories.
6. Jesus welcomed the crowds even when he was trying to withdraw (v. 11). What does this reveal about his heart, and how should it shape how we respond when ministry opportunities interrupt our plans?
Exploration point: Compassion, availability, and flexibility. Consider the tension between rest and responsiveness to need.
Luke - Study 4
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 10:25-37
The Good Samaritan — Loving Your Neighbour in Practice
1. Setting the Scene
The expert in the law asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” — but Luke tells us he asked this to “test” Jesus. What does this motive reveal about the difference between wanting to debate theology and wanting to live it? How often do we use theological questions as a way of avoiding personal challenge?
2. Getting the Text Right
When Jesus turns the question back on him, the lawyer summarises the law beautifully: love God wholly, love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says, “Do this and you will live.” Why is it significant that Jesus connects eternal life not to correct doctrine alone, but to doing? What does this suggest about the nature of discipleship?
3. Understanding the Story’s Shock
A priest and a Levite — both religious professionals, both obligated by the law to model godliness — cross to the other side. The hero turns out to be a Samaritan, a group despised by Jesus’ Jewish audience. Why would this have been deeply offensive and unsettling to those listening? What is Jesus doing by making the “wrong” person the moral example?
4. The Cost of Compassion
The Samaritan doesn’t just feel sorry — he bandages wounds, uses his own oil and wine, puts the man on his own animal, pays for his lodging, and promises to cover any further expenses. His compassion is inconvenient, costly, and thorough. What is the difference between feeling compassion and acting on it? What practical barriers — busyness, fear, cost, discomfort — stop us from doing what the Samaritan did?
5. “Who Is My Neighbour?”
Notice that the lawyer asks “Who is my neighbour?” — a question that looks for a boundary, a limit, a reason to do less. Jesus reframes the question entirely by asking at the end, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour?” Why is this reframing so important? How does shifting from “who deserves my help?” to “how can I be a neighbour?” change the way we approach people in need?
6. Putting It Into Practice
Jesus ends simply: “Go and do likewise.” Not “go and think likewise” or “go and feel likewise.” Discipleship here is measured in action. Where in your daily life — your street, workplace, community, or online spaces — do you regularly pass by on the other side? What would it look like this week to stop, even at personal cost, for someone in need?
7. The Challenge Question
The Samaritan crossed every boundary that should have made him look away — ethnic hatred, religious difference, personal risk, and social expectation — and helped anyway. We all carry prejudices: assumptions about who deserves help based on background, lifestyle, politics, religion, or appearance. Who is the person or group that you find hardest to stop for? What would it take — concretely, not theoretically — for you to be their neighbour this month? And if the answer feels uncomfortable, isn’t that exactly where Jesus is calling you to go?
Bible Passage; Luke 10:25-37
The Good Samaritan — Loving Your Neighbour in Practice
1. Setting the Scene
The expert in the law asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” — but Luke tells us he asked this to “test” Jesus. What does this motive reveal about the difference between wanting to debate theology and wanting to live it? How often do we use theological questions as a way of avoiding personal challenge?
2. Getting the Text Right
When Jesus turns the question back on him, the lawyer summarises the law beautifully: love God wholly, love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says, “Do this and you will live.” Why is it significant that Jesus connects eternal life not to correct doctrine alone, but to doing? What does this suggest about the nature of discipleship?
3. Understanding the Story’s Shock
A priest and a Levite — both religious professionals, both obligated by the law to model godliness — cross to the other side. The hero turns out to be a Samaritan, a group despised by Jesus’ Jewish audience. Why would this have been deeply offensive and unsettling to those listening? What is Jesus doing by making the “wrong” person the moral example?
4. The Cost of Compassion
The Samaritan doesn’t just feel sorry — he bandages wounds, uses his own oil and wine, puts the man on his own animal, pays for his lodging, and promises to cover any further expenses. His compassion is inconvenient, costly, and thorough. What is the difference between feeling compassion and acting on it? What practical barriers — busyness, fear, cost, discomfort — stop us from doing what the Samaritan did?
5. “Who Is My Neighbour?”
Notice that the lawyer asks “Who is my neighbour?” — a question that looks for a boundary, a limit, a reason to do less. Jesus reframes the question entirely by asking at the end, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour?” Why is this reframing so important? How does shifting from “who deserves my help?” to “how can I be a neighbour?” change the way we approach people in need?
6. Putting It Into Practice
Jesus ends simply: “Go and do likewise.” Not “go and think likewise” or “go and feel likewise.” Discipleship here is measured in action. Where in your daily life — your street, workplace, community, or online spaces — do you regularly pass by on the other side? What would it look like this week to stop, even at personal cost, for someone in need?
7. The Challenge Question
The Samaritan crossed every boundary that should have made him look away — ethnic hatred, religious difference, personal risk, and social expectation — and helped anyway. We all carry prejudices: assumptions about who deserves help based on background, lifestyle, politics, religion, or appearance. Who is the person or group that you find hardest to stop for? What would it take — concretely, not theoretically — for you to be their neighbour this month? And if the answer feels uncomfortable, isn’t that exactly where Jesus is calling you to go?
Luke - Study 5
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 10:38-42 — Mary and Martha
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:28-42 NIV)
Question 1 — Setting the Scene
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, which was an act of great hospitality. What does it tell us about Martha’s character and faith that she opened her home to Jesus and his disciples? What risks or costs might this have involved?
Question 2 — Two Sisters, Two Responses
Mary and Martha responded very differently to Jesus’ presence. What do their contrasting choices reveal about how people approach God — and which response do you most naturally identify with in your own life?
Question 3 — The Danger of Distraction
The text says Martha was “distracted by all the preparations.” What kinds of things distract us from sitting with Jesus today? Are these distractions always bad things, or can good responsibilities become distractions?
Question 4 — Martha’s Complaint
Martha doesn’t quietly struggle — she brings her frustration directly to Jesus and essentially asks him to take her side. What does this moment reveal about Martha’s relationship with Jesus? Is there something admirable about her honesty, even if her request was misguided?
Question 5 — Jesus’ Gentle Correction
Jesus responds by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.” Notice he repeats her name — a sign of tenderness, not harshness. How does the tone of Jesus’ correction shape the way we should understand this passage? What does it teach us about how God responds to our anxieties?
Question 6 — “The Better Part”
Jesus says Mary has chosen “what is better” — not that Martha’s service was wrong, but that something even more essential was available. How do we hold together the call to serve others with the call to sit at Jesus’ feet? Is one truly more important than the other, or does this passage simply address a matter of priority in that moment?
Question 7 — Personal Application
Jesus said Mary’s choice “will not be taken away from her,” suggesting that time spent in God’s presence has a permanent, lasting value. What practical steps can you take this week to protect time for listening to Jesus — even when the demands of life feel urgent and pressing?
Closing Thought: This passage doesn’t condemn hospitality or hard work. It invites us to examine what drives us — and to remember that no amount of doing for Jesus replaces the irreplaceable gift of being with him.
Bible Passage; Luke 10:38-42 — Mary and Martha
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:28-42 NIV)
Question 1 — Setting the Scene
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, which was an act of great hospitality. What does it tell us about Martha’s character and faith that she opened her home to Jesus and his disciples? What risks or costs might this have involved?
Question 2 — Two Sisters, Two Responses
Mary and Martha responded very differently to Jesus’ presence. What do their contrasting choices reveal about how people approach God — and which response do you most naturally identify with in your own life?
Question 3 — The Danger of Distraction
The text says Martha was “distracted by all the preparations.” What kinds of things distract us from sitting with Jesus today? Are these distractions always bad things, or can good responsibilities become distractions?
Question 4 — Martha’s Complaint
Martha doesn’t quietly struggle — she brings her frustration directly to Jesus and essentially asks him to take her side. What does this moment reveal about Martha’s relationship with Jesus? Is there something admirable about her honesty, even if her request was misguided?
Question 5 — Jesus’ Gentle Correction
Jesus responds by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.” Notice he repeats her name — a sign of tenderness, not harshness. How does the tone of Jesus’ correction shape the way we should understand this passage? What does it teach us about how God responds to our anxieties?
Question 6 — “The Better Part”
Jesus says Mary has chosen “what is better” — not that Martha’s service was wrong, but that something even more essential was available. How do we hold together the call to serve others with the call to sit at Jesus’ feet? Is one truly more important than the other, or does this passage simply address a matter of priority in that moment?
Question 7 — Personal Application
Jesus said Mary’s choice “will not be taken away from her,” suggesting that time spent in God’s presence has a permanent, lasting value. What practical steps can you take this week to protect time for listening to Jesus — even when the demands of life feel urgent and pressing?
Closing Thought: This passage doesn’t condemn hospitality or hard work. It invites us to examine what drives us — and to remember that no amount of doing for Jesus replaces the irreplaceable gift of being with him.
Luke - Study 6
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 10:38-42 — The Lord's Prayer
Luke 11:1–4 (NIV)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'”
1. Why do you think the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray? What does their request reveal about what they observed in His prayer life? (See v. 1)
2. Jesus begins the prayer by addressing God as “Father.” What does this intimate title tell us about the kind of relationship God desires to have with us? (See v. 2)
3. The prayer asks God to “forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” What is the connection Jesus makes between receiving forgiveness and extending it to others? (See v. 4)
Passage 2 — Luke 11:5–9 - The Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:5–9 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
4. In the parable, the neighbor's persistence — not just his request — wins the day. What does this teach us about the nature of prayer? Is God reluctant to answer, or is something else going on? (See vv. 5–8)
5. Jesus uses three verbs: Ask, Seek, Knock. What do these different words suggest about the varying levels of intensity or engagement we should bring to prayer? (See v. 9)
Passage 3 — Luke 17:3–4 - Repeated Forgiveness
Luke 17:3–4 (NIV)
So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them.
6. Jesus commands us to rebuke a sinning brother or sister. Why do you think He includes this step? How does loving rebuke relate to genuine forgiveness? (See v. 3)
7. Forgiving someone seven times in a single day seems nearly impossible. How do these passages together — the Lord’s Prayer, the parable of the friend at midnight, and this command — point us toward a life of prayerful dependence on God to do what we cannot do on our own? (See Luke 11:1–4; 11:9; 17:4)
Closing Reflection
Take a moment to pray together, asking God for the grace to pray persistently and forgive freely.
Bible Passage; Luke 10:38-42 — The Lord's Prayer
Luke 11:1–4 (NIV)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'”
1. Why do you think the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray? What does their request reveal about what they observed in His prayer life? (See v. 1)
2. Jesus begins the prayer by addressing God as “Father.” What does this intimate title tell us about the kind of relationship God desires to have with us? (See v. 2)
3. The prayer asks God to “forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” What is the connection Jesus makes between receiving forgiveness and extending it to others? (See v. 4)
Passage 2 — Luke 11:5–9 - The Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:5–9 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
4. In the parable, the neighbor's persistence — not just his request — wins the day. What does this teach us about the nature of prayer? Is God reluctant to answer, or is something else going on? (See vv. 5–8)
5. Jesus uses three verbs: Ask, Seek, Knock. What do these different words suggest about the varying levels of intensity or engagement we should bring to prayer? (See v. 9)
Passage 3 — Luke 17:3–4 - Repeated Forgiveness
Luke 17:3–4 (NIV)
So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them.
6. Jesus commands us to rebuke a sinning brother or sister. Why do you think He includes this step? How does loving rebuke relate to genuine forgiveness? (See v. 3)
7. Forgiving someone seven times in a single day seems nearly impossible. How do these passages together — the Lord’s Prayer, the parable of the friend at midnight, and this command — point us toward a life of prayerful dependence on God to do what we cannot do on our own? (See Luke 11:1–4; 11:9; 17:4)
Closing Reflection
Take a moment to pray together, asking God for the grace to pray persistently and forgive freely.
Luke - Study 7
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 18:18-30 The Rich Young Ruler
Luke 18:18–30 (NIV) - 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Background & Context This encounter takes place near the end of Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem. Luke positions it after the account of the children being brought to Jesus (18:15–17), creating a striking contrast: those who receive the kingdom like little children versus one who trusts in his own achievements and wealth. The “ruler” (Greek: ἀρχών, archon) was likely a synagogue official or member of a local governing council. He approaches Jesus with genuine respect, calling him “Good teacher,” and asks a deeply sincere question about eternal life. Yet his very question reveals a performance-based view of salvation: “What must I do?” Jesus’ challenge to sell everything is not a universal command for all disciples, but a targeted diagnosis: this man’s wealth was his true master. The passage closes with one of the great promises of discipleship—those who surrender for the kingdom’s sake will receive abundantly, both now and eternally.
Discussion Questions
Question 1: The ruler calls Jesus “Good teacher.” Why does Jesus redirect that word, and what does His response reveal about His identity? Consider: What does Jesus’ question “Why do you call me good?” invite the ruler—and us—to think about?
Question 2: The ruler says he has kept all the commandments since boyhood. How do you think Jesus heard that answer? What might it reveal about the ruler’s self-understanding? Consider: Is it possible to be outwardly obedient yet inwardly far from God?
Question 3: Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow Him. Why do you think Jesus gave this specific instruction to this particular person? Consider: What would Jesus’ “one thing you lack” look like in your own life?
Question 4: The ruler “became very sad” and walked away. What does his response tell us about the nature of true discipleship and the cost of following Jesus? Consider: Have you ever walked away from something Jesus was asking of you? What happened?
Question 5: Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. The disciples ask, “Who then can be saved?”—and Jesus answers, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” What does this mean for how we understand salvation? Consider: How does this reframe the question “What must I do” into something else entirely?
Question 6: Peter points out that the disciples have left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus responds with a breathtaking promise (vv. 29–30). What does it mean to receive “many times as much in this age”? How have you experienced this promise? Consider: What has following Jesus cost you—and what has it given you in return?
Challenge for you in the week ahead This week, take 15–20 quiet minutes to sit with this question Jesus asked the ruler: “What is the one thing in my life that I hold more tightly than I hold Jesus?” It may be a possession, a relationship, a reputation, a comfort, or a plan for your future. Write it down honestly—not to condemn yourself, but to name it before God.
Then pray this simple prayer each morning: “Lord, I confess that I sometimes trust in ________ more than I trust in You. I cannot loosen my grip on my own. But what is impossible with me is possible with You. Teach me to follow—truly follow—You.” Would you be prepared to share what God revealed to you next time You meet up in your group, even if it was difficult or surprising.
Closing Prayer Focus Close your study by praying together for the courage the rich young ruler lacked—the willingness to let go. Ask God to reveal any area where wealth, comfort, or self-reliance is competing with wholehearted devotion to Christ. Thank Him that salvation is not achieved by human effort, but made possible by God alone.
Bible Passage; Luke 18:18-30 The Rich Young Ruler
Luke 18:18–30 (NIV) - 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Background & Context This encounter takes place near the end of Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem. Luke positions it after the account of the children being brought to Jesus (18:15–17), creating a striking contrast: those who receive the kingdom like little children versus one who trusts in his own achievements and wealth. The “ruler” (Greek: ἀρχών, archon) was likely a synagogue official or member of a local governing council. He approaches Jesus with genuine respect, calling him “Good teacher,” and asks a deeply sincere question about eternal life. Yet his very question reveals a performance-based view of salvation: “What must I do?” Jesus’ challenge to sell everything is not a universal command for all disciples, but a targeted diagnosis: this man’s wealth was his true master. The passage closes with one of the great promises of discipleship—those who surrender for the kingdom’s sake will receive abundantly, both now and eternally.
Discussion Questions
Question 1: The ruler calls Jesus “Good teacher.” Why does Jesus redirect that word, and what does His response reveal about His identity? Consider: What does Jesus’ question “Why do you call me good?” invite the ruler—and us—to think about?
Question 2: The ruler says he has kept all the commandments since boyhood. How do you think Jesus heard that answer? What might it reveal about the ruler’s self-understanding? Consider: Is it possible to be outwardly obedient yet inwardly far from God?
Question 3: Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow Him. Why do you think Jesus gave this specific instruction to this particular person? Consider: What would Jesus’ “one thing you lack” look like in your own life?
Question 4: The ruler “became very sad” and walked away. What does his response tell us about the nature of true discipleship and the cost of following Jesus? Consider: Have you ever walked away from something Jesus was asking of you? What happened?
Question 5: Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. The disciples ask, “Who then can be saved?”—and Jesus answers, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” What does this mean for how we understand salvation? Consider: How does this reframe the question “What must I do” into something else entirely?
Question 6: Peter points out that the disciples have left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus responds with a breathtaking promise (vv. 29–30). What does it mean to receive “many times as much in this age”? How have you experienced this promise? Consider: What has following Jesus cost you—and what has it given you in return?
Challenge for you in the week ahead This week, take 15–20 quiet minutes to sit with this question Jesus asked the ruler: “What is the one thing in my life that I hold more tightly than I hold Jesus?” It may be a possession, a relationship, a reputation, a comfort, or a plan for your future. Write it down honestly—not to condemn yourself, but to name it before God.
Then pray this simple prayer each morning: “Lord, I confess that I sometimes trust in ________ more than I trust in You. I cannot loosen my grip on my own. But what is impossible with me is possible with You. Teach me to follow—truly follow—You.” Would you be prepared to share what God revealed to you next time You meet up in your group, even if it was difficult or surprising.
Closing Prayer Focus Close your study by praying together for the courage the rich young ruler lacked—the willingness to let go. Ask God to reveal any area where wealth, comfort, or self-reliance is competing with wholehearted devotion to Christ. Thank Him that salvation is not achieved by human effort, but made possible by God alone.