Bible Study / Luke 12

Get Started:
1. Do you plan on retiring some day? What do you plan to do when you retire?

Go Deeper:
2. In a previous Bible study, we studied the Lord’s Prayer. What difference in attitude do you notice between the prayer for “our daily bread” and the man’s attitude in Luke 12:19?

• I suppose you no longer need to pray for daily bread if you have “plenty of good things laid up for many years.”

3. In Luke 12:15, Jesus uses the phrases “watch out!” and “be on your guard.” Is greed something that attacks you from without or within? How can you be on your guard against the sin of greed?

4. Jesus refers to “all kinds” of greed in this passage. Is there more than one kind of greed?

• Greed is not reserved for money only. A person can be greedy for material possessions, talents, abilities, compliments, looks, power, food, knowledge, etc.

5. The man’s life was demanded from him in verse 20. Who demanded it? Why is the man called a fool by God?

6. Read Luke 16:11-13 and Luke 12:21. Is it possible to do both store up for yourself and be rich toward God?

7. Read Luke 12:20 and Ecclesiastes 2:18-19. What is the common concern that is in view in these two passages? Read Luke 12:21. What is the remedy for the concern?

• There seems to be a question in both passages about who gets the wealth that was stored up and how will that person use it? Let’s not forget that the passing on of this wealth comes rather suddenly and unexpectedly.
• It appears that the remedy is to be “rich toward God.” While we don’t know for sure who ends up with what we have stored up for ourselves and how it will be used, we do know for sure that God is always faithful and that He is no fool!

8. What does it mean to be rich toward God? What practical steps would you suggest to someone who wants to take being rich toward God seriously?

• The worldly view of riches has to do with how much a person can accumulate for himself. What God gives a person is stored up for personal use.
• God’s view of riches has to do with how much a person gives away. What God gives a person is given back to Him for His purposes.

Put it into practice:
1) Are you particularly vulnerable to a certain kind of greed? Pray about this.
2) Do you have the desire to be rich toward God but are unsure where or how to begin? Pray about this.


Quote Of The Week:
I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.
In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them.
--C.S. Lewis

Bible Study / Luke 11:1-13

When It Feels Like You Don’t Have A Prayer

Get Started:
1. Do you know of a time when you were the answer to a prayer? Tell your group about it.

Go Deep:
3. Read Luke 11:1-13. In Luke 11:2, Jesus tells His disciples to “say.” Do you think He is giving the disciples an exact prayer to recite? Why or why not?

4. In Luke 11:4, the prayer is to not be led into temptation. Does God lead people into temptation? Read James 1:13.

• James 1:13 says that God doesn’t tempt anyone. But it doesn’t say anything about God leading someone into temptation.
• Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted. The Holy Spirit was not the tempter. It was the devil. See Matthew 3:1.

5. In Luke 11:4, what is the relationship between praying for forgiveness and praying to not be lead into temptation? Are they connected?

• I think you need to pray both things in verse 4 – both forgive me for messing up and help me stay out of temptation. One without the other is incomplete. If you prayed the first part, and really wanted to stop sinning, wouldn’t it make sense to pray the second part? And if you prayed more for staying clear of temptation, is it possible you might have fewer times when you need to come and ask for forgiveness?

6. Verse 4 makes an interesting connection between asking for forgiveness and granting forgiveness to others; we can’t be praying and asking God to forgive our sins, if we aren’t willing to forgive those who sin against us. Is there someone you need to forgive?

7. Read Luke 11:5-8. What is the main point of this passage? Why did the friend give as much as was needed? What does this passage teach you about your prayer life?

8. Read Luke 11:9-10. What does everyone who asks receive?

• Keep reading!

9. Read 1Corinthians 14:15. When you pray, do you find yourself thinking carefully through your prayer or simply letting it come out? Which do you prefer when you pray and why?

10. What Bible passages give advice on how to pray. What advice do you find yourself using when you pray?

• Philippians 4:6
• Colossians 4:2
• 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
• 1Timothy 2:1, 2:8
• Jude 1:20
• James 5:13-16
• 1Peter 3:7, 4:7
• Luke 5:16, 6:28, 18:1
• Proverbs 28:9
• Daniel 9:3
• Romans 12:12

11. Read some of Paul’s prayers and describe what you learn about prayer from him. What did he pray about most frequently? Most fervently? Does there seem to be a common theme in his prayers?
(Romans 10:1, 11:33-36, 15:5-6, 15:13, 15:30-33, 16:25-27, 1Corinthians 16:23-34, 2Corinthians 13:7-9, 13:14, Galatians 1:3-5, 6:18, Ephesians 1:15-19, 3:14-21, 1Thessalonians 1:2-3, 3:10-13, 2Thessalonians 1:11-12, 3:16, Philippians 1:3-11, Colossians 1:9-14, Philemon 1:4-6.)


Make It Practical:
1) We probably all think we could pray more. If this is the way you feel, what will you do about it?


Quote Of The Week
When life knocks you to your knees—well, that’s the best position in which to pray, isn’t it?
--Ethel Barrymore

Bible Study Tip

Any time a passage can be found in more than one Gospel, take the time to read them all. The different Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John often share the same events with different perspectives.
In the same way that eyewitness accounts of the same event, when combined, can give a better overall picture of that event, the Gospel writers also help to provide a more complete picture when you read each account. Reading the passage from each Gospel can serve to illuminate details and meaning and can help in revealing the intended purpose the Gospel writer had in mind as he penned the account.

Found

In our walk with Christ, there are events that seem to leave a mark on our lives. There are turning points, memories, and experiences that stand out in our minds as being special, even supernatural.

One of those turning points for me was my baptism. In November of 2000, I was baptized in Ned Webster’s swimming pool. I remember thinking, “This is it, God. I’m really doing it. I’m counting on you.” I really felt “exposed.” I’m not sure if “exposed” was the best word to describe the feeling, but it was the best word I could come up with; until I heard this song.

A video of all of us who were baptized, was taken that day and later shown in the Sunday services. The audio track that was added to the video was a song by Delirious? called, “Find Me In The River.” That song gave me a better way to describe the feeling. I was “on my knees with my soul laid bare.”

Have you ever felt that way?

Find Me In The River

Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please

We've longed to see the roses
But never felt the thorns
And bought our pretty crowns
But never paid the price

Find me in the river
Find me there
Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare
Even though you're gone and I'm cracked and dry
Find me in the river, I'm waiting here

Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please

We didn't count on suffering
We didn't count on pain
But if the blessing's in the valley
Then in the river I will wait

Written by Martin Smith ©1995 Curious? Music UK