27 - Kingdom Come (Luke 11:14-26 | Exodus 8:16-19)

The only division in this world that truly matters is between those who follow Jesus and those who don't. 

1. A House Divided (vv. 14-15, 17-22)

   1. Overt Hostility (vv. 14-15)

   2. A Kingdom Divided (vv. 17-19)

   3. The Kingdom Has Arrived (vv. 20-22; Exodus 8:16-19)

2. For Him or Against Him (vv. 16, 23-27)

   1. Self Interest (v. 16)

   2. Empty Houses (vv. 23-27)

3. Drawing Lines (v. 23; 9:50)

   1. Getting the Lines Right (v. 23; cf. 9:50)

   2. One Loaf, One Body (1 Corinthians 10:16–17)

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—What’s the difference between running from the consequences of your sin and running to God? What do you think it means to run to God?

2. Tuesday—What do you think could lead people to see the clear work of God and attribute it to Satan? What does that tell you about the power of prejudice? Do you ever interpret things unfairly because of your own prejudice?

3. Wednesday—What does Jesus mean that the kingdom of God has come? (v. 20) Do you acknowledge that God’s kingdom has arrived? Where is it experienced?

4. Thursday—What was the sin of those who simply wanted to put Jesus to the test, asking him to do more signs? (v. 16) What is the difference between someone who wants Jesus to help clean up their lives and someone who surrenders his or her life to Jesus?

5. Friday—What are the two temptations we face when it comes to drawing lines? Which one do you struggle with more? What is the Lord calling to you to confess and address in your life?

26 - The Sinner's Prayer (Luke 11:1-13)

Prayer humbly seeks God's holiness and the strength to pursue it.

1. Why Prayer is So Hard (vv. 1-2)

   1. Prayer is Humiliating

   2. Prayer is Unnatural (vv. 1-2)

2. What We Pray For (vv. 2-4)

   1. Holiness (vv. 2, 4)

   2. Strength (vv. 3, 13; Deuteronomy 8:1-10)

3. Why Prayer Works (vv. 5-13)

   1. God Loves Us (vv. 5-12)

   2. Jesus Humbled Himself in Prayer (and Death) (v. 1)

   3. Tomorrow’s Bread (vv. 3, 13; Deuteronomy 8:3)

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—What does it mean that prayer takes strength? What scares you about prayer? What keeps people from asking for God’s grace?

2. Tuesday—Why do the disciples ask to be taught how to pray? Do you think of prayer as something that you need to learn how to do? Why or why not?

3. Wednesday—What does it mean that the Lord’s Prayer is about praying for holiness? How do verses 2 and 4 relate to holiness? Why is this a scary thing to pray for?

4. Thursday—What does it mean to pray for today’s bread? What about tomorrow’s bread?Which do you tend to focus on more in your prayers?

5. Friday—What confidence do you have that God will hear and answer your prayers? Does this mean he will give you anything you ask for?

Gospel Honesty (1 Samuel 15)

25 - The Good Portion (Luke 10:17-42)

God calls you to rejoice and take comfort not in what you do for him, but in what he has done for you. 

1. Names Written in Heaven (vv. 17-24)

   1. Demons Obeying and Satan Falling (vv. 17-19)

   2. The Cause for True Joy (vv. 20-24)

2. Rescued by God (vv. 25-37)

   1. Life through the Law? (vv. 25-29; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5, 16; Leviticus 19:18)

   2. The Parable, the Law, and the Character of God (vv. 30-35; cf. Leviticus 19:33-34)

   3. Who is My Neighbor? (vv. 36-37)

3. Sitting in Awe of the Savior (vv. 38-42)

   1. Serving and Being Served (vv. 38-40)

   2. The One Necessary Thing (vv. 41-42)

   Discussion Starters

1. Monday—What common misunderstandings about how we relate to God does this passage address? Which of these misunderstandings do you identify with?

2. Tuesday—Do you ever envy the disciples for the power they were given to do signs and wonders? How are Jesus’ words in Luke 10:29 meant to speak to you?

3. Wednesday—What are the faulty assumptions of the lawyer as he approaches Jesus? (Luke 10:25, 29) How you tended to read the parable of the Good Samaritan? Has anything changed?

4. Thursday—With whom do you identify—Martha or Mary? How do you think God is calling you to learn to slow down and bask in his love and goodness?

5. Friday—What (who) is “the good portion”? What does Jesus mean that those who choose the good portion shall not have it taken away? How is this meant to comfort you?

24 - Our Struggle with the Cross (Luke 9:51 - 10:16)

The gospel message is repulsive to this world and will be rejected by many—our job is to preach it, not change the hearts of those who hear it. 

1. Turning toward Jerusalem (9:51-56)

   1. Pressing toward the Cross (9:51)

   2. The Offense of the Cross (9:52-56)

2. Ministry and the Cross (9:57 - 10:16)

   1. A Call to the Cross (9:57 - 10:2)

   2. The Shape of the Cross (10:3-9)

   3. Human Responsibility (10:10-15)

   4. Setting our Faces toward Jerusalem (9:51; 10:16)

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—What does it mean that we “struggle with the cross”? Do you struggle with the idea that sometimes things won’t get better? That God might call you to surrender without seeing victory?

2. Tuesday—What does it mean that Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem? (9:51) Why would those in Samaria reject him because he turned his face toward Jerusalem? (9:53)

3. Wednesday—How does the cross of Jesus shape the ministry of the church? How does it uniquely shape pastoral ministry? How does it shape the ministry of all believers?

4. Thursday—What is the responsibility of the church when it comes to evangelism? What is the responsibility of those who hear the preaching of the gospel?

5. Friday—Why did Jesus add that it’s not you that is being rejected, but him and his father (10:16)? How is this meant to be a comfort to you?

A Healing and Restoring Community (James 5:12-20; Psalm 23)

A Humble Heart (Joel 2:12-17)

True repentance admits guilt and responsibility, yielding all rights, hoping only for grace which is not deserved.

1. Our Struggle with Repentance

   1. Humbling

   2. Incriminating

   3. Yields all Rights

2. A Call to the Church (vv. 12-13, 15-16)

   1. For Whom the Horn Blows? (vv. 12-13, 15-16)

   2. Judgment Begins in the House of God (1 Peter 4:17; Revelation 2-3)

   3. Defender of the Defenseless (vv. 13-14, 17)

3. What Repentance Looks Like

   1. Sincere Sorrow (vv. 12-13)

   2. Turning from the World (v. 16)

   3. A Contrite Heart He Will Not Despise (v. 14; Psalm 51:15-17)

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—Why do we like it when others repent, but hate to repent ourselves?

2. Tuesday—Why is it important to remember that the call to repentance in the book of Joel is addressed at the church? What is the danger of the church forgetting that it needs to repent regularly?

3. Wednesday—Why do you think we struggle with the idea of corporate repentance? Is the Bible opposed to the idea of corporate repentance?

4. Thursday—What does it mean to rend your hearts and not your garments? What does true repentance look like?

5. Friday—What does it mean that our worthiness is found in admitting our unworthiness? Why is that which scares us the most, the only way to find comfort?

23 - Greatness (Luke 9:37-50)

God’s greatness is demonstrated in power over evil, in love for the weak, and those who humbly serve others.

1. God’s Greatness in Power (vv. 37-43a)

   1. The Weakness of the Disciples (vv. 37-41)

   2. The Greatness of Jesus (vv. 42-43a)

2. God’s Greatness in Love (vv. 43b-46)

   1. What True Greatness Looks Like (vv. 43b-44)

   2. When You Can't Recognize Greatness (vv. 45-46)

3. God’s Greatness in Us (vv. 47-50)

   1. Receiving the Least (vv. 47-48)

   2. Receiving Competition (vv. 49-50)

   3. Tasting Greatness

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—How is Jesus’ greatness shown in his power over the demon? What are some ways that God has shown his greatness in power in your life? How should you respond?

2. Tuesday—How is Jesus’ greatness shown in his love for the church? Why is this sometimes hard to recognize? When was the last time you thanked him for dying for you?

3. Wednesday—Why were the disciples afraid to ask Jesus questions (v. 45) about his statement in verse 44? What keeps you from asking more questions? Why don’t you need to be afraid?

4. Thursday—What does it mean to “receive the least”? (v. 48) Why is it so hard for us to bring ourselves low for others?

5. Friday—What are some lines that you drawn that the Lord hasn’t? What have been the effects to the church? Is there anyone from whom you need to seek forgiveness?

The Pilgrim's Distress (Psalm 120)

15 - Behold the Man (1 Samuel 9-10 | John 19:1-15)

God's grace is so profound that, on the third day, he provides a king and savior for the very people who reject him. 

1. The People’s Sinful Demand (1 Samuel 8:4-18; 9:1-6; 10:19)

   1. The Desire for a King (1 Samuel 8:4-18; 10:19; Genesis 49:9-10; Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

   2. It all Started with Some Donkeys (1 Samuel 9:1-6; Genesis 49:11)

2. God’s Gracious Response (9:14-20; 10:1-2, 9-10)

   1. Behold the Man (1 Samuel 9:14-20; 10:1-2)

   2. The Third Day (1 Samuel 10:9-10)

3. God’s Amazing Provision (John 12:13-15; 18:40; 19:5, 15)

   1. Years Later… (John 12:13-15; 18:40; 19:5, 15)

   2. An Unimpressive Meal

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—What does Paul mean that Jesus was raised on the third day “in accordance with the scriptures”? (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Where does the Old Testament say that the Messiah would be raised on the third day?

2. Tuesday—Was it sinful for Israel to desire a human king? (Genesis 49:9-10; Deuteronomy 17:14-20) What was sinful about their request to Samuel? (1 Samuel 8:5)

3. Wednesday—How is God’s provision of Saul an act of mercy and grace to his people? What does that tell you about God’s character?

4. Thursday—What are some key elements of Saul’s story that are echoed in Jesus’ life on earth? Is that a coincidence? What do you think God wants you to learn from Saul’s story?

5. Friday—How can 1 Samuel 9-10 comfort you when your conscience accuses for all the times you have rejected God’s rule in your life and sought to be like the world? What can you do with confidence when your conscience tells you that you are beyond forgiveness?