Luke 5

Study Guide 102: Luke 5:1-7:17 THE CHOICE Overview These chapters cover what is often called Jesus’ early Galilean ministry. Galilee was Jesus’ home province. It was not technically Jewish, as was Judea, but contained a large Jewish population. Most of Jesus’ ministry was focused near the Sea of Galilee, where Peter and James and John had labored as fishermen. Strikingly, the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration, and 25 of Jesus’ 35 recorded miracles took place in Galilee. The Jews of Judea, however, looked on Galileans with some contempt. They had a rude accent, and were not considered sophisticated in matters of religion. This early Galilean ministry took place when Jesus was introducing His teaching and Himself. The later Galilean ministry is associated with hardening opposition. JUDGING. Luke, Paul, and James each dealt with “ judging.” They called on us to critically evaluate ourselves, but not others. According to James, passing judgment on others is playing God: “ There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But you — who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12) Yes, the church is to discipline those who openly and habitually sin. But there is no room in our faith for a critical attitude or judging of others’ beliefs, motives, and convictions. We are to give each other the freedom to be responsible to God.

Commentary GermsFor years the medical world laughed at the germ theory, the notion that infection and diseases are caused by tiny organisms no one can see. They questioned the need for special cleanliness and antiseptics in hospitals, and derided Pasteur and other early proponents of the germ theory. It was so hard, later, to come to the man they had rejected and to admit, “ You were right. We were wrong.” It’ s always hard to face a person who has been right when we’ ve been wrong, and honestly to admit it — especially if what he has been right about is something really important. Oh, I can admit to one of my children, “ You were right; I should have turned two blocks earlier.” This doesn’ t hurt: it doesn’ t strike at my identity. But how much harder to admit, “ Son, you were right. I didn’ t have any good reason to ground you. I was just feeling angry, and took it out on you. I’ m sorry.” This kind of admission is much harder. It hits at something important to me; my desire to be a loving and fair dad, and to be viewed this way by my children. But it was just this kind — the most difficult of admissions — the admission of being wrong about something important to His hearers’ identity as Israelites — that Jesus now set out to call from the hearts of His fellow Jews. As Jesus entered the first phase of His public ministry, He presented Himself to Israel as the Lifegiver. To accept Him, people would have to admit that what they had known was not really life. Jesus would in His preaching present a bold picture of life as it is to be lived in God. To accept this, people would have to admit that what they were now living was not God’ s way of life. These admissions were hard for Israel. They are hard for you and me. But we are faced with the same choice. Will we really follow Jesus, totally, and find in Him the way of life?

Jesus Is Lord: Luke 5:1-6:19 Commitment (Luke 5:1-11). All had been amazed at Jesus’ teaching and His power. Yet most still hesitated, waiting for more evidence or for some sign before they committed themselves to Him. But some did not hesitate. They made the choice immediately — and with that choice made the confession commitment must involve. One day as Jesus was teaching near the shore of Lake Gennesaret (a name for the Sea of Galilee), He was pressured by the crowds that thronged around Him. He got in the boat of a fisherman, and continued His teaching from it. When Jesus was done, He told the owner, Simon (who was later called Peter), to push out into deep water and let down his nets. By all odds this would be a futile action. The fishermen of Palestine worked at night, when the schools of fish worked in toward shore to feed on the swarms of minnows in the shallower, warmer waters. But Simon did as Jesus told him. And an enormous shoal of fish swarmed into the nets! The nets even began to break with the weight. When a second boat joined them, both were so filled with fish they nearly sank. This was evidence enough for Peter. He fell on his knees before Jesus, and instead of thanking Christ he begged, “ Keep away from me, Lord, for I’ m only a sinful man” (Luke 5:8, PH). Staggered by the haul of fish, Simon had been jolted into recognizing Jesus as Lord. There were no questions left in the mind of this simple fisherman. It may seem strange that reports of the greater miracles of healing and expelling demons had not moved Simon earlier. Some times it is the simplest things that bring a person to realize that Jesus Christ is Lord. But by whatever agency, how vital it is that each of us realizes, as Peter did, just who Jesus is. Seeing Jesus as Lord raised in Simon’ s mind a vivid picture of himself. Beside Jesus, Peter was revealed as “ only a sinful man.” Perhaps if you and I were to compare ourselves with other people, we might have some cause to boast. But when we compare ourselves to Jesus, we see our sin revealed in the light of His perfect purity. Simon, knowing himself, confessed his lack of life and goodness, and his need. This confession of sin and failure seems so hard to make, until we have made it. Then we discover that, once we have admitted we are sinners, we are freed. For once we see ourselves as sinners we become more ready to hear the healing words of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “ Don’ t be afraid; from now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). We who are sinners need not fear God. He forgives us, and transforms us as well. What Jesus told Peter is something He says to each of us who come to Him acknowledging our sin: from now on, life will be different!Peter and his two companions left every thing there on the beach — including the great catch of fish — and followed Jesus. All that had been important to them before was now willingly set aside. In the fulfillment found in relationship with Jesus Christ, all of life truly was becoming new. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Go around the circle and ask each person to compare and contrast his or her own conversion with Simon Peter’ s. What stimulated it? What was the role of a sense of sin? What image of Jesus played a part? What have been some of the changes in your life that can be traced back to your conversion? Healing the inner man (Luke 5:12-32). Not all who saw Jesus’ works and heard His teaching responded as Simon Peter and his friends. So Jesus moved on, to show graphically that His authority extended to the healing of the inner man as well as the outer. In Luke 5:12-16 we have a touching story that focuses attention on the inner needs of human beings, and shows us Jesus’ concern for these needs. A leper came to Jesus and fell down in front of Him, saying, “ Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” The leper recognized Jesus’ power, but was uncertain of Jesus’ love. We’ re all so prone to using others. Some give generously . . . to buy a reputation as generous. Some show up for church visitation, to be known as “ soul winners.” So it was a fair question. Was Jesus using the people He healed, just to build a reputation as a healer? Jesus answered the implied doubt fully. He said, “ I am willing.” And then as Jesus spoke the healing word, our Lord reached out His hand and touched the leper (Luke 5:13). Lepers in Jesus’ day, as in ours, were untouchable. They had to cry out in the streets, to warn others away from them. They lived outside cities, separated from their loved ones and families. They were alone . . . and destined not to know the loving caress or gentle pressure of another’ s hand. But Jesus reached out and touched the leper! If you’ ve ever been lonely, ever felt rejected or unloved, you know what that touch must have meant. If you’ ve ever been convinced that no one could possibly care for you, then you understand how that leper must have felt. Jesus’ touch was not needed to heal the leprosy, but it was necessary to meet this man’ s deep, inner need for love. Later, the leper would follow the Law. He would go, and show his body to the priests, and they would pronounce him cleansed from his disease. Then he would make the thank offerings the Law prescribed. But what the leper would not show the priests was his heart. They had nothing to do with the heart. But Jesus does. And the touch of love had healed the heart even as the word of power had cleansed the external disease. If any of your group members have hesitated to trust Jesus, or if they have been convinced of His power but uncertain about God’ s concern, direct their attention to the leper. Jesus touched him. As He yearns to touch all.

LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Ask your group members to put themselves in the place of the leper. If each was to come to Jesus today, what would be his or her greatest outer need? (Perhaps for a job, or extra money, etc.) What would be his or her greatest inner need? (Perhaps for control of temper, for healing of a marriage relationship, etc.) Ask each to write out a paragraph: From the incident of Jesus and the leper, how do you think Jesus will respond to you when you bring Him your needs? Ask several volunteers to read their paragraphs to the group. In dealing with the inner man, it was not enough for Christ to communicate love. He had to provide forgiveness. So Luke 5:17-26 report an incident that develops this theme. Many were gathered to hear Jesus teach, including the religious leaders who were to become His implacable enemies. When a paralyzed man was ingeniously brought to Jesus over the dense crowd, Jesus recognized faith. He said to the man, “ Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20). The religious leaders, the scribes, and Pharisees, immediately grasped the implication of this statement. Jesus was acting as if He were God! “ Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21) But Jesus responded to their unspoken thoughts. Jesus asked them bluntly which was harder to say: Your sins are forgiven, or get up and walk? Clearly it is harder to tell a paralyzed man to walk, for then everyone will know immediately if a person speaking has authority to do what he says. But who can tell about authority to forgive sins? Forgiveness doesn’ t seem to carry the same visible impact. So, Jesus said to the paralytic, “ I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home” (Luke 5:24). And immediately the man did! What a lesson there is for us here. Jesus was touched by the physical need expressed in the paralysis. But His first concern was for spiritual needs. For the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ acts of healing were truly acts of compassion, but they were performed “ that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Luke 5:24). There are times when we think that our greatest needs are for healing, for friendship, for more money. Jesus helps us focus on the real issues of life: and our first need is the need for forgiveness and for transformed hearts. Jesus had asked the Pharisees, “ Which is easier to say, ‘ Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘ Get up and walk’ ?” It is clear that there, in that crowded room, it was harder to say, “ Your sins are forgiven.” A person who says, “ You are healed,” will be immediately shown to have authority, or shown up as a charlatan. But Luke reminded us that forgiveness too is expressed in a person’ s behavior! Levi had been a taxgatherer (Luke 5:27-32). He was hated, because in those days men paid the government for the right to collect taxes, and then collected far more than was really due. Taxgatherers in Jesus’ time were swindlers, money-hungry, and despised as collaborators with a foreign occupying force. Levi was one of these men, and undoubtedly deserved his reputation as a “ sinner.” Then one day Jesus came up to Levi and said, “ Follow Me.” And Levi followed! Later Levi gave a party to introduce Jesus to his friends, who were outcasts like himself. When the Pharisees and scribes saw Jesus was associating with such people, they muttered indignantly. No doubt they were secretly delighted to have some apparent cause for criticizing Him. Jesus answered sharply. Who needs a doctor? The well, or the sick? Jesus wasn’ t there to sit around with those who thought they were well, but to heal those who realized they were sick! And what happens when Jesus touches the life of a sinner like Levi? What happens when a sinner accepts forgiveness, and chooses to follow Christ? Scripture gives us an exciting answer. It’ s found in the first book of the New Testament, a book that bears the name of Matthew, the disciple who was once known as Levi, the tax collector! If we had known Matthew in his days as Levi, you and I would probably have despised him too. But what a great God we have! We have a God who cares about the despised. A God who can touch the hardest hearts with His forgiveness, and can transform the most warped personality. Through Jesus, the sinner can become a new person. And this is our destiny too. If we come to Jesus, confess our sin, and receive His forgiveness, Christ will begin a change in us that ends in personal transformation. In Jesus, our life too can become new. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Lead your boys and girls to “ play doctor.” Act out the story of Jesus and the paralytic. You can have observers, and several children helping the “ paralyzed” person who is unable to move until Jesus speaks to him or her. Remind the boys and girls that Jesus heals us inside as well as out by forgiving our sins and helping us do what is good. On a chalkboard list sins that the boys and girls suggest — the kind Dr. Jesus forgives. Next to each sin list its opposite: the good things the person will do after being healed inside by Dr. Jesus. Conclude by helping each child make a “ doctor’ s book.” Have each draw on one side of a piece of paper a sin he sometimes commits — and on the other what Jesus wants him to do. The picture can be put up in each child’ s room at home, to first remind him to ask Dr. Jesus for forgiveness, and then to remind him of what Jesus will help him do if asked. Jesus as Lord (Luke 5:33-6:11). Jesus had demonstrated clearly who He is. How did those around Him respond? Many hesitated. Jesus recognized the natural hesitation of men to try the new. In the illustration of the new wine (Matthew 5:33-39), He noted that one who has been drinking an old wine will hesitate to turn to the new. That person will say, “ The old is good.” But after a time old wine turns sour. When it is time for the new, even the wineskins (which in Jesus’ time served as bottles) must be fresh and new. Jesus had come to bring in the new. Men must choose Him, or would find the old turning sour and worthless. Others criticized. The leaders particularly tried to find fault with Jesus. When Christ’ s disciples plucked grain to eat on the Sabbath, these religious men felt it was a violation of Sabbath law. It was not, for their interpretation of Old Testament Law on this point was wrong. As Lord of the Sabbath Jesus, the Son of God, who had ordained this day of rest, would Himself determine what was right to do on it. Some hated. On another Sabbath the leaders set a trap. They placed a man with a shriveled hand in the synagogue, and watched to see if Jesus would heal (to them, “ work” ) on the Sabbath. Jesus had the man stand up “ in front of everyone” and healed him. The Lord of the Sabbath announced that it was “ lawful” to do good, and to save life, on God’ s special day. These actions revealed just how sour the old wine of Judaism had become. The religious leaders had no concern for the man they tried to use against Jesus. He was nothing but a pawn to them. In His response Jesus revealed to all the total hypocrisy and emptiness of all their claims to religious superiority. These were nothing but empty men, who loved only their own place and price, and who were untouched by the hurts of those around them. Jesus’ words and actions revealed their hearts to others, and they hated Him for it. “ They were filled with insane fury and kept discussing with each other what they could do to Jesus” (Luke 6:11, PH). Followers or observers? (Luke 6:12-19) The lines were being drawn. The crowds still hesitated. The leaders were becoming hardened in their hatred and rejection. Jesus, after a night of prayer, selected 12 men to be His special disciples: men who had chosen to follow Him. These men had few qualifications. They had little education. No important family connections. Some had dark pasts. They were fishermen; a tax collector; men of quick temper. But Jesus chose them to be with Him. These were men who had believed in Him, and been moved to confess and trust Him. Jesus is the Son of God — and these men believed. How different the groups we have seen in these chapters. There were the crowds, who gathered around but hesitated to commit themselves to Jesus. There were the leaders, whose pride moved them to hatred. And there were the disciples, who in simple faith stepped out on the pathway toward transformed lives. How important that we take our place as sinners at the feet of Jesus, accept His forgiveness, and rise to follow Him. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Start a 12 + 1 club. The 12 refers to the first disciples who chose to follow Jesus. The 1 is each child, who like the disciples decides to follow the Lord. The 1 also stands for a simple commitment that even a child can keep. That commitment is to do just one thing each day to please Jesus, because we are His disciples. Why not let your boys and girls design a club membership card (perhaps a 3 x 5 card) on which a child’ s name can be recorded. You may also want to include spaces for the children to record their daily deeds of obedience as well.

Discipleship Described: Luke 6:20-38Jesus was surrounded by crowds who were eager to touch Him. He was a celebrity, and His touch was healing. But when Jesus began to teach what we know as the “ Beatitudes,” many must have had second thoughts. The blessed (Luke 6:20-26). The words Jesus uttered seem stark and inexplicable when one first reads them. “ Blessed are you who are poor. Blessed are you who hunger now. Blessed are you who weep now. Blessed are you when men hate you.” And, “ Woe to you who are rich. Woe to you who are well fed now. Woe to you who laugh now. Woe too when all men speak well of you.” The words seem stark, because they seem at first to contradict common sense. Who would willingly choose the “ blessed” circumstances of poverty, hunger, weeping, and hatred? To understand Jesus here, we need to realize that His contrast is not between two sets of circumstances, but between ways people react to life in this world. The contrast is between Jesus’ people and other people, and what gives meaning to each group. We can state the two principles that Jesus communicates quite simply:

Jesus’ people are dissatisfied with what this world has to offer but are happy anyway. Other people are satisfied with what this world has to offer but are miserable.

We know, for example, that there is nothing wrong with riches (1 Timothy 6:17-19). So Jesus was not condemning wealth when He pronounced woe on the rich. It is a love of money which is a root of every evil, not money itself (see 1 Timothy 6:10). In desiring wealth, in fixing one’ s heart on money, a person opens himself up to woes. Don was 40 when I met him, a middle management executive who, from college days, had determined to work his way to the top of his company and make millions. The week before I spoke in his church, Don had made a discovery that jolted him to the depths of his personality. He wasn’ t going to make it! All that he had worked and planned for, all he’ d built his life around, was destined to elude him. He was not the “ successful and rich” businessman he had pictured himself to be — and he never would be! At first Don hadn’ t known what to do. His whole image of himself was shaken. And then, as I was sharing from this very passage, Don made a great discovery. The agony he was going through was really God’ s blessing. God had rescued Don from the misery of becoming the success he had planned to be . . . and, in the process, from seeking to build his life on empty and transient things. Jesus knows that there is more to life than success; that the meaning of life can’ t be summed up on a balance sheet or in a bank account. How blessed for Don to weep now, and through his trauma to turn from what this world offers to seek his satisfaction in God. How blessed for Don to be turned, even through pain, toward God’ s way of living. It is the same with the other things we set our hearts on. Have you built your life around being accepted by others; on being looked on as one of the “ in” people? Are you a person who simply has to have everyone say nice things about you — your looks, your clothes, your personality? Jesus said, “ How miserable for you when everybody says nice things about you” (Luke 6:28, PH). How miserable you must be, to be satisfied with popularity. For you have missed the real meaning of life!Jesus’ Beatitudes pierce to the heart of human values, and force us to ask the basic questions we find so easy to ignore. What is life all about for me? What moves me? What determines my choices? What makes me glad or sad? Am I controlled by my needs, struggling as the pagans do to make sure I have enough? (Matthew 6:25-32) Am I controlled by pleasure, satisfied with the laughter and distraction I can find in amusements? Am I controlled by a desire for wealth, satisfied to see my cash and credit grow? (Luke 6:24) Am I controlled by a need to be liked and admired? (Luke 6:26) Jesus said, “ How miserable for you! You might better be hungry, poor, weeping, and hated. For then at least you might turn from these empty things to Me, to find out what life is really all about.” Jesus’ words jolted the men of His day, and they ought to jolt you and me too. What is your life all about, and the life of your group members? Are they satisfied that they have found life’ s meaning? Or are they ready to hear what Jesus says about life, and where human beings can find meaning and purpose. For Jesus, the Lifegiver knows the meaning of life. And He tells us plainly. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Read or tell the story of Don as an illustration of one of the Beatitudes. Then have pairs work together to select one other beatitude, and to explain and illustrate it with a real or imaginary story like Don’ s. By love (Luke 6:27-38). Jesus went on to tell His listeners, “ Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). In this Jesus tells us that the meaning of life for the believer is found in love. People, not things, are central in the new life that Jesus calls us to live. Giving, not getting, is what life is all about. In this section’ s teaching we realize that there is something truly unique about Jesus’ kind of love. Sociologists have labeled one kind of human behavior “ reciprocity.” They have noted that in every culture this norm, or standard, seems to operate. It’ s expressed in our saying, “ You scratch my back, and I’ ll scratch yours.” This is what reciprocity means: you do something for me, and I’ ll pay you back. And reciprocity also dictates, you do something bad to me, and I’ ll pay you back for that too. Most of us are bound by this norm. The Jones family sent you a Christmas card last year? Somehow you feel you have to send one to them this year. The Carlsons invited you over to their house? You know it’ s your turn to have them for dinner. This norm of reciprocity operates even in the intimacy of family life. You bought me a present? I’ ll be warm and loving this evening. Your teenager mowed the lawn without being asked? Well, sure, he can have the car tonight. The simple notion that we ought to be nice to those who are nice to us, and are under no obligation to be nice to those who aren’ t, seems to permeate every human relationship. There is much to be said for the norm of reciprocity. It helps hold society together. If we couldn’ t depend on people responding in kind, there would be a terrible uncertainty in all our relationships. It’ s just that the Christian’ s behavior isn’ t to be governed by the norm of reciprocity! Another norm, another standard, is to replace it. The other norm is something we may call initiating love. We are to take the lead in initiating love. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “ Love your enemies.” We are not to love because we expect to be repayed. We are to love, even to lend, without expecting anything back. And we are to love this way because it is the kind of life to which Jesus calls us. It seems frightening. How can I love, knowing I may be hurt by an enemy who does not respond as he should? How can I do good, uncertain about how others will see and respond to my actions? It is frightening. But Jesus lived this way. Even though others did hurt and hate Him. When we decide to live a life of initiating love, we will have two consolations. First, we will be living as Jesus has commanded us; as He Himself lived. And second, we will discover in a love like God’ s what it means to have a truly abundant life. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Ask each group member to think of two friends or acquaintances toward whom he or she feels some hostility or awkwardness. Then have each jot down specifically how he or she plans to reach out with initiating love. Without sharing the names of those involved, ask each group member to share how he or she plans to initiate love, and so be like our Heavenly Father. We shouldn’ t get the impression that the life of love Jesus calls for is a totally negative experience, with our enemies taking endless advantage of us. Jesus explains. “ The measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). In rejecting the norm of reciprocity for the norm of initiating love, you and I set a new standard for those around us! In becoming a model of Jesus’ love, we will find that others do respond to us — and to Him.

Power for Our New Lives: Luke 6:39-49The power of example (Luke 6:39-49). How does a person learn to live this kind of life? Jesus points out that we learn to live by following a person who knows how to live. And that, “ Everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40, NASB). This observation strikes at the heart of all of us who are parents. How will our children learn to live Jesus’ way? Will they see His life in us? Because Christianity is a way of life that is learned from Christian models, Christ calls on us to engage in self-examination (Luke 6:42). We have no right to criticize or instruct another about how to live until we are sure that our own lives are in harmony with Christ. If we are blind to God’ s way of living, and attempt to lead others, both we and they will “ fall into a pit” (Luke 6:39). Again in this passage Jesus reminds us that the issues of life are settled in the heart. To be a good example, we do not need to know everything. We do not need to be perfect. All we need is a heart truly dedicated to Jesus. Out of a sincere heart godly actions will grow. As Jesus said, “ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” (Luke 6:45). A final illustration closes this chapter. How do we grow as Jesus’ disciples, and in our capacity to model His life? Jesus said that we are to be people who hear Jesus’ words, and do them. Only by full obedience to the teachings and words of our Lord will we be able to express the love in our hearts, and come to reflect His likeness in our world.

Resources for the New Life: Luke 7:1-17Jesus’ picture of the believer’ s way of life in Luke 6:1-49 portrays a counterculture. All that Jesus teaches goes against the grain of the ways men live in our world, and the values most men hold. Where do we find the resources to enable us to move upstream; to be different in a world that demands conformity? Jesus was done with His public teaching. As He entered Capernaum, the next two recorded events provide the divine answer to our questions about sources of strength. A soldier’ s faith (Luke 7:2-10). The first incident involved a stranger, a Roman army officer on occupation duty in Palestine. While stationed in Palestine this man had come to know and love the God of Israel and God’ s people (Luke 7:4-6). He had also heard of Jesus. So when a favorite servant fell deathly ill, the centurion requested some of the Jewish elders to appeal to Jesus to heal his slave. Jesus listened, and turned to follow His fellow Jews to the Roman’ s home. But in the meantime, the soldier had second thoughts. He, the conqueror, realized he was unworthy to have Jesus in his home. So he sent another message, addressing Jesus as “ Lord.” He begged Jesus simply to say the word. “ I myself am a man under authority,” the soldier said. As an officer, he derived his authority from the Roman government which had commissioned him. Because he spoke with Rome’ s authority, he could command soldiers and they would obey. He recognized the fact that Jesus spoke with the full and complete authority of divine power! Whatever Jesus commanded would be done. Jesus “ marveled at him” and told the crowds, “ Not even in Israel have I found such great faith” (Luke 7:9, NASB). This is our resource too. Faith. But a particular faith. Do we realize that the Jesus we know as Saviour has all power? Are we aware that He can command, and that His will will be done? We need not fear to live a completely committed Christian life, for we too can have faith in Jesus. His power is unlimited, and He will live out His life in us. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Children are quick to include boys and girls like them, and to exclude those who are not like them. But “ outsiders” need to be treated with a special warmth if we are to introduce them to Jesus. From your curriculum cut pictures of the Roman soldier and a Jewish person of Jesus’ day. Then ask your children to think of everything they can that makes the soldier different. Talk about how most Jews felt about Romans in Jesus’ time. Why didn’ t they like the Romans? Then ask each child to draw a picture of someone he knows who is very different from him and his other friends. Let each child explain his or her drawing, and talk about the person drawn. Jesus was kind to the Roman soldier. How can we show love and be kind to the people your boys and girls drew? New life (Luke 7:11-17). How great is Jesus’ power? Soon after this Jesus met a funeral procession. On the bier was the body of a widow’ s only son. Jesus saw her tears, and said: “ Young man, I say to you, get up.” And the dead awoke. What a message for us. Have we been dead to Jesus’ kind of life? Have we lived the world’ s way, with thoughts and desires tangled by the cries that distract others? No matter how dead we may have been spiritually, Jesus is capable of awakening us to new life. First comes faith. And then we too hear Jesus’ words: Arise! Arise, and live My new life of love.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read through Luke 5:1-7:17. Which of these stories and incidents seems to you to focus on the known needs of your group members?

Explore Select any one of the incidents in these chapters and give a 10-minute minilecture or minisermon on it. Be sure to apply as well as to explain the selected incident.

Expand

1. Select any or several of the “ link-to-life” study activities suggested in this study guide. Work on it or them as an entire class, or in teams.
2. Or ask each member of your group to skim these chapters, and select one story or incident. Each then has about 20 minutes to prepare a mini-message like the one with which you launched the session. Ask for volunteers to then share insights with the rest of the group.

Apply Ask any who did not share in the group to share their passage with another person this week.