MULLING OVER JESUS
Luke 7-8
Icebreaker: What is something important a grandparent or older mentor taught you?
Who is this Jesus? (7:1–50)
A. Jesus heals a centurion’s servant (7:1–10)
Historical Background Note:
By the New Testament era, Capernaum was large enough that it always was called a “city” (Matt 9:1; Mark 1:33). It had its own synagogue, in which Jesus frequently taught (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31-38; John 6:59). Apparently, the synagogue was built by the Roman soldiers garrisoned in Capernaum (Matt 8:8; Luke 7:1-10). The synagogue was a center for the Roman system of taxation; for it had a permanent office of taxation (Matt 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), and itinerant tax collectors operated in the city (Matt 17:24).
After being rejected in His hometown, Nazareth, Jesus made Capernaum the center of His ministry in Galilee. He performed many miracles here, including the healing of the centurion’s paralyzed servant (Matt 8:5-13), a paralytic carried by four friends (Mark 2:1-12), Peter’s mother-in-law (Matt 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31), and the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-54).
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Q1. What was the Jewish leaders’ view of the Roman centurion? (v. 4-5) What was the Centurion’s view of his own worth? (v. 6-8) What did Jesus praise the Centurion for? (v.8-9)
Q2. Do you know an individual whom you believe deserves Jesus’ help? What is it about this person that makes them stand out in your mind as deserving Jesus?
Q3. See the chart from Pastor Dave’s Sermon at the end of this study. What area would you have to focus on to be like the Centurion? (v. 7-8)
B. Jesus raises a widow’s son (7:11–17)
Q4. Why do you think Jesus was moved by this woman’s situation to act on her behalf?
Q5. What does this passage show regarding Jesus’ actions that could bring you comfort?
C. Messengers from John the Baptist (7:18–35)
Note: John the Baptist had disciples bringing him reports of Jesus’ ministry. John had announced the Messiah’s ministry would be one of judgment (3:7-9,16-17), but all the reports he heard spoke of a ministry of mercy.
Q6. In light of all of Jesus’ activities, what was it that prompted John to ask such a question?
Q7. How does Jesus’ response answer his question? (Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1-2.)
Q8. How can we use the Scripture to evaluate what is going on in our lives?
D. A sinful woman forgiven (7:36–50) – Pastor Dave’s Message
Q9. How does forgiveness result in the tangible, visible, and loving public worship of God and compassion for others?
E. Women identified as accompanying and supporting Jesus’ Ministry (8:1–3)
Q10. Describe what you think caused these women to support Jesus’ ministry?
Q11. What do you have available which could be used to provide for the furtherance of the ministry at Sun Grove Church?
Jesus teaches in parables (8:4–21)
Teacher’s Notes: The word “hear” is used nine times in verses 4-15, for it is by our hearing that we take the Word into our hearts where it can create faith – (Rom 10:17), “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Note: PARABLE – A short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences (i.e. an earthly story with a heavenly meaning). Most of Jesus’ parables have one central point. Thus, Bible students should not resort to fanciful interpretations that find “spiritual truth” in every minute detail of the parable. (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) (edited for brevity)
A. The parable of the sower (8:4–15)
Q12. Describe what you believe to be the single most import point of this parable. Explain how this knowledge affected your personal life.
B. A lamp under a jar (8:16–18)
Q13. Describe what you believe to be the single most import point of this parable.
Q14. Explain ways that would enable you to share the light. Will this sharing of the light have a cost? If so, please explain the cost factors.
Jesus’ mother and brothers (8:19–21)
Note: Jesus said, vs. 21″…My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Jesus, Lord of nature, demons, disease, and death (8:22–56)
A. Jesus calms a storm (8:22–25)
Q15. Jesus certainly knew that the storm was coming, yet He went to sleep in the ship. This fact alone should have encouraged the disciples not to be afraid. What may have caused their problem? (Master, Master, we’re going to drown!)
Q16. Why is it so easy to “doubt, and panic”?
Q17. Describe some actions you can do to build your faith before the storms appear?
B. Jesus heals a demon-possessed man (8:26–39)
Q18. How did the town’s people react to the miracle of Jesus and what did Jesus want the healed demon possessed man to do?
C. Jesus heals a woman and Jairus’s daughter (8:40–56)
Q19. What is the extent of Jesus’ compassion?
Summary Question
Q20. What should our response be when we see Jesus act in our life?