AND NOW FOR SOME. questions. Jesus asks. growth group studies

AND NOW FOR SOME questions Jesus asks growth group studies

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 where am I? how hard is forgiveness? how big is your love? am I your Lord? where is your faith? who do you say I am? why do you worry? what do you really want? why do you doubt? 2

and now for some... questions Jesus asks Welcome to our series in Luke s Gospel And Now For Some Questions Jesus Asks. This is an excellent way to follow up last term s Got Questions? series. Having journeyed through Brisbane s top ten questions about God, Life and the Bible, this series will have us journeying with Jesus through Luke s gospel and hearing the questions at the top of HIS list. Questions Jesus asks. Even more important than the questions we ask of God, are the questions HE asks of US. And Jesus asks really big questions. Questions of the heart. The first thing Luke records after the birth of Jesus is that at the age of twelve he was in the temple asking them questions (2:46). Asking questions was always a crucial part of Jesus ministry. Questions of the heart. Questions of our hearts. Questions that could only be asked by him. Questions that could only, ultimately, be answered by him. This will be an ideal series for you to pray for your friends and to ask them to come to church with you. Most people are interested in the person of Jesus. Many would be curious to know what questions top his list. And everyone needs to know the spectacular way he answered his own questions. Everyone needs to know Jesus, because he IS the answer. A prayer for this series Dear Father, we pray that these questions which your Son, the Lord Jesus, asks would search and examine our hearts. We ask that by the power of your Spirit they would reveal the idols in our hearts and expose the hardness of our hearts. We pray that through this series, we would give honest answers to the questions Jesus asks. We pray that you would give us soft hearts, that we would give up our idols and instead have our hearts filled with the Lordship of Jesus. We pray that with servant hearts, with soft hearts we would give all our lives to Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen. AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 3

01 where am I? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Jesus not only reveals here his special relationship with God, but hints at what lies ahead in his mission to win us that same relationship with God as our Father. Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn t you know I had to be in my Father s house? Luke 2:49 read Luke 2:41-52 1.Take a quick glance through the first 2 chapters of Luke. Where do you notice most of the action taking place? 2.From Malachi 3:1, what is the significance of the temple? What might Jesus being in the temple indicate about his identity? 3.Luke 2:46-47 is talking about a 12-year old boy! What do we learn about the twelveyear old Jesus from these verses? 4.In your life, where do you search for Jesus? Where do you want Jesus to show up in your life? 5.In Luke 2:48-49, who is the your Father and my Father that Mary and Jesus speak about? Discuss the significance of this interchange. 4

6.What does the beginning and end of Luke s genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23, 38) teach us about the identity of Jesus, and who his Father is? Who is he the son of? 7.When Jesus says he had to be in his Father s house, he uses the same word (literally, must ) in Luke 9:22 and 17:25. How does this help us understand why Jesus must be in his Father s house and how it is significant? 8.How does Jesus death affect the temple, Luke 23:44-46, and what do you think it means? 9.Back in Luke 11, Jesus invites us to call God Father. Why is this possible? 10.Do you think of God as your Father? Is calling God Father your right or a great privilege won by Jesus? servant heart How is knowing God as your Heavenly Father shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may call God Father? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 5

prayer Praise God that he loves us so much, he gave his one and only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Praise God that through Jesus death we can now be with him, part of his family, able to call him Father. Confess that we do not deserve to be God s children because of our sin. He has saved us, called us blameless, guides us now and will sustain us Oh how wonderful the Father s Love. Ask God that we would be a church that welcomes people into God s family. That we would respond with soft hearts to how generous our Heavenly Father has been to us, and we would give hard, we would give generously and sacrificially, so many more people would hear about Jesus, and call God Father. Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would love each as brothers and sisters, part of God s family. Ask God that each of us would have thankful and soft hearts, that Jesus has made us part of God s family through his saving death. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would put their trust in Jesus, and call God Father. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 6

Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn t you know I had to be in my Father s house? Luke 2:49 01 read Luke 2:41-52 pre-primary + primary Make a list of what makes a good father. How does God match up with each item? Jesus had an earthly father, but he knew that God was his perfect Father. Jesus has a special relationship with God the Father. This is a special relationship we can all have. How does Jesus open up the way for all of us to have that special relationship with God the Father? high school What sort of dad is Homer Simpson? If you need a refresher look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xua6vod2a8 Are any human dad s perfect? How is God a perfect heavenly Father? Jesus had an earthly father, but he knew that God was his perfect Father. Jesus has a special relationship with God the Father. This is a special relationship we can all have. How does Jesus open up the way for all of us to have that special relationship with God the Father? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 7

02 how hard is forgiveness? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Jesus demonstrated his authority over sickness and all creation but his ultimate authority was over sin...and his ultimate mission was to die on a cross to bring forgiveness of sins. Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? Luke 5:23 read Luke 5:17-26 1. Jesus reputation as a teacher and healer is growing (v15). Who else joins the crowds to check him out (v17)? 2. Focussing in on verses 18-19, put yourself in the shoes of these men. Describe what they re thinking about Jesus. 3. What does Jesus say to the paralyzed man (v20)? 4. How would you feel if you were there? 5. What reaction does Jesus statement receive? Why? (v21) 8

6. How does Jesus respond? 7. What does Jesus want us to know? (v24) 8. What do we learn from this passage about the authority of Jesus? What will it mean to live under that authority? 9. Whatever presenting problems people may have in their lives, what is their ultimate need that we should focus upon and pray about? 10. How does the forgivness of your sin brought through Jesus death and resurrection shape the way you live now? servant heart How is the forgiveness given by Jesus shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may know Jesus and have forgiveness? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 9

prayer Praise God that Jesus came to earth with authority over everything, even sin and death. Praise God that Jesus has authority to forgive sins and that we have forgiveness through Jesus death. All our sin for your grace, what a glorious exchange! Confess that we want Jesus to meet our needs, but we don t want to submit to his authority. Ask God that we would be a church that gives generously and serves sacricially, so that many more people would hear about the forgiveness of their sin through Jesus. Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would remind each other of how Jesus has brought us forgiveness and challenge each other to live under the authority of Jesus Ask God that each of us would see that Jesus has met our greatest need and that we would live as forgiven sinners, proclaiming the message of Jesus wherever we are. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would see their greatest need is to have their sins forgiven and that Jesus has met this need through his death on the cross. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 10

Which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up and walk? Luke 5:23 02 read Luke 5:17-26 pre-primary If you do something naughty, who do you say sorry to? Who can forgive you? Only the person who is hurt can forgive the person who hurts them. Sin is when we hurt God. So only God can forgive us for sin. In this story Jesus shows that he is the Son of God. He can heal sickness, but he can do something even harder. He can forgive our sins. primary + high school Think of a time that when someone in the family did something wrong to someone else in the family. Who did the wrong? Who was wronged? Who could forgive the wrongdoer? Who couldn t forgive the wrongdoer? In the Bible story Jesus says to the paralysed man your sins are forgiven. The Pharisees are partly right when they say only God can forgive sins. Sin is when we do wrong against God by not living for him. Jesus claims to have the power to forgive sins - something only God can do. Jesus is basically saying he is equal with God. And points to it by healing the man. Sure Jesus can heal sickness, but he can do the even harder thing of forgiving sins. He does this through his death on the cross, and proves it is all dealt with by rising from the dead. Finish by watching this video: http://fervr.net/videos/forgiveness AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 11

03 how big is your love? If you love those who watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Jesus calls for a higher standard of love than we might settle for: love your enemies. Ultimately he demonstrated this standard through dying for his enemies us on the cross. love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Luke 6:32 read Luke 6:27-42 1. It seems that no-one would describe or think of themselves as unloving. Why do you think this is? 2. How does Jesus describe the way his followers should love? (v27, 35)? 3. How does verse 31 help us understand how to love like this? 4. How do verses 32-34 push us to a bigger meaning of love? 5. Who do we ultimately learn this love from (verses 35-36)? 6. What warnings about lovelessness are given in verses 37-42? 12

7. How does the way we love reflect on our relationship with God? 8. Who do you find it difficult love? 9. How will focusing on God s love, mercy and forgiveness help you to love such people? 10. How does Jesus death and resurrection shape the way you love now? 11. What action do you need to take, what needs to change in the relationships in your life, when you understand how we should love? servant heart How is God s amazing and generous love for you shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may know God s love for them? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 13

prayer Praise God that he has demonstrated his great love for us in Jesus death for our sins while we were still his enemies. Confess that we have not shown the same love to others that Jesus has shown to us. We have not loved our enemies. Show me how to love like you have loved me. Ask God that we would be a church that radically and generously loves everyone. That we would dedicate our lives to proclaiming God s love shown in Jesus. Ask God that our Growth Groups would be places where we speak the truth in love, truly caring and loving one another even in the difficult times Ask God that each of us would know that since we have been completely forgiven, we can love and forgive others Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That you would have opportunities to tell them about Jesus and share how much God loves them Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 14

read Luke 6:17-42 for young listeners v. 32-36 pre-primary + primary Can you think of TV shows or movies when the characters are trying to get back at someone else? (like Cats and Dogs, Prank Patrol, Home Alone). You could watch the trailer for Cats and Dogs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylnsjqawvj4 How do you (want to) treat the people who are unkind to you? Do you ever hear people say or have you ever said I don t want to be your friend anymore or You re not invited to my party? Read vs 35 again how does Jesus say we are to treat the people who are unkind to us (our enemies)? We were all God s enemies once but what did Jesus do for us? high school If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Luke 6:32 Once we were God s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. Romans 5:10 - NIrV Jesus loved us so much he died for us while were his enemies. He died for us so we can be friends with God. So why does Jesus want us to love our enemies? (v. 36) List as many movies or TV shows with a revenge theme as you can. (e.g. Les Mis, Batman, Revenge) How do you (want to) treat the people who are unkind to you, your enemies? Who are/were Jesus enemies? How did Jesus treat his enemies? (Read Romans 5:10) How does Jesus tell us to treat those who are unkind to us/our enemies? Why (v.36)? We were all God s enemies because of sin, we ve all said no to God. But while we were God s enemies he sent Jesus to die for us so we can have a special relationship with him. We have been shown God s love so he calls us to show that love to everyone. 03 AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 15

04 am i your Lord? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Jesus calls for genuine faith that humbly trusts Jesus words to build our lives upon. We meet a living example of this faith in the centurion who knows what it means to order others yet submits himself to Jesus rule. Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 read Luke 6:46-7:10 1. What might be the difference between saying you believe in God and having a personal relationship with Him through Jesus? (v.46) 2. How does Jesus describe the different responses to his words (v47-49)? 3. How does the centurion (7:1-8) teach us the same lesson from 6:48-49? 4. What s the difference between how the elders of the Jews (7:3-5) relate to Jesus and how the centurion (7:6-8) relates to Jesus? 5. What is surprising about this story? 16

7. What are you doing at present to make sure you are taking in God s Word daily? 8. What are you doing at present to make sure you are living out God s Word daily? 9. What building on sand projects in your life are affecting how you answered the previous two questions? What action is needed here? What do you need to stop doing? Or start doing? 10. In what way is it clear that Jesus death and resurrection determines who is the Lord of your life? servant heart How is living with Jesus as your Lord shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may know Jesus as their Lord? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 17

prayer Praise God that he has spoken to us clearly and ultimately through Jesus. Praise God that we can trust the words of Jesus, and they give us a firm foundation to build our lives on. No other name can save, but Jesus Christ our Lord. Confess that we often close our ears and harden our hearts to the words of Jesus, and live our own way. Ask God that we would be a church that faithfully proclaims the words of Jesus with everything so that many more people would hear the words of Jesus and build their lives on this foundation. Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would help each other to love the words of Jesus and to see how we can put them into practice Ask God that each of us would come to realise the areas of our own life where we are not doing what God says, and that we would trust the words of Jesus. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. Pray that the Holy Spirit would help them to see that they are living in rebellion against God and that they need to trust Jesus and live in obedience to him. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 18

Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 04 read Luke 6:46-7:10 for young listeners v. 6:46-49 pre-primary + primary Watch this animation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxwhlb1f6_u What happened to the house on the sand when the storm came? What happened to the house on the rock? Who are the wise people? Why are they wise? The foundations of a house are what the whole house relies on, if any part of the house is not built on the foundations it won t be stable. Jesus isn t telling people to build part of their lives on him, he wants all of our lives. Jesus came to be ruler of our whole lives. If we re wise we ll listen to Jesus words and trust him completely. Is Jesus your Lord? high school Discuss: Why is the centurion a wise builder? The centurion completely trusts Jesus words. Do you? The foundations of a house are what the whole house relies on, if any part of the house is not built on the foundations it won t be stable. Jesus isn t telling people to build part of their lives on him, he wants all of our lives. Jesus came to be ruler & lord of our whole lives. If we re wise we ll listen to Jesus words and trust him completely. Is Jesus your Lord? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 19

05 where is your faith? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad When we understand just who we are placing our faith in when we trust in Jesus, we will have the ability to endure all the trials life throws up at us. read Luke 8:22-25 Where is your faith? he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him. Luke 8:25 1. Share any significant trials you have gone through in your Christian life and how you have handled them. 2. Why do the disciples wake Jesus? What do they expect him to do? 3. What does Jesus do? 4. How do the disciples respond? What does their question (v.25) reveal about who they think Jesus is? read Luke 8:26-39 5. What does the question that the demon-possessed man asks in verse 28 reveal about who he thinks Jesus is? 6. How does this episode with the demon-possessed man, give us more clues in understanding Jesus identity (especially verse 39) and the target of his mission? 20

7. What do we learn about faith from the different responses in the story (contrast those in verse 37 with the man in verse 38-39)? 8. The disciples had to think bigger about Jesus. In what ways do you need to do this? 9. The disciples also had to think smaller in a sense about their present trials. In what ways do you need to do this? 10. The healed man didn t wait to do an evangelism training course (!) to turn his newfound faith in Jesus into proclamation of Jesus. What can we learn from this about true faith? 11. How does the way you live give an indication of your faith and where your faith is? What needs to change? servant heart How is faith in God s goodness shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may know Jesus and have hope for their lives? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 21

prayer Praise God that he is faithful and good. Praise God that we can always trust him, even in the difficult seasons of our life. Confess that we easily lose sight of God s goodness when troubles come our way. No trial is deeper than your love, that comforts all my sorrows. Ask God that we would be a church that truly cares for people with compassion and soft hearts. That when people face difficulties in their life, we would not give them easy answers or band-aid solutions but that we would point them to Jesus. Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would bear each other s burdens as we follow Jesus and trust him in the difficulties of our lives. Ask God that each of us would grow in our trust of God, having a faith that endures all things, trusting in God s goodness towards us. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would see that God is faithful and trustworthy, the only one we can trust who will not disappoint us. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 22

Where is your faith? he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him. Luke 8:25 05 read Luke 8:19-39 for young listeners v. 8:19-25 pre-primary + primary Imagine being at sea in a storm - waves taller than your house - seeing nothing but walls of water around you, with waves breaking over your boat terrifying. Watch this video of a ship in huge waves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-hatwiznge This ship has a steel hull and powerful motors. Imagine what those waves would be like in a small fishing boat with no motor. Yet similar huge waves and strong wind calmed down at a word from Jesus. There is nothing that is too big or too powerful for Jesus, because he is God, who created our world. We can ask for his help with anything and trust him to deal with it because he has control over everything. high school Think of a situation in your life that you would describe as a storm. If you like, somebody could share about this. Do you think there is an ultimate storm in life? What is it? Look at the passage about the demon-possessed man. These many demons defied all attempts by the locals to contain them, yet not only are they afraid of Jesus, they must obey him! The power of Jesus to do this is so overwhelming for the locals that they are afraid. Here is a man who shows absolute authority over a physical storm, and a spiritual storm. Reflect and discuss honestly how you cope with your own storms in life. Can you trust them to the one who is in control of the universe? Watch this video, then pray together http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=i8yegl3vz0g AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 23

06 who do you say i am? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Jesus kingship meant suffering followed by glory and this is to be the shape of our lives as we follow (and listen) to him. But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, The Christ of God. Luke 9:20 read Luke 9:18-27 1. What are some common views of Jesus in our society today? 2. From this passage (v.19) what are the public opinion answers to who Jesus is? 3. Jesus asks the key question about his own identity. Who else have we seen asking this question so far (see 2:47, 5:21, 8:25, 9:9)? 4. What are the public opinion answers to Jesus question (v19)? 5. Who does Peter say Jesus is? What do you think Peter means when he gives this answer? 6. Why does Jesus give his warning in verse 21? 24

7. What does Jesus explain his kingship involves (v22)? 8. What does Jesus explain following his kingship involves (23-26)? 9. In v27 Jesus says some there will see the kingdom of God. If he didn t get that wrong, when did it happen (when was Jesus crowned)? 10. The disciples have not yet understood the sort of king Jesus is and what is at the heart of his mission. In what ways are we often like them? What aspect of Jesus kingship do you struggle with? 11. From this passage, what must our focus be as followers of Jesus? How can we help each other maintain this focus? 12. What needs to change in your life as you follow the suffering King? servant heart How is knowing Jesus as your servant king shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may know Jesus as their servant king? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 25

prayer Praise God that he sent Jesus as a servant king to suffer and take our sin upon himself. Confess that we are unwilling to endure even a fraction of the suffering which our Lord suffered for us. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, worthy is the King who conquers the grave Ask God that we would be a church that says who Jesus really is the servant King who suffered but is now victorious in glory! Pray that through our lives, and our giving many more people would know who Jesus is. Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would help each other to correct our perception of Jesus and to focus on who Jesus really is Ask God that each of us would endure all things and live not for ourselves, but lives that honour our servant-king Jesus. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would recognise who Jesus is, their King who suffered for their sin. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 26

But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, The Christ of God. Luke 9:20 06 read Luke 9:18-27 jesus is... all ages FAMILY BRAINSTORM SESSION 1 Write down all the words you can think of that describe Jesus. Read verse 22 of the Bible passage, and write down the things Jesus says about himself. Compare his list to yours. Did your list include anything about suffering or dying? What Jesus is telling us is that although he is the Messiah (which means saviour king), there are some things that must happen before he finally sits on his throne. He must suffer, be rejected and die, and then he must rise again. Jesus gives us some musts if we are to follow him... FAMILY BRAINSTORM SESSION 2 What does it mean to deny ourselves and take up our cross? Write down as many practical ideas as you can. Bear these questions in mind as you do it: Are you seeking service or comfort? Are you taking up cross or couch? CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK Using your brainstorm list to help you, decide what you can do to serve somebody who normally serves you, and do that this week. AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 27

07 why do you worry? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Our worries reveal our hearts. Following Jesus turns our hearts from valuing (and worrying about) the things of this world. Instead we will value God s Kingdom and giving as he has given to us. read Luke 12:22-34 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:26 1. What are some of the common things that cause people to worry? 2. Look at 11:53-54 and 12:11-12 for the real life context of Jesus instructions to his disciples not to worry. Why do they need to hear his words? 3. In the previous parable, what is so pathetic about what this man is worried about (v17) 4. What does Jesus teach in this passage about what his disciples should not worry about? 5. What, rather, does he say should we have our hearts set upon? 28

6. What do verses 32-33 teach us about the transformed priorities of God s kingdom? 7. What do our worries reveal about our hearts? (v34, see also 16:13) 8. What do you worry about and why? 9. Our worries reveal our hearts. What things of this world do you worry about and chase after? 10. What will it mean for you to set your heart fully on God s kingdom? 11. How will a transform heart, and Kingdom priorities change the way you live now? servant heart How is knowing that God is in control of all your needs shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may meet Jesus, trust him and not need to worry? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 29

prayer Praise God that he is God and we are not that everything is under his control and he is always in control. Praise God that we don t need to worry, because he has met our greatest need in Jesus. The things of earth I leave behind to live in worship of my King. Confess that we often live as if we are God by worrying want Jesus to meet our needs, but we don t want to submit to his authority. Ask God that we would be a church that does not worry about our own needs but trusts God to be in control. That we would trust with soft hearts, give hard and give generously of our money so that many more people would see from our lives and hear about the God who loves them and is in control of their lives Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would challenge each other to trust God, to not worry and to have our hearts set on God s kingdom. Ask God that each of us would recognise where our treasure is, that we would not worry about the things of this world but that we would give generously for God s kingdom. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would see that the worry of their heart will only be resolved when they understand how much God loves them. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting. the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 30

read Luke 12:13-35 for young listeners v. 13-26 pre-primary + primary Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:26 Jesus told a story about a farmer who was worried about where to store all the food he grew on his farm. 07 Watch this video about the rich fool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys0ps0kv6uq What was the man trying to do by building bigger barns? Why do you think the man was worried about storing up all that extra food? Did storing everything up make any difference after the man dies? Why or why not? What sorts of things can people worry about today? Jesus says he can give us everything we need. What can only Jesus give us that s more important than anything? We can worry about lots of things food, money, toys, friends... but Jesus says he can give us everything we need. He tells what we really need is forgiveness for our sins. Jesus has power in every situation so we can trust him. Remember Jesus gives us everything we really need - forgiveness. We need to let God take control of our lives because with God as number one we don t need to worry about anything. high school Watch this video that tells the story about the rich fool: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=y7l19usp2ro Did storing everything up make any difference after the man dies? Why or why not? What sorts of things do you worry about? What is dangerous about worrying about these things? Jesus says he can give us everything we need. What can only Jesus give us that s more important than anything? Read Luke 12:22-34 If God takes care of all creation what does he promise to do for you? If God is in control of our lives how should we respond? There are a lot of things we can worry about in the world but Jesus tells us he can give us everything we need, and what we really need is forgiveness. Pray together as a family about the things you each worry about, ask God to take control of those things and thank Him for looking after you. AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 31

08 what do you really want? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad The things of this world can make us blind to the immense value of the salvation Jesus is offering. We need to see Jesus death for our salvation as priceless and matchless. read Luke 18:18-43 What do you want me to do for you? Lord, I want to see, he replied. Luke 18:41 1. What are some of the things people in our community treasure and put their hope in? 2. What did the rich man want? 3. Why was the rich man sad (v23)? 4. What is shocking about what Jesus says? (v.25-27) 5. What did the rich man fail to see in what Jesus offers? (v29-30) 6. What are the disciples still not seeing about Jesus (v34)? 32

7. What did the blind man want? What does he ask from Jesus? What did the blind man see, (even while he was still blind)? 8. What bigger thing has this man received than his sight (verse 42 literally reads your faith has saved you )? How? 9. Glance ahead to a rich man who is also a blind man (could not see Jesus, 19:3)... but who becomes glad not sad when he sees what Jesus is offering (19:6) and so receives salvation (19:9-10). What has changed about where he has placed his hope? 10. How are earthly things blinding you to the hope found in Jesus? 11. How can we encourage each other to better see Jesus? 12. How does knowing what you really need from Jesus make a difference to the way you live your life? servant heart How is knowing that God has given you salvation, more precious than anything else shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may meet Jesus and receive salvation? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 33

prayer Praise God for his incredible generosity to us. Praise God that the salvation he has given to us in Jesus is of priceless and matchless worth, incomparably better than everything else in our lives In all of my life Iʼm searching for what can be only found in You. only You can satisfy Confess that we so easily lose perspective. We lose sight of Jesus and put too much value on things that are inferior and only temporary Ask God that we would be a church that values what God values. That we would value people and their souls, more than money and things. Ask God that we would give generously of our money so that many more people would see the precious value of eternal life on offer from Jesus Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would encourage each other to trust Jesus, that we would point each other to Jesus when doubts creep in, and that God would use our Growth Groups to strengthen our trust in Jesus Ask God that each of us would grow in our faith and trust of God. That we would look away from the lies of this world and look to the cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would no longer be blinded by the things of this world, but that they would see the treasure of salvation which Jesus offers. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 34

read Luke 18:18-43 for young listeners v. 35-43 pre-primary + Lower primary What do you want me to do for you? Lord, I want to see, he replied. Luke 18:41 PREPARATION: - Buy a Block of Chocolate/Chocolate biscuits or a similar family incentive. - Blindfold all but one of your family members. - Now have the un-blindfolded person hide the chocolate somewhere (not too difficult) in the house. 08 Now try to find the chocolate/treat without removing your blindfolds. The un-blindfolded person may need to make sure no one hurts themselves or bumps in to anything dangerous. If they find it they may have some of the treat, but only if they find it on their own. It may be that no one finds the treat. After a while call the search off and take some time to discuss the experience: What did you want during the challenge? (the treat) What was difficult or frustrating about the challenge? What would have made it easier? (to see) In Luke 18 there was a blind man who really wanted to be able to see. When Jesus healed him he understood that there was more to Jesus than an amazing healer and he followed Jesus and praised him. The man was so excited that other people saw and started praising God also. We need to SEE what Jesus did, his death for our sin, as the most important thing, better than anything else. upper primary + high school Do the same activity as above but take some time to look at the other stories in the Luke 18 passage (v.18-34). Sometimes things can get in the way of us seeing how important forgiveness through Jesus really is. The Rich Ruler in Luke 18 was distracted by his wealth. What things do you really really like? Is Jesus on your list? What is something you would find hard to give up? Will any of these things last forever? Jesus offers forgiveness that lasts forever, how should our lives show this? Stuff won t last forever and isn t certain; Like the blind man we need to see that Jesus offer of forgiveness is certain and will last forever. AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 35

09 why do you doubt? watch the intro video here: https://vimeo.com/creekroad Not only did Jesus predict his death and resurrection during his ministry, but the entire Old Testament was pointing to this event. The only right response is to not only believe in this event but to base our lives on it. read Luke 24:36-53 He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Luke 24:38 1. How do you deal with doubt? Are you someone who faces your doubts, and looks at the evidence or do you just try to move on and ignore your doubts? 2. What had Jesus predicted on several occasions before his death in Jerusalem (see 9:22, 18:33)? 3. What rebukes have already been given, since Jesus resurrection (24:5-6, 25)? 4. What rebuke does he give to his disciples here? Why? 5. What evidence does he give about his resurrected body? Why? 6. What teaching does he give from the Old Testament? Why? 36

7. What mission does Jesus give the disciples (making it so important their doubts are dealt with)? What promise does he add? 8. Our first study started at the temple... with a 12 year old Jesus asking questions and our last study concludes with joyful, worshipful followers of the risen Jesus rejoicing in the temple. What have been the highlights of this journey for you? 9. How can we deal with our doubts? 10. If the whole Old Testament (v44-47) was pointing to Jesus death and resurrection, how should we approach reading it? 11. What would it look like for your whole life to revolve around Jesus death and resurrection? servant heart How is confidence in the death and resurrection of Jesus shown by your giving and serving with a soft heart? With your soft heart, how will you give hard so that many others may trust Jesus and have their doubts addressed? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 37

prayer Praise God that he has revealed himself in history in the person of Jesus. Praise God that Jesus fulfilled the hopes and prophecies of the Old Testament in his death and resurrection. Confess that we still doubt even in the face of the wonderful victory of Jesus death for our sins and resurrection to bring us life. My joy in sorrowʼs tears My strength to cast out fears No other name but Jesus, Jesus Ask God that we would be a church that trusts God and has confidence in his word. That our lives would display our trust in God. That we would give hard from our soft hearts so that many more people would see that God is trustworthy and that the death and resurrection of Jesus addresses all doubts. Ask God that in our Growth Groups we would encourage each other to trust Jesus, that we would point each other to Jesus when doubts creep in, and that God would use our Growth Groups to strengthen our trust in Jesus. Ask God that each of us would grow in our faith and trust of God. That we would look away from the lies of this world and look to the cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Pray for your friends who don t yet know Jesus. That they would have their doubts addressed by Jesus. That they would have the humility to follow where the evidence leads and put their trust in Jesus. Pray for the Cross-Cultural Connect Team member which your Growth Group is focussed on supporting the city What stories did you hear about on The City this week that really encouraged you? How can you pray for the people you read about on The City? 38

He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Luke 24:38 09 read Luke 24:36-53 for young listeners v. 36-39 pre-primary Parents: Ask your kids if they think you can make a rocket from a tea bag. Hopefully they won t think you can! Then make one. (Choose a safe area where you won t start a fire.) Use a tea bag with a string and tag. Cut off the end that staples the string to the bag, open out the bag and empty the tea out. Shape the bag into a cylinder (note: Make sure the tea bag is not sealed shut in the middle) and place it on its end on a plate. Light the top end of the tea bag and watch what happens. When you doubt that something is true, and then you find out that it actually is true, how do you feel? Surprised? Amazed? Do you want to tell others about it? Jesus did something so unbelievably awesome that many people doubt it s true. He died on the cross so that we don t have to be punished for our sin, and then, he rose again! He did this because he loves us. We should be so amazed that we tell others about it and love Jesus back with all our hearts. Primary + high school Watch this video about Edward Jenner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay-afozyid0 Discuss how many parallels you can draw between the story of Edward Jenner and the way people respond to Jesus. Jesus didn t make an amazing discovery, like Jenner. He carried out the most amazing plan ever he died for our sin, and rose again, to live forever! What should our response to him be? What do you think it looks like to declare Jesus to those around us and be devoted to him in real life? AND NOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS JESUS ASKS studies 2013 www.creekroad.org.au 39

At Creek Road we love Jesus. We want to reach the city and reach the world with the good news about who Jesus is. We d love to help you meet Jesus as we explore the Bible together at our Sunday Services. We want every person to have a chance to connect with Jesus, to grow to be more like Jesus and to serve Jesus. So we try to make everything we do clear and easy to understand. If you ve got any questions, we d love to answer them. If there is anything you need, we d love to help. You don t need to be good, religious, or have it all together to join us on a Sunday. Jesus is for everyone - people of all stages, ages, and places. So is our church. Everyone is welcome. Seriously. www.creekroad.org.au