Luke 12:49-53 - Jesus: the great divider

Luke 12:49-53 - Jesus: the great divider
1. What causes family members to turn against each other?

2. What did Jesus come to bring? (12:49)

3. How did Jesus feel about the baptism He would undergo? (12:50)

4. In what way did Jesus indicate that division would affect everyone until He returned? (12:51)

5. Where would the division that Jesus brings be noticed? (12:52-53)

6. Why did Jesus wish that the "fire . . . were already kindled"?

7. In what way did Jesus bring division?

8. How common is the view that Jesus came to bring peace on earth?

9. Over what issues are any of your relatives divided?

10. Over what issues should we be willing to divide?

11. What can you do to prepare for clashes over your beliefs?

Luke 12:35-48 - Get Ready

Luke 12:35-48 - Get Ready

1. What is it like to wait for someone without knowing when he or she is coming?

2. According to Jesus, what are the two traits of the one who is ready? (12:35)

3. What did the men in the story do when their master returned? (12:36)

4. What happened to the servants who were watching properly? (12:37)

5. How long should the servants have been willing to wait? (12:38)

6. When do important things often happen? (12:39-40)

7. How did Jesus reply to Peter's question? (12:42)

8. What distinguished the faithful and wise manager? (12:42-44)

9. How did some servants handle responsibilities in their masters' absence? (12:45)

10. What happened to the servants who acted out of ignorance? (12:48)

11. How are "watching" and "waiting" used throughout this passage?

12. Why is watchfulness not a passive activity?

13. How should we act while waiting for Jesus to return?

14. How much have we, individually and collectively, been given and entrusted with?

15. What is one area of need in your church or among other Christians that you can serve?

Luke 12:22-34 - Don't Worry

Luke 12:22-34 - Don't Worry

1. What do people you know tend to worry about?

2. Why did Jesus start talking about worry? (12:22)

3. What is more important than food or clothes? (12:23)

4. What are we to learn from birds? (12:24)

5. What does worrying accomplish? (12:25-26)

6. What do flowers teach us? (12:27-28)

7. What does worry about clothes indicate about us? (12:28)

8. On what basis are we not to worry? (12:30)

9. How did Jesus continue with the Father-child analogy? (12:32)

10. What goes with treasure in heaven? (12:34)

11. What situations bring out the worrier in you?

12. What has worrying done for you?

13. When have you seen the truth that God knows your needs and meets them?

14. What is the connection between seeking God's kingdom and the Father giving us the kingdom?

15. What step can you take this week to share your earthly treasures with others?

Acts 2:1-13 - The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13 - The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

1. If you could speak another language fluently, which one would you choose? Why?

2. What was celebrated on the day of Pentecost? (2:1)

3. What did the followers of Christ hear and see? (2:2-3)

4. What was the importance of the wind and fire? (2:2-4)

5. Who was staying in Jerusalem? (2:5)

6. How did the God-fearing Jews visiting Jerusalem react when they heard Christians speaking their languages? (2:6-11)

7. What was the topic of conversation among the crowds? (2:11)

8. Besides being amazed, how did the crowd react to the unusual happening they witnessed? (2:12-13)
9. Why is the coming of the Spirit associated with wind, fire, and different languages?

10. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

11. How could your church benefit from greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit?

12. How can we cultivate sensitivity to the Holy Spirit?

13. What can you do each day to invite the Holy Spirit to use you?

Fun ideas for eating together

Sharing a meal together helps people socailize in a casual way and gives them time to build relationships in a casual and unhurried atmosphere. It's also a great way for group small group members and their whole family to be involved. Keep it simple and have fun.
Some suggestions-
1. Pot luck dinner ( easy to organise and fun because no-one knows what anyone else will bring).
2. Fish & Chips at the beach or favourite park.
3. International food night )Mexican, Italian, Chinese...) Everyone brings a different dish to share.
4. Dessert and coffee night (simple and very yummy).
5. Pink Night ( or green etc...) Pick a theme colour. Pink tablecloth, pink drinks, everyone wears pink, strawberry ice-cream. etc... Get the children involved with ideas.
6. Celebrate a Passover meal together.
7. Make your own pizzas and play some board games together.
8. Progressive dinner. (Eat at the homes of different group members for different courses).
9. Choose a special occasion to celebrate. (Someone's birthday, graduation, public holiday...)
10. Invite another small group to share a meal together.
11. Have a BBQ and each person brings a neigbour or friend.
These ideas are just for starters. Why not talk about as a group and plan an " eating together" night soon?

Luke 12:13-21 - Eat, Drink and be Merry

Luke 12:13-21 - Eat, Drink and be Merry

1. Over what did you and your siblings fight when you were growing up?

2. Against what did Jesus warn the crowd? Why? (12:13-15)

3. What was the rich man's dilemma in the parable? (12:16-17)

4. What did the man decide to do about his bumper crop? (12:18)

5. How did the rich man view his possessions and good fortune? (12:19)

6. What would become of the man's abundance? (12:20)

7. To whom did Jesus apply His teaching about greed? (12:21)

8. What signs of greed can show up in a person's life?

9. What parts of the parable make you uncomfortable?

10. How is it possible to be rich toward God?

11. With which of your possessions do you want to be more generous? How can you?

Luke 12:1-12 Safe Forever

Luke 12:1-12 - Safe Forever

1. What individuals or groups are most feared in our society?

2. What was the crowd like? (12:1)

3. What contrasts did Jesus use to prepare the disciples for the future? (12:2-3)

4. What did Jesus say His disciples should and should not fear? (12:4-5)

5. What proofs of God's care did Jesus offer to His disciples? (12:6-7)

6. How was the disciples' loyalty to Jesus linked to Jesus' loyalty to them? (12:8-9)

7. What was to happen to those who speak against the Son of Man? (12:10)

8. How much were the disciples to prepare for their encounters with religious and political authorities? (12:11)

9. How does the possibility of persecution make you feel?

10. What does the imagery about the sparrows and hairs say to us?

11. What situations tempt people not to acknowledge Jesus before others?

12. What is it about blaspheming against the Holy Spirit that makes it unforgivable?

13. How can you pray for those who suffer for their relationship with God?

James 5:13-20 How To Pray About Your Problems

How To Pray About Your Problems
James 5:13-20
1. What are some of the most memorable moments of your life?

2. What should a person do when he or she is in trouble? Why? (5:13, 15)

3. What should a person do when he or she is happy? Why? (5:13, 15)

4. Why is prayer important? (5:15)

5. What are the elders of the church to do for someone who is sick? Why? (5:14-15)

6. How can a person have his or her sins forgiven? (5:15)

7. What is the effect of a righteous person's prayers? (5:16)

8. Who is a good example of how God answers prayer? How? (5:17-18)

9. What is a Christian's responsibility toward a fellow believer who has wandered away from the truth? (5:19)

10. What is the benefit of helping a person get back into following the truth? (5:20)

11. What hinders Christians from praying with confidence?

12. What hinders Christians from confessing sins and praying for each other?

13. Whom do you know who has been drifting away from the Lord and who needs an encouraging word from you this week?