Bible Study - LUKE: Pocket God
1. Share something you are thankful for or are celebrating. What is a highlight or something that you accomplished or experienced in 2018 for which you are thankful?
2. Where are you experiencing stress or anxiety as you start a new year? Ask your group to be praying with you about that.
3. What did you hear in this week’s sermon that was new or particularly interesting? Did anything stand out to you as puzzling or troubling?
4. Read Luke 4:1-15. Look at the notes in your Luke Journal related to this passage (pages 30-34). What stood out to you the most from these readings? What questions did you make note of that were raised for you by these readings? Did anything in these readings prompt you to do anything? To change anything? To believe something new?
5. Chris pointed out that all three of the temptations Jesus faced that are mentioned in Luke 4 are about Jesus and power. Have you ever been tempted to acquire power, influence or resources in the wrong way or at the wrong time? How far are you willing to go to gain power, or influence or resources?
6. Read Hebrews 4:15-16. What temptations have you faced that seem different in kind or intensity to those Jesus faced in Luke 4? Do the temptations in the Luke 4 passage seem like they would be hard to resist? Why? Which of the three temptations listed here would be the easiest for you to resist? Which would be the hardest?
7. Make a list of everything Luke 4 says or infers that Jesus did to help Him resist when tempted by the devil. Which of the things listed do you find the easiest to do when you are facing temptation? Which is the hardest? Is there something you do when facing temptation that has helped you? What do you think Chris meant when he said that Jesus wasn’t in the wilderness alone with Satan?
8. Read Psalm 119:11. Do you think it was strategic on Satan’s part to begin all three of the temptations with the words “you” in speaking to Jesus? Why? From this passage it appears that God’s will determines how Jesus will use His power and not simply His appetites or desires. What training or practices do you routinely engage in to cultivate your heart so it desires to do God’s will, even when God’s will opposes one of your body’s appetites or desires?
9. Have you ever thought that God’s Spirit was leading you into the wilderness like He did with Jesus? What was that like? What would suggest to a person who is in the wilderness right now? Do you have an appetite or desire right now that the enemy may be looking to exploit through temptation?
10. In the next 24-48 hours, what simple next step could you take in obedience to what you’ve learned from your time in God’s Word? Who would benefit from hearing what you’ve learned this week? Will you share it with them?
2. Where are you experiencing stress or anxiety as you start a new year? Ask your group to be praying with you about that.
3. What did you hear in this week’s sermon that was new or particularly interesting? Did anything stand out to you as puzzling or troubling?
4. Read Luke 4:1-15. Look at the notes in your Luke Journal related to this passage (pages 30-34). What stood out to you the most from these readings? What questions did you make note of that were raised for you by these readings? Did anything in these readings prompt you to do anything? To change anything? To believe something new?
5. Chris pointed out that all three of the temptations Jesus faced that are mentioned in Luke 4 are about Jesus and power. Have you ever been tempted to acquire power, influence or resources in the wrong way or at the wrong time? How far are you willing to go to gain power, or influence or resources?
6. Read Hebrews 4:15-16. What temptations have you faced that seem different in kind or intensity to those Jesus faced in Luke 4? Do the temptations in the Luke 4 passage seem like they would be hard to resist? Why? Which of the three temptations listed here would be the easiest for you to resist? Which would be the hardest?
7. Make a list of everything Luke 4 says or infers that Jesus did to help Him resist when tempted by the devil. Which of the things listed do you find the easiest to do when you are facing temptation? Which is the hardest? Is there something you do when facing temptation that has helped you? What do you think Chris meant when he said that Jesus wasn’t in the wilderness alone with Satan?
8. Read Psalm 119:11. Do you think it was strategic on Satan’s part to begin all three of the temptations with the words “you” in speaking to Jesus? Why? From this passage it appears that God’s will determines how Jesus will use His power and not simply His appetites or desires. What training or practices do you routinely engage in to cultivate your heart so it desires to do God’s will, even when God’s will opposes one of your body’s appetites or desires?
9. Have you ever thought that God’s Spirit was leading you into the wilderness like He did with Jesus? What was that like? What would suggest to a person who is in the wilderness right now? Do you have an appetite or desire right now that the enemy may be looking to exploit through temptation?
10. In the next 24-48 hours, what simple next step could you take in obedience to what you’ve learned from your time in God’s Word? Who would benefit from hearing what you’ve learned this week? Will you share it with them?