| 1) How is God changing your life?
2) What are some examples from your own life or from recent news of people using their power in ways that are harmful to others? What are some examples of people using their influence or power for compassionate purposes?
OBSERVE
3) Identify all of the people/groups listed and then draw a simple picture or diagram of the scene as you imagine it. (7:11-12)
4) Record each word or action of Jesus and identify what it reveals about Jesus. (7:14-17)
5) What is Jesus’ motivation for raising the son from the dead? (7:13)
REFLECT
6) To touch a coffin would render a religious leader “unclean” and unable to minister for several days. Yet Jesus decides to touch the dead son’s coffin. What does Jesus’ decision reveal about his priorities? Where else have you seen Jesus violate traditional religious practice in order to help people?
7) Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God was being ushered in through his life and ministry. One of the clearest pictures of the completed Kingdom of God is Revelation 21:1-5. Read this passage and then list all the parallels between Luke 7:11-17 and Revelation 21:1-5. What do these passages teach you about life in God’s Kingdom?
8) What conclusions about Jesus does the crowd draw from this experience? From your understanding of scripture, in what ways are they right? In what ways is their knowledge incomplete? (7:16)
9) Jesus tells a parable called The Good Samaritan. In this parable a Samaritan sees a man on the side of the road who is severely injured. Luke uses the exact same word (in the Greek) to describe the Samaritan’s response to the injured man as he uses to describe Jesus’ response to the grieving widow: “he was moved with compassion.” Read Luke 10:25-37 and list all of the things that the Samaritan does to care for the man in need.
10) Identify someone in your life who could benefit from your compassionate care due to a physical, emotional, or spiritual need (like not knowing the gospel). What are some practical ways you could care for this person? What inconveniences or fears will you need push through in order to care for this person?
11) What additional insights into this passage did you gain from the sermon or Luke for Everyone?
ACT
12) After reflecting on this study, what is your next step in following Jesus?
13) Who could you help to take their next step in following Jesus?
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