Bible ReadingMatthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
[27:26]Luke 19:11-27 “As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, ‘A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Engage in business until I come.” But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to reign over us.” When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, “Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” And the second came, saying, “Lord, your mina has made five minas.” And he said to him, “And you are to be over five cities.” Then another came, saying, “Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?” And he said to those who stood by, “Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.” And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten minas!” “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.”’”
[35:28]Matthew 16:21-26 “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’”
[48:58]John 13:1-17 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’ When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’”
[55:31]Mark 10:13-27 “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.”’ And he said to him, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’”
[01:04:49]Observation questions- In Matthew 28, what does Jesus say should happen as disciples are made, and what role does “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” play in that mission? [27:26]
- In Luke 19, what mistaken assumption led Jesus to tell the parable of the nobleman, and what were the servants told to do while the nobleman was away? [35:28]
- In Matthew 16, what does Peter do when Jesus speaks about suffering and death, and what does Jesus then say every disciple must do to follow him? [48:58]
- In John 13, what does Jesus do on the night of his betrayal, and what reason does he give afterward for doing it? [55:31]
Interpretation questions- If the kingdom is not appearing immediately in Luke 19, what does that teach about how believers should view success, reward, and ordinary faithfulness in this present life? [40:09]
- Jesus says Peter was setting his mind on the things of man, not the things of God. What kinds of desires or expectations can make a person think like Peter even while sincerely loving Jesus? [48:58]
- In John 13, Jesus serves when suffering, betrayal, and death are right in front of him. What does that show about the kind of leadership Jesus values, and why is that so different from worldly leadership? [56:28]
- In Mark 10, how does the rich man help show what childlike faith is not, and why does Jesus end by saying that salvation is impossible with man but possible with God? [01:08:19]
Application questions- Jesus’ kingdom is not the same thing as comfort, wealth, or the American dream. Where are you most tempted to live as if your reward must come now, and how is that shaping your priorities this week? [40:09]
- Jesus says that anyone who follows him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow. What is one specific area where self-preservation, control, or fear is making obedience harder for you right now? [50:49]
- Losing life for Christ is the way to find it. Is there a place in your life where you know obedience may cost you reputation, convenience, money, or approval, and you have been hesitating? [52:43]
- The towel is a picture of kingdom leadership. Who has God placed near you right now that you are called to serve in a low, humble, practical way? What would that look like this week? [59:17]
- Jesus washed feet even with the cross before him. Are there responsibilities, burdens, or disappointments that have made you pull back from serving others? How might love move toward people again? [56:48]
- Childlike faith brings nothing to the Father and asks for mercy. When you think about why God should receive you, do you instinctively point to Christ or to your own resume? [01:08:49]
- The gospel frees believers to care more about another person’s soul than their own awkwardness. Who is one person in your life that you may need to speak to about Christ, and what makes that hard for you? [01:10:47]
