Monday, January 13, 2014

On 1-19-14, Luke 14:7-18a, 21-24 or 14:7-18a, 22-24 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Enlarging Your Circle or Jesus Teaches about Relationships

Enlarging Your Circle or Jesus Teaches about Relationships
Luke 14:7-18a, 21-24 or 14:7-18a, 22-24
International Sunday School Lesson
January 19, 2014



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough

If you have visited this blog often enough you will see that sometimes I don’t mince words and this is one of those times.
The “powers that be” or whatever we shall call those who chose the different titles for today’s scripture that we are studying really blew it!  Those are nice titles and well-meaning but they could set some off on a path that circumvents the true meaning of what Jesus was saying.
Sure, you show up somewhere at an event to which you have been invited and your social skills should be such as to not presume that you are “all that” and take the best of anything there for yourself.
And sure Jesus has given us many examples of how we are to take care of those in need and to help provide for them.  Stepping outside our circles is great and we should expand our horizons to those in places we don’t normally step.
But the message overall was much more serious than that because it has to do with the salvation of ourselves and others.
Jesus began by saying in effect, “Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought”, that much is clear.  We are all the invited guests in this scripture who seem to think that just because we are invited we have nothing more to do now than to be prima donnas, taking the best of the banquet when, where, and how we choose!
What we should see is that we are to be like the servant who is mentioned in this scripture and the one throwing the great banquet is of course God.  Those who have already been expected to attend are for the most part Christians and also those who have heard the gospel and turned it down. 
All the rest, those others who the servant has invited and will be attending were shared the gospel message as well.
This should be a very sobering read for those who are sitting there waiting to be served instead of serving.


For Discussion:
1.      Discuss how we might make humility a part of our being.
2.      Read Romans 12:3-8.
3.      For another example of our role as servant and a warning about that role and taking it seriously see Matthew 24:36-51.
4.      Why is humility a problem for us?
5.      Discuss why we are acting like guests waiting to be served instead of the servant.
6.      Discuss how the “well-off” are not as desperate to see the face of Christ as all the rest mentioned in today’s scripture.
7.      To use one of the titles for today, are we spending too much time in church, in our groups, with our friends there? And are our churches afraid we will not?
8.      What will you do to change your role from guest to servant?



Upcoming Lessons

1-26-14       Showing Compassion for the Poor or Jesus Teaches Compassion for the Poor, Luke 16:19-31
2-2-14         Hear and Do the Word, James 1:19-27
2-9-14         Treat Everyone Equally, James 2:1-13
2-16-14       Show Your Faith by Your Works, James 2:14-26




Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

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