Stu Quakenbush                                            Rockford Campus                                                  Feb. 18, 2024

 

Storytellers

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

 

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REMINDERS

Ignite 2.0 (Feb. 25 5:30pm) – We’re excited to re-try the Ignite event to celebrate and encourage our volunteers. Even if you signed up last time, please sign-up again for this new date:  https://magnifychurch.org/event/ignite/

 

Leader Development Class (Sunday nights) – We relaunched the LDC this Winter and so far, it’s been GREAT dialogue. This Winter, we’re going after topics that are incredibly relevant to your leadership including:

• Crucial Conversations
• Gospel Conversations

Please plan to come to 3-4 over the coming months to be sharpened and equipped as a leader!

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

We’re right on the cusp of some nicer weather and more consistent warmth.

What are you hopeful for this coming Spring? What are some of the things you enjoy about the Spring season?

 

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 4:14-30

Note: We encourage you to read the entire text together as a group out loud.

 

 

A PROPHET IN HIS HOMETOWN (v14-22) 

QUESTION: After reading the passage, ask and answer:

• What came right before these passages (quick summary)?
• Who is involved in this story? How does that impact this story of the early parts of Jesus’ ministry?
• What actions (previous and directly mentioned) are involved in this part of the story? Especially note the use of verbs and adverbs.
• What do you think it might’ve been like to grow up with Jesus?

 

TRY THIS: Read Isaiah 58 & 61.

In this story, Jesus states: “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” In typical Sabbath experience, rabbis would typically do a “homily” of the text that was read – they would give a teaching, comment, or brief anecdote related to the text.

QUESTION:  What might you have been feeling in between v. 19 and 20? Imagine your eyes fixed on this hometown hero who is building a following as an impressive rabbi. What kinds of things might you have expected Jesus to say here?

QUESTION: What is Jesus claiming in v21? Why was this so powerful to hear? How might this have been confusing at this point in his ministry (keep in mind, he is only just beginning)?

 

HOW POOR ARE YOU?

Going back to v. 18, Jesus is claiming in some way He has come to bring “good news to the poor.”

QUESTION:

• What does this quote make you think of?
• What does it feel like to be physically poor?
• How does physical poverty enable us to be prepared for spiritual poverty?
• How is this informed by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5?
• How did Jesus live out what he taught regarding physical poverty?
• Have you ever considered material wealth keeping you from being spiritually needy? How do these connect?

 

PROCLAIM

READ: Mark 1:29-39

QUESTION: What does Jesus say about why he has come?

QUESTION: As we assess our lives, we must ask and answer: Who is Jesus to me?

• How would you answer this?
• How does your life reflect this belief?
• What does this say about the sin in your life? About your view of the extent of God’s grace for you?

 

REJECTED PROPHET (v23-30)

READ: Luke 4:23-30 (again)

QUESTION: What changed in the crowd?

• Why did they at first like what Jesus said?
• What might have caused them to become angry with Jesus?
• What motivated Jesus to tell them this?
• Have you considered: in the problems you face in your life, you are the most common denominator? Have you ever thought: ‘I might be the biggest problem in my own life’?
• How well do you take constructive criticism? How “teachable” are you?
• Share about a time when a brother or sister in Christ confronted you on something in your life.
  • How did you respond? What has been different since then?

 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Stu had mentioned some of our most common obstacles to faith:

Proximity (antidote: Perspective on how desperate we are for God’s grace)

Being familiar with Christianity can often lead us to assuming and taking for granted the gospel.

 

Pride (antidote: Humility)

Our unchecked belief that we are the source of the good in our lives.

 

Power (antidote: Poverty)

Viewing our ability to sustain and bring life apart from God. Overconfidence in our own goodness and self-sufficiency.

 

Fear (antidote: Faith)

Jesus makes great demands on our life in response to belief in him. Our fear can keep us from making the sacrifices necessary to follow Him.

 

Discuss the following in light of these things above and find one action step to take this week to push back against your tendencies:

 

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

Pray for each person’s obstacle to their faith. Check in with each other this week to see what you are doing to intentionally remove those obstacles.