LUKE - WEEK 15

Leaders Note:
This week’s passage covers four scenes in which Jesus interacts with his disciples and reveals areas of their failure, feel free to spend more time on one or two of them and less on the others depending on what you feel would be most helpful for your group.

Scene 1 – Failure of Faith (Read v. 37–43a)

(See Chapter 9v1 for context of Disciples being sent out with authority to cast out demons)

  1. What do you notice about the father’s plea and the disciples’ failure in this story?

  2. What does Jesus’ response (“O faithless and twisted generation”) show about the nature of of their failure?

  3. How have you experienced the tension of their being elements of unbelief / faithlessness even in the midst of your discipleship to Jesus?

Scene 2 – Failure of Understanding (Read v. 43b–45)

  1. Jesus tells the disciples something important, but they don’t understand — and don’t ask. Why might they have been afraid to ask?

  2. Why might have understanding Jesus’ meaning here come as a shock/ challenge/ discouragement for the disciples?

  3. Are there things you avoid asking God about because you fear the answer?

Scene 3 – Failure of Pride (Read v. 46–48)

  1. What does the disciples’ argument reveal about how they view success in following Jesus?

  2. What does Jesus teach by using a child as an example?

  3. In what areas of life do you feel most tempted to compete, compare, or prove your greatness?

Scene 4 – Failure of Tribalism (Read v. 49–50)

  1. Why do you think John was bothered by someone casting out demons who wasn’t “one of them”?

  2. Can you think of times when Christians have acted more concerned with control or their own status than with the mission of Jesus?

  3. How can we cultivate a kingdom mindset that rejoices in God’s work — even when it’s outside our circle?

Read v 51

  1. Which of these four “failures” do you most relate to right now — and why?

  2. How does Jesus respond to all this failure in v. 51? What does it tell us about his heart?

  3. What difference does it make to know that Jesus doesn’t abandon failing disciples — but sets his face toward the cross for them?


Pray