I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline and questions for our meeting on October 30, 2010. Thomas Road started a new church wide series entitled "Live Like You Were Dying." The staff at TRBC provided teachers topics and notes for each lesson for the next few weeks (this is our third week). I used the notes they provided and tweaked them a bit to fit our particular group. The result are the notes below entitled "Love Deeper: Following Jesus' Example" and looking at Luke 13:10-16. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!
Love Deeper
Following Jesus’ Example
Luke 13:10-16
Live Like You Were Dying Series
Introduction
We are in the middle of our series “Live Like You Were Dying”
The first week we focused on our need for God and his love in order to be champions for Christ
The second week we discussed how to treat others by “speaking sweeter”
This week we will consider how to love deeper
How did your week go? Did you get many chances to “speak sweeter” to others?
This week, we want to challenge you to be a radical dispenser of God’s love to others.
Discussion Question: what is the most radical, extravagant expression of love you have ever received?
Can you imagine what would happen if just the people in this class really began to love with abandon? What if we got unleashed to start demonstrating bold, reckless, God-like love to those around us?
1 John 4:7-8
If a person is born of God, then they should express his love. According to this passage in 1 John, if your life is devoid of love or if you have little or no compassion for people, then your faith is probably fiction.
Augustine is credited as saying: “Love slays what we have been that we may be what we were not.”
Love changes things. It takes sinful people and by the blood of Jesus and the love of God makes them saints. Love slays the past and changes the future.
Love is a verification and validation of your faith, and it is the sign of a growing faith. It’s not knowledge, or a change in habits, or how many times you come to church in a month. The best indicator of spiritual growth is an ever-increasing love.
Our passage today gives an indication of how Jesus loved on people
Luke 13:10-16
To love deeper, we must follow Jesus’ example
1. We must see others
2. We must engage others
3. We must reach out to others
4. We must persevere even when criticized
5. We must seize the moments God sends us
1. See Others
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, just another preaching event in the life of a traveling preacher. The crowd was into the sermon, and as Jesus looked at them he noticed one special person: A woman who was bent over and couldn’t stand up. Luke 13:16 tells us that a demon had caused her problem
Notice the important word in Luke 13:12—Jesus “saw” the woman—he noticed her
Jesus locked his eyes on this poor woman and had compassion for her
One of the unique aspects of Christianity is the idea that God notices us—the God of all creation pays attention to us
This is an amazing idea when you think about it
God has numbered the hairs on our head (Matt. 10:30—but that doesn’t mean he’ll replace the missing ones!)
Matthew 9:36—Jesus looks with compassion on others
Two things to recognize here
a. People want to be noticed, they want attention
b. To notice others may require us to slow down
Attention is one of the most powerful forces in the world (i.e., attunement for babies)
People want our undivided attention
They want us to show interest
Everyday we pass people who simply want to be noticed, to be acknowledged
They are bent over, even crippled by a lack of compassion or notice, and they are waiting for a friendly face
To see them we must slow down
If someone was standing on the side of the road, would you notice them more if you were driving by or if you walked by them? The speed of our lives causes us to miss many people who God wants us to notice.
This week, take time to notice people
Take the time to look people in the eye, notice them, encourage them
Slow down enough to spend some time reading the Bible to see how Jesus treats people and ask his Spirit to help you to treat others that way
To love deeper, we must first see others as God sees them
Once we’ve noticed people, we need then to take a risk in engaging them
2. Engage Others
Luke 13 tells us that Jesus didn’t just “see” the woman, he took the risk to engage her and her need
Jesus spoke to her in the synagogue (something taboo in the first century—an unattached male speaking to a woman that is not his family member)
He called her over to himself and healed her
Jesus demonstrated bold and reckless behavior to show compassion to this woman
Sometimes love requires bold action in its expression
C.S. Lewis said “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one.” The Four Loves
Our culture encourages us to disengage, to remain isolated, and to plug into the internet instead. Stay out of touch! Who knows what might happen if you get involved?
The truth is, entering into other people’s lives or experiences is messy
But we are commanded to love: Matthew 5:46-47
We don’t have to do it all perfectly, but we must show up. We must take the risk, take the initiative and get involved in spreading grace to others. (2 Cor. 5:14-15)
How can we engage others in love? Where do we need to take a risk?
Make some time this week to listen to someone’s story or find a place to bless someone
To love deeper, we must take the risk to engage others
3. Reach Out to Others
Most of all, love gives and reaches out. Giving is how love expresses itself. Everyone you meet is made in the image of God. You never lock eyes with another person that doesn’t matter to God.
Jesus notices this poor woman, he engages her, and now he reaches out to her
Luke 13:13 says he laid his hands on her and healed her
He stepped outside of the “comfort zone” of his society and ministered to her need
Notice how Jesus reached out to this woman
a. By the words he spoke
In verse 16, Jesus refers to her as a “daughter of Abraham”. He doesn’t see her as an elderly, crippled, woman. He sees her as a child of the great patriarch of the Jewish people.
Our words can heal or destroy (remember last week?)
b. By his touch
Everyone needs some touch.
Luke 5:12-16—Jesus heals a leper—he actually “touches” him!
All people need human touch. Studies have been conducted showing that people who experience meaningful touch on a regular basis actually have a longer life expectancy.
This week, hand out some hugs, a gentle touch, or some kind words
To love deeper, we must reach out to others
4. Expect Criticism/Resistance
Notice the reaction of the synagogue official in verse 14. An amazing miracle has happened in his church service, and instead of rejoicing in the amazing mercy shown to this woman, this official gets upset that his “order of worship” was overlooked
Where the synagogue official saw a policy issue, Jesus saw a person. What you will notice in the Bible is that Jesus showed incredible patience and grace to those who were broken and seeking. However, he had little patience with pompous, self-righteous religion that cared nothing for people or their needs. Jesus received criticism for his kindness and for hanging out with the “wrong kind” of people. (Luke 7:34)
In spite of the criticism, Jesus continued to love on others. He refused to stop.
When we decide to follow Jesus as his disciples, we may well find ourselves doing things that others will criticize.
If we are doing the works of Christ, however, we should keep it up and love even those who criticize or persecute us (Matt. 5:43-45)
To love deeper, we must be persevere
5. Seize the Day
In this passage, Jesus finds himself involved in a normal Sabbath activity—he was in the synagogue and he was teaching. He did not let the mundane or normal activity keep him from looking for opportunities. In the midst of the “usual,” Jesus looked for a moment to do something unusual. He seized the moment that God provided.
1 John 3:18 and 1 Thess. 3:12
Let’s take advantage of the moments God gives us
To love deeper, we must look for opportunity
This week, in the midst of your normal activities, do these things
a. Look around and see what is happening—look for the need
b. Take a chance, risk engaging others with God’s love and grace
c. Reach out and touch those who need it
d. Ignore the critics
e. Seize the day
Discussion Questions
In what ways were you “crippled” by your life and sin? How did Jesus heal you?
Describe a time when extravagant love overwhelmed your life. How did you respond? How did it make you feel? What was the impact of this love?
Describe a time when someone took a risk and touched your life.
Who in your life is “bent over” or “crippled” by circumstances or Satan? How can you bring the grace of Jesus into that situation?
What is your routine? Who are some of the people you see on a regular basis? How can you engage them and touch them with the love of Christ?
What can you do or say this week that will show the love of God to another?
Will you risk it?
Thanks for reading!
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