The Sermon on the Plain Four Studies on Jesus teaching in Luke 6:17-49 (With Bonus Study on Knowing God) By Geoff Gertzen St Stephens Bible Church Resources Aug 2013 1 | P a g e Contents Introduction .................................................................................... 3 ...................................................................... 4 Read ........................................................................................... 4 Think .......................................................................................... 7 Pray ............................................................................................ 8 .......................................................... 9 Read ........................................................................................... 9 Think ........................................................................................ 12 Pray .......................................................................................... 13 ........................................................... 14 Read ......................................................................................... 14 Think ........................................................................................ 16 Pray .......................................................................................... 18 ................................................................... 19 Read ......................................................................................... 19 Think ........................................................................................ 21 Pray .......................................................................................... 22 .................................................................. 23 Think ........................................................................................ 24 Pray .......................................................................................... 24 2 | P a g e Introduction Jesus’ ethics are absolutely radical! So often we water them down into a softer and more palatable form which ends up looking a lot like our culture (and us). Prepare yourself to be challenged afresh by Jesus as we listen to a sermon that he preached. Prepare to have your heart examined and exposed. What a joy to have that done by such a loving surgeon. I have added an additional systematic study on the immensity of the God we worship. My prayer is that you may know him, love him and treasure him more. There are two types of questions in these studies. The answers to the numbered questions you will find directly in the text. Those questions numbered with alphanumerical characters are designed to get you to think about the personal application of the text for yourself. Blessings Geoff Gertzen 2013 3 | P a g e Read Luke 6:17-26 Write a summary of Luke 6:20-26 in your own words 1. Where are we in Luke’s gospel? What has just happened? Where do you think Jesus is? 4 | P a g e 2. This sermon (Sermon on the Plain) bears a strong resemblance to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Do you think Luke has recorded the same event or a different one? Why? Discuss and evaluate some options (at least 3). 3. Describe the scene that gives rise to this sermon (v17)? What was the crowd expecting (v18,19)? Who does Jesus preach the sermon to (v20)? Is that a surprise? 4. What does the word blessing mean? 5 | P a g e 5. Who are the blessed according to Jesus? Why? What causes the poverty, hunger, weeping and insult (v20-22)? 6. Who are the woe-filled (unblessed)? 7. Complete the following table Blessing Woe V20 V21a V21b V22 V23 6 | P a g e Think a. Are you rich or poor, hungry or full, weeping or laughing? Discuss what this means? Divide your discussion into primary meaning and secondary meaning. Discuss any practical steps you might need to take. b. What (secret) attitude do you need to identify in our community? Do you need to personally repent of this? c. What fundamental truth do you need to believe? d. In the light of this passage what action do you need to take today? Will you? 7 | P a g e e. How do these verses motivate radical generosity? Are you radically generous? What could you change? f. How do you think we bluff ourselves with respect to eternity? g. What should our expectations of the real Christian life be? How is this different from what is portrayed in ‘Prosperity, Victorious Christianity’? Pray Write a prayer from this passage and then pray it together. 8 | P a g e Read Luke 6:27-36 Write a summary of Luke 6:27-36 in your own words 9 | P a g e 1. Fill in the following table listing the 9 commands from Jesus to his disciples (v27-31). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 2. What has v31 been called? How does this summarise everything that has been said? 10 | P a g e 3. What do sinners (even) do (v32-34)? 4. What (3) motivations does Jesus give for this radical behaviour (v35,36)? 5. What is Jesus most concerned about? What attitude is he calling us to (v36)? 11 | P a g e Think a. Discuss Jesus shaped attitudes and behaviour in the following situations a. A beggar knocks at the gate asking for food (think hard about this!). b. A colleague at work takes credit for an idea that was yours. c. A friend in your Life Group says something that hurts you. d. A person mocks you for your dress sense. 12 | P a g e e. Your wife or husband says something rude and hurtful to you. f. Your home is broken into, goods are stolen and the thieves make a mess in your house. g. A friend borrows some tools and doesn’t return them. Pray List some people that have hurt you and then pray for them. List some hurts that you are finding hard to release and bring them to God. 13 | P a g e Read Luke 6:37-42 Draw a scatter diagram summarising Luke 6:37-42. You should have at least 6 arms to your diagram 14 | P a g e 1. What does Jesus say about judgement and condemnation (v37)? Why? 2. What does Jesus say about forgiveness and giving (v38)? Why? 3. What do you think Jesus means when he says that the blind cannot lead the blind (v39)? 15 | P a g e 4. What do you think Jesus means when he says that a student is not above his teacher (v40)? 5. What does Jesus say about judging other people’s sin (v41,42)? What does he call his followers to do instead (v42)? Think a. Discuss Jesus shaped behaviour in the following situations a. Two mothers are waiting for their children after school when they start to talk about another mother. b. Two teenagers are discussing another teenager’s ‘uncool’ clothes. c. A man drives a small, unfashionable car. 16 | P a g e d. Some people in your church choose to send their children to a school you regard as inferior. e. You receive an unexpected sum of money. f. You try to pray a prayer of confession but can’t think of anything that you recently did wrong. g. You notice your spouse’s sin. 17 | P a g e Pray List some occasions when you have judged or condemned someone else. Ask God to forgive you. Ask him to change you. Ask God to help you to recognise the occasions when you are tempted to judge or condemn others. List some times when you have been mean or self-indulgent with your money. Ask God to forgive you. Ask him to help you make some changes in the way you think about money. List some times when you have been judgemental and hypocritical to those closest to you. Ask God to forgive you and change you. Ask him to help you recognise when this is happening in your heart. 18 | P a g e Read Luke 6:43-49 Rewrite 6:43-49 in your own words. 19 | P a g e 1. What does Jesus say is the only way to assess a person’s heart (v43)? What does a person’s heart produce in their lives (v45)? What do you think this looks like? 2. What is the connection between heart and mouth (v45)? 3. What two expectations does Jesus have of those that follow him (v46)? 4. What gain is there in building your life on the words of Jesus (v47-49)? What loss is there in not building your life on the words of Jesus? 20 | P a g e Think a. What is your heart like? b. What words come out of your mouth? List some words that have come out of your mouth today and your attitude to them. Do you notice them? Discuss some practical ways in which you manage to guard your mouth. c. How can you build your life on the words of Jesus? What does this practically look like? 21 | P a g e d. Discuss one area of personal change as a result of this study. Commit to pray for each other regarding this area. Pray Write a prayer in which you acknowledge the wickedness of your own heart; the sin of your words; your lack of fruit and your faithlessness in building your life on God’s Word. Ask God to change you. 22 | P a g e Theologians use the following words to describe God. Find one verse in the Bible for each term. Creator Sustainer One Trinity Infinite Eternal Omnipotent Omnipresent Omniscient Unchangeable Spirit Life 23 | P a g e Speaking (not mute) Holy Good Truth Love Gracious and merciful Think Divide these terms under the headings “God’s Greatness” and “God’s Goodness”. How do these terms help us in our understanding and worship of God? Pray Write a prayer in which you worship God for his greatness and goodness. 24 | P a g e .