| The sermon this weekend, October 3-4 will be on Luke 8:1-5. The reading assignment in Luke for Everyone can be found on pages 92-95. The questions below are to be used for your small group meeting that relates to this sermon.
1. How is God changing your life?
2. Talk about a person you know who consistently put what they learn into practice. What have been the results? Can you think of people who don’t do what they know? What has been the affect?
OBSERVE
3. What do you notice about the people traveling with Jesus? What does this say about his ministry?
4. Why do you think Jesus often taught through parables? What does Jesus mean when he says; “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” ?
5. How would Jesus’ explanation of the parable help the disciples better understand what is happening in his ministry? How would it challenge each of them?
REFLECT
6. Think about your faith journey. Have there been times and seasons when your response to Jesus has been more reflective of the hard path, rocky or thorny soils?
During those times, who or what helped you become more receptive – more like the good soil?
7. How would you evaluate the condition of your ‘soil’ today?
8. Consider the ‘graciousness’ of the sower in this parable. The seed is thrown across all soils, regardless of their ready-ness. What does this tell you about the character of God? How does this understanding help you see people differently?
ACT
9. What is your next step in following Jesus? Remember these words of encouragement:
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who
hear the Word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:15
10. Who could you help take their next step in following Jesus? Think of a person who at one time was responding more faithfully to God – encourage and come along side of them!
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