Session 9: Luke Chapters 17-18 Stories of Faith

This 12-session study looks at the heart of Jesus for all people, as seen in the book of Luke. It is in Luke’s gospel that we see the breadth of Jesus’ ministry to reach all people, to bring all into his arms and show them his heart for them personally. Since Christ and the Father are one (John 10:30), Luke provides the opportunity to see for ourselves how God interacts with his beloved, how he showers his beloved with goodness and mercy all of our days (Ps 23:6). And the good news is that you are his beloved! He delights in you (Zeph 3:17)!

This post is the first part of session nine of the study, with each session opening with warm-up introductory questions, going on to a reading from Luke and questions related to the passage. Then the study goes to the comparative or referenced Old Testament passages found in the assigned reading with accompanying questions. Each study session ends with considerations for personal application. The study is appropriate for individual or small group application. Feel free to share the response to an application question or just comment on the study itself below.

Introduction

Mark your level of faith (high, average, low) in the following characteristics of God: forgiveness, healing, goodness, justice, faithfulness, protection

What blessings have you received from the Lord? How do you usually thank him for these?

We often talk about believing in God, but not about dissecting our doubts. For example, the answers to the ranking above might change when we consider if I believe God will heal others versus God will heal me, protect others or protect me, and so on. It is good to wrestle with questions like these – blind faith is one with no foundation. As believers, we need to know who we believe in and what he is like through knowledge of scripture and his character and by walking with him daily.

Read Luke chapters 17 and 18.

Questions

List the things that make people stumble according to verses 1-10 of Luke 17.

How does Luke 17:11-19 illustrate faith and hope?

In Luke 17:19 and 18:42, Jesus said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Faith healed these two men; what healed the other 9?

How does the healing of ten men, without touching them and seemingly simultaneously say of God’s healing power?

What is the sequence of the coming of the kingdom of God according to Luke 17:20-37? Are you part of his kingdom or will you be?

What does faith have to do with prayer, as described in Luke 18:1-8? What does it have to do with justice?

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector describes the exalted and the humble. How is this characteristic of the heart demonstrated in the characters’ actions?

Ponder how children ‘receive things’, as Jesus calls it (Luke 18:15-17). Describe the traits that a person should have to receive the kingdom of God.

In Luke 18:18-25, which of the commandments has the man broken?