Scripture: Mark 12:38-13:2
As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Questions
What is your earliest memory of “church?”
When you hear “church” what word(s) come to mind?
Where in your life do you feel drained, or devoured like the widow here?
Have you ever been in a situation or time of your life where you felt invisible, where you felt like nobody cared?
What should our response be to the “widows” in our midst?
What value comes from “being seen” as Lucas was talking about?
B-Sides
Scripture: Luke 10:25-28
25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.[j] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And Jesus said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
Questions
Describe your relationship to the Bible in a sentence or two.
What is your favorite bible story? What is your least favorite?
What questions do you have about the Bible?
Is there a particular character in the Bible who you have always related to?
Have you ever seen, experienced, or used the Bible as a weapon to harm others?
Are there any parts of Lucas’ sermon that you disagree with? What do you think can be gained by discussing the bible from different perspectives?
Lucas asked two questions in his sermon, What is the Bible, and What shall we do with it. How would you answer these questions?
B-sides
Scripture: Mark 1:1
“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Questions
What “titles” do you or have you gone by? What do certain titles reveal about yourself and what do they leave out?
What titles do you initially give Jesus? (Optional Activity)
Dawn talks about the “three C’s” of Christ. Christ challenges, Christ comforts, and Christ is our companion. Which do you feel most drawn to, and why?
What stories of your own life remind you of Jesus as a comforter? A challenger? A companion?
Theologian Jurgen Moltmann often argued that we can see Jesus in the presence of a friend or stranger. Have you ever experienced this?
What questions do you still have about Jesus?
Activity:
Take a sheet of paper. Write “Jesus” in the middle. Take a few quiet minutes to write any words, descriptions, stories, titles down that come to mind. Share with the group.