Luke 13:22-30
Lead in: In using the image of the narrow gate Jesus tells us, “Many will try to enter but will not be able to do so.” And they will say, “But Lord, we ate and drank with you!” And he will say, “I do not know where you are from.” So, how do we enter the Kingdom? Being a disciple means more than just hanging out with Jesus. It means the willingness to come to know Jesus intimately and die with him daily.
Prompt: On a scale of one to ten, with one being “just hanging out with Jesus” and ten being a
willingness to risk coming to know Jesus intimately and die with him daily, where are you on the scale these days? What number would you give yourself?
Lead in: The question is asked of Jesus, “Will only a few people be saved?” Implied in that question are two more questions, “Who will be saved?” and “How many will be saved?” Jesus gives no clear response to these questions. Instead, he talks about the challenge of discipleship. It’s not going to be easy. Jesus knew that firsthand. It would have been so easy to head back to Galilee. Things were safer there. But he kept on the road to Jerusalem, the place where he was to die.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you resisted taking the easy way out and stuck with the path you knew you must take.
Lead in: If we listen to scripture closely, there are seeming discrepancies. How is it that Jesus can say in Luke 11, “Knock and the door will be opened,” yet in Luke 13 he indicates for some the door will not be opened.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you knocked but the door wasn’t opened for you the way you had hoped it would be. What questions arose for you when that happened?
Lead in: Is God’s saving love offered to all or only a chosen few? Throughout the centuries, different religions have given different interpretations to that question. The Book of Isaiah makes it clear that God’s saving love is for all. Later, Jesus affirms this when he says to his disciples, “Go out to all the world and proclaim the Good News.” Mark 16:15
Prompt: How does the inclusivity of Jesus’ compassion, which includes all, correspond to your love and compassion for people unlike yourself?
Lead in: The Letter to the Hebrews was written for people who were losing hope with their faith shaken. The author offers encouraging words to people who needed it.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when encouraging words helped you when you needed them the most.