Luke 4:21-32

The gospel reading continues the reading from last week. The emphasis on Jesus as the one upon whom the Spirit has come now shifts to the shifting responses of the people. Why the initial positive response from his townfolk? What do they seem to expect from Jesus by calling him "Joseph's son"? How does this relate to the Isaiah passage?

Jesus shifts the focus, letting the people know that in accordance with the OT, his mission is for all, not merely his own village folk. The widow and Namaan are not Jews, are not part of Israel; they are "gentile sinners" to use Paul's phrase. Why would Jesus' reference to these stories upset them so? What is Jesus tearing down? What would be the reason for tearing this down? What do they hope to accomplish by pushing Jesus off the cliff? What is the significance of him walking away unscathed to continue teaching in a synagogue? How has the Isaiah passage been fulfilled "that day"?

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Given the gospel reading, we can easily hear how the Jeremiah passage witnesses to Jesus Christ. JThe call of Jeremiah becomes a type, a foreshadowing of Jesus's mission. Jesus receives his role as prophet to the nations. The instruction is to be obedient -- why is the command to obedience combined with the message not to be afraid "of them". Who is the "them"? How is it that Jesus is appointed over nations and kingdoms? What is his role?
What is the function of the negative role? Why is it first? Is the negative an end in itself? How does the negative relate to the positive? How does Jesus through the Spirit do this in our lives? How does the formation of our lives as "the body of Christ and individually members of it" depend on Christ's ability to tear down and build up in each of our lives?

1 Corinthians 14:12b-20

We continual reading about the body of Christ, the purpose of the spiritual gifts. Look over chapters 11-14. Notice that Paul, well aware of the disunity in the Corinthian controversy, implores them not to abandon the Lord's Supper, but to live out what is taking place there even with the disunity of the congregation. Notice how chapter 12 and 13 follow chapter 11, and how he is moving towards a conclusion here. Given this, what is the function of the spiritual gifts? What is the major responsibility of each member of the congregation with their individual gifts and concerns? What does it mean to "build up the church"? How does this relate to not being children, but adults, as Paul implores? How does this relate to the Jeremiah passage, what needs torn down so that building can take place?

Given these passages, maybe you can end the study by discussing what are concrete, specific ways that we "build up the congregation"? How important is it to "build up the congregation" as a prerequisite for engaging in the mission of Jesus as described in Luke 4? What responsibility do each bear to uphold the building up of the body?

Have a wonderful evening!