No Vacancy (Part 4: “Uncomfortable Knocks”)
Welcome to our Advent and Christmas series, No Vacancy. Through this series, we will be seeking together to make room in our hearts and lives for our Savior this season.
For this series, we will begin our Primer Podcasts with the monologue from each Sunday’s service. If you missed Sunday, we encourage you to watch it below before beginning your group discussion!
Monologue Minute: How did this week’s monologue challenge you? If you feel comfortable sharing, who are the “Samaritans” for you? In other words, who—despite God’s love for them— would you rather avoid?
Ice Breaker: What are some “Christmas controversies” you have been drawn into? For example, how do you feel about eggnog? Fruitcake?
Read Luke 9:46-48.
1.In the time of Jesus, children were the least valued members of society. Who might that be in our society? What would it look like to truly welcome these “least among us” today?
Read Luke 9:51-56.
2. It’s tough to think of an equivalent today for the level of dissension between the Jewish people of Jesus’ time and the Samaritans—yet Jesus rebukes James and John for seeking retribution. Why is it so hard for us to follow the way of Jesus and not the instinct of James and John?
3. How does humility come into play here?
4. In what areas do you most need humility?
Read Luke 9:57-62.
5. Discuss your initial thoughts about this passage.
Then, read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
6. How might following Paul’s example of “becoming like _________” shine a different light on this passage?
7. How would Paul’s example work on a practical level for you today? What are some challenges here?
Going Deeper: This week, sit with the following questions Pete proposed as a response to God’s uncomfortable knocks:
Is my faith big enough for a God who doesn’t fit my expectation?
Am I able to see the image of God in “the least of these”—even when it is obscured by the brokenness of the world?
(*Video available after Sunday services)
