This week, in our devotionals, we are focussing on Luke 11:29-32. Today, we reflect on how listening to Jesus is, for the Christian, their most valued source of learning.
‘The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.’ (Luke 11:31-32)
Lesson: The sources of our learning reveal whom we worship and the condition of our hearts.
You can listen to this devotional at:
If you were to go onto the internet, you would find many very popular podcasters, Youtube channels, Instagram ‘influencers’… People give their time and attention to those they think are worthy in some way. I wonder who you give your attention to? Who do you listen to and learn from? Jesus, in this section of Luke, challenges many of the people of His day who would not listen to Him. He is their promised Messiah, but they will not listen. He condemns them because although they are God’s people and had His promises regarding the coming of The Messiah, they are not prepared to receive Jesus - The Messiah and Son of God - because it would challenge and inconvenience them.
Jesus compares their bad attitude to the example of ‘The Queen of the south’ (The Queen of Sheba of 1 Kings 10:1-13) and ‘The men of Nineveh’ who, although not a part of God’s people, they listened to God; The Queen of Sheba travelled from modern-day Yemen to meet Solomon and hear him; the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah. Jesus tells them that ‘something greater than Solomon is here’, and ‘something greater than Jonah is here’; If the people at that time listened to Solomon and Jonah, how much more should they, and we, listen to Jesus over anyone else that we may give our time and attention to!
Response
A plant or tree will put its roots out toward a water source. By nature, a plant will seek what will sustain it. A dead tree has no desire for water. It won’t put its roots out toward fresh water. To what or to whom are our ’roots’ stretching? The sources of our learning reveal whom we worship and the condition of our hearts.
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
This week is ‘SIV’ Week. During our time together, let’s give more focus to how we are bringing our community to Jesus through Serving, inVesting and inViting.
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that the members of your group are aware and familiar with using the daily devotionals, which are accessed in Church News, the Teaching button on the website and are now available on the major podcast platforms.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message from our series in Luke on Sunday, based upon Jesus’ teaching from Luke 11:29-32. Here, in response to opposition and requests for Jesus to prove Himself by given them more signs, He responds by telling them that they will be given the ‘sign of Jonah’.
Please read Luke 11:29-32, and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What is meant by ‘The sign of Jonah’ (See also Matthew 12:39-41)?
We are to continue to share about ‘the sign of Jonah’ with our community; why should this be the focal point when sharing our faith (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)?
Why does Jesus use the response of ‘The Queen of the South (Sheba)’ and that of the Ninevites in order to shame the religious leaders, whom He terms ‘This wicked generation’?
Jesus shows how the Queen of Sheba and the those of Nineveh respond to the words of Solomon and Jonah. Jesus then compares Himself to these characters as ‘something greater…is here’. Through this, how does Jesus expect us to respond to His Word?
SIV - What three different responses to God do we get in this passage, and what does this say about how people will respond to us?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV; and pray for anything else that's come out of our time in God’s Word.
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