Read 1 Peter 1:1-9

1) How would you describe your hope? Is your hope alive? If not, how has the weight of the world, the altering of your routines, or the fear of the unknown caused your hope to suffer?

2) Describe a time when your hope seemed dead or badly damaged at least. In what way did Jesus restore you and use you to do the very things that HE had called you to do?

3) Peter reminded his listeners that this world isn’t home; that earth and all its troubles and trials and temptations were temporary. How do you find hope in remembering or realizing that we were created for a life beyond….one with no sickness, no sorrow no struggle or sin?

4) Sometimes when we look at our lives, it becomes all too easy to find the things that are wrong with it. What are some things that are going absolutely RIGHT with your life? How can you use your situation to be an encouragement to others?

5) In the teaching, Virgil said that “We can allow our trials to become Lord over us, when we should be allowing Jesus to be Lord over our trials.” What are practical steps we can take to allow Jesus to be Lord over our trials?

In preparation for today's questions, read Luke 24:1-34.

1) What was one thing that stood out about this week's message?

2) Read 1 Corinthians 15:13-20. If Jesus conquered death, how does that change how His life impact yours?

3) In Luke 24:17-24, we see that followers of Jesus have become doubters of what He had said. Is there a time in your life, (maybe now), when your disappointment spoke louder than the words and promises of Christ? What was that time in your life like?

4) In Luke 24:25-27, Jesus (unbeknownst to his two followers) points out that the entirety of scripture points to His life, death, and resurrection. With others, spend some time searching for some Old Testament scriptures or prophecies that are about Christ.

5) Read Romans 8:35-39, 1 Peter 1:3-7, and 2 Corinthians 4:8-12. Of these three verses, which encourages you the most to understand how Christ's resurrection can impact the disappointments you may be experiencing now?

1) What is one thing that stood out to you about this week's message?

2) In Luke 23:1-2, the Jews, who long-awaited a Savior, put Jesus on trial, thinking He wasn't who they had waited on. They had Jesus in their midst, but they missed who He was and what He was trying to do in their life. Is there an area of your life that you are not letting Jesus into? What would it look like to allow Jesus’ power in that area?

3) In Luke 23:34, we see Jesus loving those who are persecuting Him. How hard do you find it to love and forgive those who hurt you? What could that forgiveness do for your life?

4) The first criminal hanging next to Jesus demanded proof of Jesus' power. How have you seen evidence of Jesus' power at work in your life?

5) In Luke 23:40-43, the second criminal reveals his faith in Jesus and, in turn, Jesus tells the criminal that he will be with Him in paradise. Grace, through faith, saved him! Who is someone outside of faith in Jesus that you can be praying for and being more intentional with?

Read Luke 19:1-10

1) If Jesus showed up and invited Himself to your house, what would your response be?

2) The people (fellow Jews) complained that Jesus had gone to the home of a “Notorious Sinner”. Are you ever guilty of seeing someone else’s sins as “worse” than yours? What does Jesus’ visit to Zacchaeus tell us about that?

3) Is there anyone you have hurt in the past that you have not made things right with? If so, what steps do you need to take in order to make amends?

4) Have you ever experienced making amends with another person? Or have had another person make amends with you? Describe that experience.

5) Read 2 John 1:5-6. Would you rather live your life by a list of laws, or by the desires of love? How would your life’s actions and attitudes change if you were ruled by love?

6) When Jesus inserts himself into our lives, it’s not because He wants something from us, but because He has something for us - He came to save us…to give us new life…and an eternity with Him. How can knowing this truth help us in our day to day lives?

In preparation for this week's questions, read Luke 16:19-31.

1) What is one thing that stood out about this week's message?

2) A recent Pew Research study found that 72% of Americans believe in Heaven, but only 58% believe in Hell. What do you think? Why?

3) In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, it’s believed that the wealthy would inherit Heaven and the poor were destined for Hell. What are some other misconceptions about Heaven and Hell that you hear of in popular culture?

4) Read Matthew 25:31-46. What is/are the difference(s) between the two groups Jesus describes? What action does this call us to?

5) How would you explain the truth of John 14:6 to someone who has never heard about the life of Christ?

As a recap of the text we covered on Sunday, read all of Luke 15.

1) What was one thing that stood out about this week's message?

2) In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables that reveal God's love for those that are lost, then found. For those who have never wandered, it can be challenging to wrestle with the reality that Heaven rejoices more over those who are lost, then found than those who are not currently wandering at all. What does this reveal about God's character?

3) In Luke 15:20, the son decides to return home, and when he does, he finds that the father is running towards him and then presents him with a handful of gifts. How has God run towards you despite the ways that you have sinned or wandered?

4) Although the father was pleased to see his son return, the other son who had not wandered is frustrated at the grace, love, and mercy that his brother received. In light of the brother's response, do you know of anyone wandering that you can reach out to show love to?

5) How can we pray for you?

1) How should the parable from Luke 11:5-10 be a model for our own prayer lives?

2) Read Luke 11:9-10. The term “asking” is obvious, but what does “seeking” and “asking” look like if we apply them to our lives?

3) Is there something you’ve been asking God for for a long time? Is there something that you’ve lost heart about in your asking?

4) Ben mentioned that the two parables give the same message: persistence in prayer. Why do you think Jesus stresses persistence, and how does persistent prayer build our faith?

5) What does what we’ve learned in these parables tell us about God?

Read Luke 17:11-19

1) Do you remember a time when you felt like a spiritual outsider; far from God and the love of his people? What changed that allowed you to experience “belonging” to God and His family?

2) Why do you think Jesus didn’t heal the lepers immediately? How does that help you accept the fact that God does not always fix all of our problems, struggles, or addictions instantly?

3) Are there people you have intentionally or unintentionally kept on the “outside” because of their nationality, race, religion, or sins? How do the lessons from the lepers cause you to see them differently?

4) It’s easy to receive God’s goodness in times of desperation or need - sometimes it’s hard to live a life of thankfulness afterwards. What stands in your way of being continually grateful for all He’s done? Take some time to thank Him.

5) Read Acts 1:1-11 (for context) then re-read Acts 1:8. Jesus commands His disciples to take His good news even to Samaria, possibly the last place they want to go. We are also called to share His news to the whole world. Where is your Samaria? Why are you reluctant to cross that border?

In preparation for today's questions, read Luke 18:1-8.

1) What stood out to you about this week's message?

2) What does the Parable of the Persistent Widow teach us about our prayer life?

3) Read Isaiah 59:1. How can this scripture be an encouragement to prayer?

4) Read Psalm 147:11. How does it feel that God delights in hearing from you?

Read Luke 2:1-20

1) Think of a time in your life that you were completely caught off guard by a surprise - either good or bad. How did you react or respond to it?

2) The introduction of Jesus into the world was probably not the way any of us would have ever planned it. What are some things we can learn by the unexpected events of the Christmas story?

3) Just as in the Christmas story, God was continually showing up in the unexpected; He is constantly and continually showing up in the unexpected in our lives. How can we make it a habit of recognizing those moments?

4) God will show up in times that we don’t expect Him.
God will show up in places we don’t expect Him.
God will show up with people we don’t expect Him to.
God will show up in ways we don’t expect Him to.
How have you seen these statements to be true in your life?

5) Will you commit to reading through the book of Luke twice during this summer teaching series? If so, find someone in your group or family and ask them to hold you accountable.