Discussion Questions:

Week of: May 11, 2025 // Sermon Text: Luke 9:28-36

Sermon Overview

Because Jesus is God's saving Son, believe and obey his words above all.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 9:28-36

Exploring the Passage

1. Throughout the book of Luke, the question “Who is this (Jesus)?” has been asked repeatedly. In the passage today, we read an answer. Who answers, and how does he answer?

2. What happens in v. 29? Why is it important?

3. What do Moses and Elijah (v.30) represent? Why is this significant?

4. In verse 31, the word “departure” could be translated “exodus.” What gets highlighted in seeing Jesus’ saving work as a new exodus?

On Momentary Spiritual Highs

5. The mountaintop experience of seeing Jesus transfigured was meant to be a temporary experience, even though Peter wanted to keep it going. Are there moments or seasons of your spiritual life you wish to get back to but may have been intended by God to be a temporary encouragement on the journey of faith?

Listening to God’s Voice

6. Who are the leading voices that occupy your attention? Think in terms of what you listen to, read, and watch.

7. How do these voices compare to the space you give to hear Jesus’ voice?

8. What are some of the indicators for you that you are listening to those other voices more than you should (more than Jesus’ voice)?

9. What would it (or does it) look like for you to make time and space to devotedly listen to God’s Son?

10. Pastor Brett encouraged us to listen to Jesus’ words about (1) who he is, (2) what he has done, (3) how to follow him, and (4) the future. In which of these areas do you most need to do more attentive listening?

11. What might it look like for you to guard the priority of Jesus’ voice above all other voices?

12. How might we help one another make Jesus’ voice the one we make it our priority to hear, trust, and obey?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Follow Jesus the suffering King into the greater gain of his kingdom.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 9:18-27.

1. Imagine Jesus standing before you today and asking, “Who do you say that I am?” How would you answer that question?

2. Jesus describes himself as the “Son of Man” in verse 26. It was a title used in the Old Testament to mean human. With that, read Daniel 7:13-14, which expands the term. Using that background, what did Jesus mean when he said he was the “Son of Man.”

3. In Luke 9:24, Jesus says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” What does it look like to lose your life for the sake of Christ?

4. What’s one area of your life where you’re more self-centered than Christ-centered?

5. How can this group encourage you to become more Christ-centered in that area?

6. Who have you seen “lose their life” for the sake of Jesus? What did (or does) that look like for them?

7. What hope does this passage give us when we feel like we’re losing out in this world because we’re following Christ?

8. In what ways would following Jesus now be unpopular or met with opposition?

9. Read Galatians 2:20 and Titus 2:11-14. How do the truths in these passages empower us to take up our cross and follow Christ?

10. The whole notion of taking up your cross and following Jesus may seem crazy to those who don’t trust in Jesus. If an unbelieving friend or family member were to ask why you’ve chosen to deny yourself and follow Christ, what would you say to them?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Jesus is able to abundantly provide for his sent and opposed followers.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 9:1-17

1. For Jesus’ disciples in this passage, what was the job he gave them to do?

2. As Jesus’ followers, we are called not only to receive the Kingdom of God, but also to proclaim it (9:2). In other words, God wants, not only to extend his grace to us, but also use us, as instruments in his hand, to extend that grace to others. How often do you think about God’s desire and purpose to use you (“send you out”) in this world? What are some of the contexts in which you believe God has sent you and wants to use you? What might intentionality in those contexts look like for you?

3. Why do you think Jesus instructed his disciples not to take anything with them (vs. 3)?

4. Opposition was part of being a disciple of Jesus (see verse 5). Have you faced opposition for being a follower of Jesus? If so, what was it like?

5. How does Jesus’ ultimate opposition at the cross transform any and all opposition we may face for him?

6. The feeding of the 5,000 is almost identical to an account of Elijah feeding a large number of people with little to start (read 2 Kings 4:42-44). What do these similar stories tell us about Jesus?

7. Among other things (like protecting and leading), good shepherds provide for their sheep (cf. Ps. 23:1-4). Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). As we have seen, miracles are signs that point beyond themselves. What does this “sign” of abundant provision (“…and they all ate and were satisfied.” v.17) tell us about who Jesus is, and about what those who trust him to be their Good Shepherd can expect from him?

8. It has been said that our hearts are “idol factories.” Sadly, we often take the good things God has created for us to enjoy and turn them into substitute / counterfeit gods; things to which we look for provision, protection, and guidance. To what extent are you aware of this propensity to create counterfeit gods in your own heart? What are some of the things that can draw your devotion or love? How might we (together) help one another put our idols to death?

9. Where in life right now are you in faith that God will provide for you?

10. What would it look like to confidently believe that God is an abundant provider?

11. How can this group be an encouragement to you as you wait on the Lord to provide?

12. Where in life right now do you sense God calling you to step out in dependence on him?

13. How can this group be an encouragement to you as you consider taking a spiritual risk?

Prayer

Sermon Overview

Jesus alone has the authority to give life, so trust him.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 8:40-56

1. The situation with Jairus’s daughter went from desperate to (seemingly) hopeless. And yet, because of who Jesus is, the one who has the authority to give life, things were not actually hopeless after all. Has there been a situation(s) in your life where you were tempted to feel that things are hopeless? How did God use that situation in your life? Please share.

2. How would you counsel a follower of Jesus who has confided in you that he or she is feeling hopeless? How might this passage, and what it reveals about Jesus, bring encouragement? What other passages or truths from God’s Word might you point them to?

3. What connection does this story have to our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?

4. This passage calls us to trust Jesus (the only one with authority to give life) to give us life. What might that sort of trust look like for us? What might be some signs that we are not trusting Jesus as we ought?

5. In what sense do those who trust in Christ have eternal life already (see John 3:36 & 17:3)? What does this mean? What does that look like?

6. How should the reality of a future resurrection life (in heaven) affect how we live now? To what extent would you say your hope of heaven is affecting the way you live on a regular basis? How might we (help one another) grow in this?

7. In 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 we read, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” What is at stake for us in Christ’s resurrection from the dead? Practically speaking, what might it look like for us to live in light of it?

8. For those of us in Christ, Jesus has brought us life. He wants to bring that life to others, and he wants to use us (his people) to make that happen. Who in your life does not yet know the life that Jesus offers? How might you share this story with them, and/or point them to Christ’s power to save and to give (eternal) life?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Jesus is God's Son who subdues and saves.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 8:22-39

1. The big idea from this passage is that “Jesus is God's Son who subdues and saves.” Where do we see this in the text?

2. Jesus both falls asleep in vs 23 and then commands the winds and waves in verse 24. What can we conclude about Jesus from these two verses?

3. What do these passages show us about caring for others who are facing storms in their lives?

4. Are there particular circumstances (e.g. relational struggles, financial problems, physical ailments, etc.), in which you find your heart has a harder time trusting Jesus as you ought? Please share.

5. Do you have a story from your own life in which you witnessed Jesus’ power to subdue and save? Please share.

6. Having had his life completely liberated, restored and transformed by Jesus, the former demoniac wants (not surprisingly) to be with Jesus. Practically speaking, what might a pursuit of “being with Jesus” look like for us in our everyday ordinary lives?

7. Who is someone in your life who does not yet know Jesus in a saving way? When and where could you (with God’s help), make an opportunity to tell them “how much Jesus has done for you”?

8. How could this passage help us grow in being a family of disciples on mission?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

True "hearing" produces real fruit.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 8:4-21

1. Verse 10 seems odd at first, but it was meant to shock the crowds into truly hearing. How does verse 9 help us understand how to truly hear?

2. What are four different soils? How are they similar? How are they different?

3. What might it look like when “the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved” (verse 12)?

4. What is the problem with the rocky soil (v. 6 & 13)? What is the result? What is a takeaway for us here?

5. The thorny soil represents “those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life.” (v. 14). Are there “cares and riches and pleasures of life” that are (to one degree or another) choking out the rightful place of the word of God in your life? Please share.

6. What would it look like to be a member of CrossWay, while also being:

(a) path-like ground

(b) rocky ground

(c) thorny ground

7. Which type would you be most likely to become without even noticing?

8. Of the application points in the sermon, which did you find the most helpful?

9. How do you see others in our group holding fast to the word in honest and good hearts and bearing fruit with patience? (v. 15)

10. What determines nearness to God in the last parable? (see verse 21).

11. What do you think it means to “bear fruit with patience?” Read John 15:5-6 and James 5:7-8 for more insight.

12. Who is one person who faithfully shared the word of God with you so you could hear it? What would you say to them if they were sitting here today?

13. There are still many people who need to hear the word of God. As you think about sharing the gospel with others, how does this passage challenge or encourage you?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Those who are extravagantly forgiven by Jesus extravagantly love him.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 7:36-8:3

1. From Simon the Pharisees' perspective, what’s the most important thing about the woman (see vs. 39)? From Jesus’ perspective, what’s the most important thing about the woman (see vv. 44-47)?

2. When faced with ‘sinners’, how might you be tempted to think of them in the same way that Simon thought of the woman?

3. Sadly, at times, our hearts are more aligned with Simon than the woman of this story. To what degree would you say you feel tempted to self-righteousness (i.e., thinking you’re good on your own and don’t need God’s help)? How might we grow in our capacity to identify the rising of self-righteousness in our hearts and, by grace, put it to death?

4. In this passage, we see two truths: sin is an unpayable debt, and forgiveness is an undeserved gift. Which of these truths does your heart need to be reminded of more often?

5. Have you ever deeply felt both the seriousness of your sin and the greatness of God's forgiveness? How did it impact your love for Christ?

6. How can we speak in ways that belittle or undermine our sinfulness? Why is that dangerous for Christians to do?

7. How can we help each other remember the extravagant forgiveness we’ve received in Christ?

8. Pastor Brett said that the forgiven are marked by 1) unashamed adoration of Jesus and 2) unusual generosity. What do these marks look like practically? Do you think these two marks are evident in your own life?

9. When was a time you personally experienced or observed unusual generosity from a Christian?

10. In which circumstances (or around which people) might you be tempted to hide your adoration of Christ?

11. In what ways should the truth that we have been lavishly forgiven impact our giving / use of our resources?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Respond to Jesus' authority and compassion with humble faith.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 7:1-35

1. Why did Jesus marvel at the centurion?

2. When the centurion sent the elders of the Jews to Jesus, they touted the centurion’s worthiness, but the centurion himself recognized that he was truly unworthy. Consider your own heart. Do you feel the need to defend your worthiness before God or do you see your unworthiness and trust in Christ like the centurion?

3. The compassion of Jesus is eager to help all who are in need: whether Gentile (centurion) or Jew (widow), rich or poor, male or female. How does Jesus’ broad compassion speak to our tendency to show favoritism to our “tribe” (i.e., those we align with or are like us)?

4. Woven throughout the storyline of the Old Testament is a theme of restoration to life (see Elijah (esp. 1 Kings 17:8-24) and Elisha (esp. 2 Kings 4:18-37). How is Jesus the ultimate Restorer-to-life in ways other great “men of God” (like Elijah & Elisha) could never be?

5. Jesus didn’t respond to John the Baptist’s question in verse 20 with a direct “yes” or “no.” Instead, he quotes from Isaiah in the Old Testament, showing he’s the fulfillment of those promises (see Isaiah 26:19, 21; 35:4-6; 61:1-2). What difference does it make that Jesus fulfilled passages like the ones mentioned above? How does it impact the way we approach the entire Bible?

6. Even John the Baptist had doubts and questions. How might Jesus’ response to John and his words about John comfort you or another believer with doubts or questions about God?

7. Who in your life does not believe that Jesus is “the one who is to come?” As a group, pray for opportunities and courage to share the gospel with them and pray for their salvation.

Prayer