GG Questions
07/05/2020
Doing Life with Jesus: Defying Stereotypes
Luke 7
1. Jesus heals a centurion’s servant (7:1-10) : Luke 7, a chapter devoted to faith (and faithlessness) opens with
the story of a noble centurion. Describe this centurion’s faith, his deference, and what is meant by, ‘I too am a
man under authority’? Jesus took special notice of this kind of faith wherever He found it (Luke 5:20; 8:48;
17:19; 18:42). Is it significant that Jesus found this faith in a Gentile (7:9, 31-34)? What does this kind of
radically humble faith look like in your context?
2. Jesus raises a widow’s son (7:11-17) : The primary purpose of this short account in Luke 7:11-17 is to serve as
a prologue or preparation for the following story of John the Baptist (vv. 18-35). Find the connections binding
these stories together in terms of (1) the poverty of those Jesus came to save (7:22; cf. 4:18), (2) the great
miracles accompanying His coming (7:22), (3) the identification attached to His person by the people (7:26).
What does the compassion (7:13) of Jesus mean to you personally?
3. Messengers from John the Baptist (7:18-35) : The 18 verses concerning John the Baptist here in Luke 7 appear
at first glance random and unconnected to the stories of healing and forgiveness which surround it; that is, until
one realizes that these 18 verses provide a kind of commentary on the surrounding incidents. What does
Jesus hope to demonstrate the presence of miracles prove (7:18-23)? What assessment does Jesus make of
those who came out to see John and Himself (7:31-35)? Do you notice any alarming similarities between the
“this generation” (v. 31) of Jesus’ day and our own?
4. Sinful woman forgiven at dinner with Pharisees (7:36-50) : One of the greatest challenges and perplexing
mysteries of the early church was explaining why so many Jews rejected their own Messiah (Rom. 9:6). The
story in Luke 7:36-50 gives a slight window into that question. If the two individuals in this account are real life
representatives of those in Israel who accept and reject Jesus, what does their difference say about the nature
of the faith necessary to come to God (v. 50)?