Category: Outsiders

Introduction // 10 minutes

What is your favorite underdog success story? What do you like about it?

Leader Notes: If the responses seem to be limited to sports scenarios, you might ask a follow up question, such as “What makes you root for the underdog in a movie?”

After you’ve given everyone in the group an opportunity to participate, transition to the next section by saying something like… “Psychologists believe we root for the underdogs because of our sense of fairness, which makes us celebrate the success of the underdog.”

 

Observation // 20 minutes

Read Luke 1:46-55.

How does the underdog fare in God’s plan in Luke 1:46-55?

Some responses may include:

• She is blessed (vs 48)
• She is used by God to do great things (vs 49)
• She receives mercy (vs 50)
• She is not only full but full of good things, such as love, peace, joy (vs 53)

Commentary: The word for blessed in verse 48 is the same word used for blessed or blessing in the Beatitudes.

Leader Note: Read Matthew 5:1-12 with your group or have the group read it to themselves.

How are Jesus’ teachings a reversal of our expectations in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)?

Some responses may be focused on each specific blessing. Instead, ask your group to look at the entire passage as a whole, looking for the broader picture. Some responses may include:

• He blesses meekness, humility and righteousness.
• He values our hearts
• He rewards our humility
• He values heavenly rewards rather than earthly treasures.
• His rewards do not change our current circumstances, but rather our eternal ones.
• He rewards our attitude, hearts and love.
• He expects us to pay it forward – to be useful with the blessings/reversal He has given us.

Commentary: The people Jesus would have been addressing in Matthew 5 were the people who were poor in spirit, meek, and those who hungered for Christ. They had learned from being in the world that being a peacekeeper or meek got you killed and there was nothing about being poor in spirit that was rewarding. Jesus challenges the constructs of the system by flipping everything they know and expect on its head. He reverses their position in the world and promises heavenly rewards that the world still does not understand. But He ends with an expectation that they will, in fact, be useful – they will be persecuted because they were in the world doing good deeds in His name.

Even though we root for the underdog (for the nerd to get the girl rather than the wealthy, arrogant bully/for the poor small city team to beat the cocky bigger school), we rarely expect the underdog to win because that would require a reversal of the way the world works. We might want it to be different but we don’t hold our breath. That’s also how the people viewed the Messiah. They expected the Messiah to be a warrior who would defeat their earthly enemies in an earthly battle. They didn’t get that the bigger enemy was the darkness in the world and that Jesus’ fought and defeated a spiritual darkness by flipping the expected result on it’s head – reversing it. He defeated their enemy, only arriving on a donkey not a stallion and defeating the enemy once and for all through sacrificial love and surrender at the cross, not with armor and a sword.

What is Mary’s response to God’s promise to reverse her situation – by blessing her then and in future generations to come? What is Elizabeth’s response to the same?

Leader Note: This is an easy question geared to remind us of Mary’s gratitude, contentment, joy and humility. They should also be able to recall that Elizabeth passed on (or paid forward) the blessing she experienced by becoming pregnant in her old to Mary by blessing her.

 

Understanding // 10 minutes

Where have you seen the reversal of Jesus evidenced in the world? What does it look like to experience a reversal in a life?

Leader Note: This is not an easy question. Give them time to consider it. It may take an example to get them thinking practically. Mother Teresa is a good example of the reversal of Jesus in action. She was not only humble and meek, but was also generous in her response to the world.

Where do you see gratitude, generosity, repentance and joy in the person who has experienced the reversing power of Jesus?”

Leader tip: Give the group time to consider their response because the application requires us to consider our response to the power of Jesus to reverse our situations.

 

Application // 25 minutes

Where have you experienced a reversal (been the underdog and succeeded) in your life as a disciple?

Leader Note: Allow space for personal stories at this point.  Most of us have had the experience at some level of God’s work in their life – of being the underdog and God coming through for them. Their responses to those situations are important.

What was your response to the reversal described above?

Where do you struggle in paying the blessing forward and where do you do it well? What makes it difficult? When is it easy?

 

Live It Out // 5 minutes

Who could you impact in your life if your response to the reversals God is orchestrating in your life was to use them to bless someone else?

Prayer: Father we thank you for being so personal that we learn by reversing our identities from lost to found and saved. We pray that You would fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we might pay those blessings forward through generous compassion and love. We pray that you would continue to give us opportunities to experience the world turned on its head, and are grateful that we might be a part of your plans.

Introduction // 5 minutes

The Word Game

Start your group off with a little friendly completion. Divide up in two teams however you like. Each team will be given 60 seconds to write down (pen and papers needed!) as many antonyms (opposites) as they can to the following two words.

Winners are proclaimed the vocabulary champions and must read the passage!

Afraid: (Sample Answers) Brave, calm, unworried, composed, cool, courageous, fearless, intrepid

Faith: (Sample Answers) Disbelief, doubt, denial, distrust, uncertainty, skepticism

 

Observation // 25 minutes

Leader Note: We will be contrasting Zechariah and Mary this week.  Re-read last week’s passage about Zechariah in Luke 1:5-22 before reading on about Mary.

After reading review the following things discussed last week about Zechariah.

About Zechariah…

• He was a priest (v5)
• His wife Elisabeth also came from a priestly line (v5)
• Both were righteous and blameless in God’s sight (v6)
• They were both very old, Elisabeth was barren (v7)
• He was selected out of a great number of priests to perform a once in life time duty in the temple (v9)
• Zechariah had prayed continuously for his wife’s barrenness (v13)
• Zechariah still doubted despite all the signs given to him, i.e. being selected to perform this task in the temple, an Angel appearing before him and announcing that Elizabeth would give birth to a son (v18)
• Zechariah was fixated on what he could see and knew to be true, mainly that they were past the age child bearing (v18)
• There is a cost to unbelief (v20) Note: The cost was silence. He would not be able to exit the temple and proclaim not only the good news of the coming birth of his son but also the good news of what his son was prophesied to do, that is prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah.
• God’s plan was accomplished despite Zechariah’s doubt (v20)

Read Luke 1:26-38

What similarities do you see in Zechariah and Mary? What differences?

Leader Note: Prompt your group to think in terms of their circumstance or status and in their reaction to what Gabriel spoke to them.

Sample Answers May Include…

Similarities

• Gabriel the Angel appears to both of them
• Both have favor with God. Mary is called highly favored, Zechariah is called righteous and blames
• Both are told not to fear
• Both are promised to receive children through miraculous circumstance for God’s purposes and glory

Differences

• One is old one is young
• One is male one is female
• Zechariah would have been highly respected in the community as a priest
• As a young (12-15) year old woman Mary would have been seen as powerless and without rights
• Mary is from an insignificant town, Nazareth. Zechariah is in Jerusalem the cultural and religious hub of the day
• Zechariah has a position and reputation to protect, May has nothing
• Zechariah demands prof, Mary ask for help in understanding
• Zechariah wants to know with certainty that this is really going to happen while Mary ask how will this happen
• Zechariah would have been well acquainted with the all the stories in the bible where God intervened to give an old or barren couple children (Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah ect…) yet he still doubted
• Mary was promised something that had never happened (virgin birth) yet she believed
• Mary shows humble surrender and willingness while Zechariah shows skepticism and doubt

Leader Note: Lead your group to see the contrast between Zechariah who seemingly had it all together and every reason to believe God’s word and Mary, the powerless teenager from a “nowhere” town.  One has great influence the other had none.  One could be said to be an in-sider and the other an out-sider.  Zechariah demands an explanation while Mary surrenders without knowing all the details.

 

Understanding // 10 minutes

Where have you seen healthy doubt?

Where have you seen unhealthy doubt?

What’s the difference?

Commentary: Healthy doubt comes from genuine place of needing help to understand something. Healthy doubt asks questions but does not demand the answers before acting.  Unhealthy doubt is often rooted in defiance, cynicism or entitlement. Unhealthy doubt says I will trust you if you show me everything that will happen so that I can ensure that I will be safe and “blessed.”

 

Application // 20 minutes

What is something God has said to you?

Leader Note: Think in terms of a promise or perhaps a purpose that God is calling to.

How are you responding like Zechariah?

How are you responding like Mary?

 

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How would those around you be impacted if you lived out Mary like faith?

Prayer: Pray at the end of your time for an increased trust and faith to follow God’s leading and respond to His voice when he calls.  Pray that whatever currently hinders that (self righteousness, entitlement, cynicism) to be removed by God’s spirit.

Introduction // 5 minutes

Which decade had the best style?  Give examples and reasons.

Leader Note:  You may want to use a transitional statement after this question such as… “Isn’t funny how quickly things change? We can be so sure of one thing in a moment and then find ourselves thinking and believing the exact opposite!”

 

Observation // 20 minutes

Read Luke 1:1-4

A Brief Background On Luke

As we begin to look at Luke’s Gospel there are few key points, which would be beneficial to highlight with you group.  This information is intended to create a deeper understanding of Luke and enrich your discussion during the course of the series. 

1. Luke Was An Outsider: Luke’s Gospel was written around 30 years after Jesus’ earthly ministry (about 60 AD).  Luke was not a direct eyewitness to the accounts of Jesus.  Additionally, he is the only author in the New Testament who was not Jewish.  He writes as an outsider primarily to other outsiders (Gentiles) to give them assurance and confidence in who Jesus is and the things they have heard and been taught about Him.
2. Luke Was Well Schooled: A trained doctor, Luke took a very detailed almost investigative approach of writing in his gospel.  Although not personally an eyewitness, he was very well acquainted with the persons and works of those who were with Jesus.  Luke carefully examined all other accounts of Jesus and set out to give an “orderly” and historical account of His life and teaching.  (Orderly meaning a complete historical account as opposed to a complete and chronological historical account).  Ancient historical biographers did not record events in the same way that modern historians do.  While the events recorded in Luke are historical, he pieces them together in the fashion of a narrative as to emphasis his purpose for writing.
3. Luke Wrote With A Very Specific Purpose In Mind: Luke writes to give believers (mainly Gentile believers as himself) a foundational confidence in the person and Deity of Jesus Christ.  Luke wants his readers to have certainty in the things they have heard and have been taught concerning Jesus.  This certainty is more than an intellectual assent or knowledge-based certainty. It is the kind of certainty that leads one to place their entire life in something and expresses that conviction through their actions.  It is a belief or conviction that is lived out no matter what the cost.  Theophilus, to whom the book is addressed, was most likely Roman official who commissioned Luke to give him an account of Jesus so that he himself could be certain in what he had been taught about Jesus.

Read through the passage again and ask…

What are the phrases that stand out to you the most?

What is it about those phrases that intrigue you?

Sample Answers May Include…

• Many have undertaken: Many were not only aware of Jesus but were so intrigued with Him that they set out to document His life and teaching.
• Things that have been fulfilled: Jesus was seen as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.  He validates the Old Testament and backs up the promises of God.
• Carefully Investigated: Luke is intentional in what he records.
• An Orderly Account: Accurate, clear and concise historical narrative on Jesus.
• The certainty of what you have been taught: Certainty that does more than inform thought. It is a certainty that directs action.

Leader Note:  Sample answers are not only things you may expect to hear from your group but are provided for you as a leader to help guide and lead the conversation as needed.

 

Understanding // 15 minutes

Leader Note:  The next question will need some set up.  You may wish to say something along the lines of… “Belief is typically divided into three categories, public, private and core convictions.”  Go on to define each category and ask for as many examples as possible for each.

What are all the examples you can think of for these three types of conviction?

Public Conviction: The things I say even if I don’t really believe it

Sample Answers May Include…

• Does this make me look fat?
• Politicians playing the game of politically correctness
• Calling a child’s drawing the best piece of art you’ve ever seen!

Private Conviction: The things I think I believe but can change over time

Sample Answers May Include…

• Falling “in” and “out” of love
• My favorite food, movie, city ect…

Core Conviction: Not what I say or think but what I actually do

Commentary: Luke’s aim is to make us a people who live out what we say we believe.  He wants us to place all certainty in the person of Jesus and live lives that fully reflect our trust in who He is and what He has called us to become.

 

Application // 20 minutes

Read James 2:14-20

An Exercise In The Apostles Creed

Read the following statement to your group…

The Apostles Creed is one of the earliest doctrinal statements on Christianity. It stands this day as one of the most complete and concise declarations on Christian belief.  These statements have stood the test of time and are held as truth across a large number of denominations and churches… including Mariners Church!

Read the Apostles Creed…

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (catholic meaning universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Leader Note: Kenton poised a challenging question in his message this weekend, which we encourage you to now put forth to your group.  This section will require a great deal of honesty and vulnerability.  As the leader we encourage you to take some time before hand with this question so that you can answer first, leading by example and modeling that it is safe to share for others to answer.

Where in your life have you seen a disconnect between your convictions and actions?

If a person were to record your actions and turn them into a creed, what might it say?

Sample Answers May Include…

• I believe that power and success are the most important things in this life
• I believe that I earned my money and it is mine to do with what I please
• I believe it’s ok to seek out revenge on those that mistreat me
• I believe that I’m owed certain pleasures and that they can bring me happiness
• I believe that the better I am, the more God will love me

What prevents you from fully living out the “certainty” of your faith?

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How might the world around you be influenced by you living out your convictions?

Prayer:  Lord we know that you alone are holy and worthy of the praise of our lives.  We thank you for Jesus.  We thank you that in seeing Him we have seen you and can know you.  We ask that you would help us by you Holy Spirit to be a people who live out what we say we believe in confidence and with great conviction so that others may see and know you through our lives.  We confess that we don’t always get this right and that we are daily in need of your strength to empower us and to remind us of what we are called to be.  Help us we prayer.  Guide us and lead us into your truth, Amen.