Bible Study Questions

---

 

Bible Study Questions David H. Horner, Senior Pastor Sermon for the week of August 25, 2013… “What Did You Expect?” Luke 18:35-43

What Did You Expect? Luke 18:35-43 INTRODUCTION (GROUP LEADER INSTRUCTIONS/SUGGESTIONS IN ALL-CAPS) Today/tonight we will be discussing an encounter Jesus had with a blind man, found in Luke 18. Our discussion will be based on Pastor David Horner’s sermon, “What Did You Expect?,” which was delivered on August 25, 2013. ENGAGE THE GROUP Let’s start with a question. Can anyone share a moment where you missed out on something really good because you did not ask? In other words, you made an assumption that was based on faulty thinking or low expectations. DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP TO SHARE MOMENTS WHERE THEY MISSED OUT ON SOMETHING SPECIAL BECAUSE OF BAD ASSUMPTIONS. Like the examples you’ve shared, most of us have learned from experience the meaning and value of the saying, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” We also see this illustrated in our key text, found in Luke 18:45-43 (READ): 36

As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a 37 crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing 38 39 by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have 40 mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he 41 came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me 42 recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you 43 well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. (Luke 18:35-43) What are some lessons you find in this passage? ALLOW THE GROUP TO BRIEFLY SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, AND TO RECOGNIZE… • • • •

STORY ILLUSTRATES WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN JESUS DRAWS NEAR TO US THE BLIND MAN’S PERSISTENCE GAINED WHAT HE LONGED FOR HE FOLLOWED JESUS AS A NEW MAN IN A NEW DIRECTION IN LIFE HE HAD A NEW PASSION FOR PRAISING GOD WITH ALL HIS HEART

In his sermon, Pastor Horner stated: “Always pray like a blind man expecting to have his sight restored, and you will never lose your passion for prayer!” (READ) 36

As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a 37 crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” (Luke 18:35-37) What does the blind man’s reaction teach us about knowing Jesus? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP MEMBERS TO SHARE, AND TO IDENTIFY: • •

SCRIPTURE IS NOT CLEAR ABOUT HOW OR WHAT THE BLIND WAS TOLD ABOUT JESUS HIS REACTION INDICATES... o (1) HE HAD HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT JESUS; o (2) HE HAD CONCLUDED SOME THINGS ABOUT JESUS

As Pastor Horner points out: The blind man had not been a follower of Jesus, but he did know about Him and wanted to meet Him. (READ) 39

And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38-39) The blind man’s knowledge of Jesus somehow led him to believe… • Jesus was the coming Messiah, as revealed when he proclaimed, “Jesus, Son of David.” • Jesus could do something for Him that no one else had been able to do. • That Jesus would grant Him mercy What does verse 39 reveal to you? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP TO SHARE, AND TO RECOGNIZE: • • • •

PEOPLE RESPOND TO JESUS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, EVEN IN THE CHURCH TODAY SOME PEOPLE CRY OUT FOR HIS MERCY AND HEALING TOUCH OTHERS ARE CONTENT TO FOLLOW HIM AT THEIR LEISURE AND JOIN THE CROWD IF THEY THINK SOMETHING SPECTACULAR WILL OCCUR WHEN SOMEONE RECOGNIZES JESUS FOR WHO HE REALLY IS, THEY REFUSE TO BE DENIED

In Luke 11, we find Jesus telling the story of a man who found himself in need of bread in the middle of the night, when an unexpected guest arrived. He went to his neighbor’s house to

borrow the bread. After initially being told to go away, the man persisted until he got what he wanted. Jesus then says (READ): I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence (persistence) he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (Luke 11:8) So, the man obtained the bread, not out of compassion but out of persistence. Simply put, he did not give up! This story reveals the importance of persistence in our prayer life and in growing our faith. Keeping in mind what we’ve learned so far from Luke 11:8 and Luke 18:38-39, we can also see: • •

FOR MANY PEOPLE TODAY, THE DESIRE TO MEET AND BE HEARD BY JESUS IS FAIRLY WEAK IF WE ARE INDIFFERENT TO HIS PRESENCE, WE WILL CARE VERY LITTLE IF WE GET TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT WHAT IS ON OUR HEARTS

Two more important points can be gleaned from Luke 18:38-39: •

•

THE CLOSER JESUS COMES TO US, THE MORE DETERMINE WE SHOULD BE o WE SHOULD ASK: § WHERE DO I LOOK WHEN I HAVE NEEDS AND WANTS IN MY LIFE? § DO I CHOOSE TO “DO IT MYSELF,” OR WORRY ABOUT IT, OR PRAY ABOUT IT? THE CLOSER JESUS COMES TO US, THE MORE WE SHOULD UNBURDEN OUR HEARTS o DO WE NEEDLESSLY KEEP CARRYING THE BURDENS JESUS OFFERS TO TAKE FROM US? o SCRIPTURE TEACHES, “CAST ALL YOUR BURDENS ON HIM!” (1 PETER 5:7) o JESUS IS VERY NEAR AND WANTS YOU TO CALL OUT TO HIM, TO LET HIM KNOW YOU NEED HIM, WANT HIM, AND CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT HIM (READ): Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Let’s continue with Luke 18 to see what happens next, starting at verse 40 (READ): And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he 41 asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” (Luke 18:40-41) Notice that although the blind man’s traveling companions were annoyed by his noisy interruption, Jesus did not consider it an interruption to hear someone cry out for mercy. What else do you see in this passage? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, AND TO RECOGNIZE: •

THE BLIND MAN MAKES A PLEA FOR SIGHT, NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT BLINDNESS

• •

•

HE SIMPLY EXPLAINED WHAT HE WANTED THE LORD TO DO FOR HIM THE BLIND MAN’S SIMPLICITY AND STRAIGHTFORWARD APPROACH SHOWS IT’S BETTER TO GET TO THE POINT, THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO OFFER GOD A HISTORY OF OUR HARD TIMES THE BLIND MAN HAD MANY NEEDS BUT HE CHOSE TO ASK JESUS TO MEET HIS GREATEST NEED—TO SEE! o SPIRITUALLY HE WAS BLIND TO THE LIGHT OF LIFE IN CHRIST, SO HE CALLS OUT “SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” o PHYSICALLY HE WAS BLIND AND COULD NOT SEE—IT WAS WHAT MATTERED TO HIM THE MOST, AND HE CONFIDED IN CHRIST (READ) The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. (Psalm 25:14)

Let me repeat what Pastor Horner said: “Always pray like a blind man expecting to have his sight restored, and you will never lose your passion for prayer!” What are some things you will take away from our discussion tonight? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW THE GROUP TO SHARE As we close, let me encourage you to “pray like it matters to you, and then by faith in Christ you will see that it matters to Him also.” Learn to: •

PRAY SPECIFICALLY AND PASSIONATELY—IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU PRAY, WHY SHOULD IT MATTER TO GOD?

•

EXPECT THE LORD TO ANSWER AND THANK HIM IN ADVANCE—KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU ASK—PERHAPS A PRAYER JOURNAL—SO YOU CAN PREPARE TO SEE THE ANSWERS AND GIVE HIM THANKS AND GLORY WHEN THEY COME.

Always remember, Jesus is very near to all who will call on Him. No one can keep you from Him or Him from you, if you are ready to seek Him with all your heart. He wants you to tell Him what you want Him to do in your life. Ask for it in His name and for His glory, and he will gladly give it to you. CLOSE WITH PRAYER