Jesus Desired Their Good discussion starters

Memory text. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often I would have gathered they children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wing, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37. Should you and I long to take in as our good friends those whose lifestyle and belief system are not the same as ours? Would your church welcome bringing your worship center into a building where skateboarding was conducted? Why or why not?
Jonah in Nineveh. Hundreds of years before Jesus’ call to the people of Jerusalem, Jonah is most unhappy because those wicked people repented and sought God’s grace. It made Jonah’s adventures on the trip seem useless. Jesus sounds an echo of despair as He makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. “If you,” he calls out in a voice of sorrow, “even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace.” Luke 19:42. What is the difference in response by the two groups who shared an urgent need to call upon God? What made that difference?
The “Anyway” Principle. Our lesson gives examples of God doing the opposite of what He “should” have done: (1) He “shouldn’t” have touched the man stricken with leprosy. What did He do? (2) Peter deserves to be excluded from the group of disciples for denying any connection with Jesus. What does Jesus do? (3) Paul steps out from a career of beating and killing Christians to be a follower of Jesus. Shouldn’t he have been denied fellowship with the disciples? What happens instead? How should we treat impenitent, impatient, bossy, or otherwise undesirable members of our church? Should we worry less about what we “should” do and carry out instead what we “can ” do for Jesus?
Love Never Fails. Your lesson declares that it should be more obvious than ever that Jesus is leading us to be holy. Haven’t we had thousands of years to learn of His grace? What does love make of our profession of faith in Jesus? Why is it possible to drive people from the church when we love Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith? Or do we? Do we think we are loving but act as if those who do not share our belief system as if they are to be despised or at least ignored?
The Second Touch. “I see men like trees walking…” Have you heard that refrain chanted and sung to remind us of when the blind man wasn’t healed the first time Jesus treated Him? Did Jesus make a mistake? If not, what was He teaching us? Although you have fully accepted Christ as your Savior and best Friend, do you still see signs among fellow members of backsliding and slipping towards the back door of the church? How can we work more effectively so that the “second touch” by Jesus can reach these people and heal them?
The Other-Centered Church. Is the church you attend every week centered on the spiritual needs of those who seek to worship Him? Are baptisms the best way to measure your church’s success in spiritual leadership? Have you ever heard of a church being praised because of its great baptism record even though that church has no faith-sharing programs to involve all members? Do you come to church with your heart full of warmth and love to those you greet here, whether you know them or not? What can we do to share Christ’s love for all mankind, including fellow church members, visitors, and neighbors?

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Jesus Desired Their Good discussion starters

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