What's the Least We Can Do to reach the lost?

This week we looked at Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8 and Colossians 4:2-6 to see the least we can do to evangelize and make disciples.

July 13, 2011 - What's the Least We Can Do? In the home and at work?

For this week we looked at Ephesians 5:21-6:9 and Colossians 3:18-4:1 to see the least we can be doing in the home and at work.

TLWCD to enter God's Rest...

This Wednesday we looked at 3 Scriptures: Hebrews 3:7-19; Hebrews 10:19-25 and I Thessalonians 5. Again we asked the question... What's the least we can do?   to enter God's rest... to enter the Most High place... to be a child of the light/day?
Step 2 of the exercise forced us to come up with some things that we can do as everyday/any day, practical, real-life activities for God.
The results of the 3 groups/3 Scriptures will be posted as replies to this post.
Feel free to add your own thoughts, comments and questions!

Everyday Practices for Luke 9 and 14

OK. This past week we re-examined Luke 9:57-62 and Luke 14:15-35 to see how we could translate those Scriptures (the least we could do) to follow Jesus into everyday practices. This proved to be a difficult task as many of us were able to identify common themes and concepts but had a more difficult time with the concrete.

Some things I remember from Wednesday... please add your own ideas
1. Make yourself available to God and to serve others
2. Invite (bring, drag) ALL people to the feast/banquet of the Master
3. Pray for wisdom, guidance, clarity, etc. (Psalm 139:23-24)
4. Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)
5. Read the Bible

What's the least you can do to follow Jesus? What does that look like in your everyday life and practices?

Week 4: Luke 14:15-35

This week we divided into three groups and looked at three different aspects of Luke 14:15-35.

Section 1: Luke 14:15-24, The Parable of the Great Banquet
1. Overall, how does this parable relate to the call of an individual to the, "banquet" of God?
2. What is the least they could do to get to the banquet? (The people in the parable who were invited to the banquet)
3. Did the master do enough to get people to come to the banquet? What is the least He could do?
4. What's the least we can do?

Section 2: Luke 14:25-27
1. Did Jesus say things like this to intentionally thin out His crowd?
2. What is hyperbole? Is Jesus using hyperbole with His "hate" comment? Is this a comparative statement?
3. Explain how we can process this statement. Is the least I can do, hate my family? My own life?
4. What does it mean to hate your family?
5. What does it mean to hate your own life?

Section 3: Luke 14:28-35
1.Why is it so important to count the cost?
2. How does vs 35 connect to the rest of this passage?

Week 3 Updated Questions

Some questions and notes for thought and discussion...

whenever you can, use Scripture to support your answer.

1. What do you think Jesus meant by His answer to the first man? Where did Jesus finally lay His head? John 19:30…

2. Matthew Henry says, "If we mean to follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of great things in the world." How are my thoughts involved?

3. What does it mean if I do have a place to lay my head?

4. How does your perspective change regarding the first "prospect" in light of Mark 4:16-19 and John 6:26-27? Do you think he may have been seeking to follow Jesus for the benefits only and was not aware of the costs?

5. What does, "wherever you go" mean to us? For us? From us?

6. What does it mean to go and bury one's father? Is Jesus anti-funeral?

7. What is Jesus' perspective on family? Mark 3:35; Mathew 19:29; Matthew 10:34-36

8. What are some ways that family can come between a person and following Jesus?

9. Why was it different for Elisha? I Kings 19:19-21

10. What would happen if you started plowing and looked back?

10. How do priorities and procrastination relate to these encounters?

11. Can I be in the kingdom of God and just not be fit for it? What does it mean to be fit for the kingdom? Why is the NIV the only major translation to add the word "service" to this verse? Why do you think they would do that?

12. What other Bible examples can you think of in which a person or people, "looked back" and what was the consequence?

13. What do we see Jesus do in His ministry? Does He set the example and obey His own teaching?

14. What's the least I can do?

Week 3: May 25, 2011

This Wednesday we will be searching Luke 9:57-62

Some questions for thought and discussion... whenever you can, try to use Scripture to support your answer.
1. What do you think Jesus meant by His answer to the first man?
2. What does it mean if I do have a place to lay my head?
3. What does it mean to go and bury one's father? Is Jesus anti-funeral?
4. What would happen if you started plowing and looked back?
5. Can I be in the kingdom of God and just not be fit for service?
6. Whats the least I can do?