Discussion Questions:
1. Why do stories where one sacrifices out of love have such a strong appeal to us?
2. What are some spiritual disciplines you practice in your daily life? What is the goal of each of the disciplines you keep? What role does love play in these disciplines you do?
3. Why did Jesus touch the leper He healed? Why is His touch important in your own life? How does being part of the body of Jesus influence the touch you put in other’s lives?
4. How do Law and love go together in God’s Kingdom? Describe the ugliness human beings are capable of when we emphasize Law without love.
5. Jesus demonstrated through the stories in Luke 5 that God is approachable, touches our lives, forgives sin and offers table fellowship with sinners. Why are each of these qualities valuable for your life? What does doing these 4 things tell you about how Jesus views the balance between Law and love?
6. David and his companions eating the consecrated bread is a clear violation of the Law! How do we justify times like this when God’s Law is clearly violated but people are not held accountable? (See II Chron. 30:18 for another example). How do we know when it is ok to violate what God says, versus when it is not ok? (Nadab & Abihu or Ananias & Saphira are some examples).
7. How do you read the story of James & John wanting to call down fire on the Samaritans? Were their motives evil? Why was it ok for Elijah to call down fire? How are things different when we view each day as a day of salvation instead of a day of judgment?
8. How does Jesus bring the Law and love together? How are we capable of keeping the Law today? Do you feel set free by what He has done? Why, or why not?
9. Why is it important to see John connect commandment keeping with love in his first epistle? How do we view people different when we see them through the lens of salvation instead of judgment? Are there any areas of your life you need to change the way you see people?
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