Won Over To a Greater Love

Discipleship Group Questions for June 26, 2005

Scripture:

2Kings 4:9-16 “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, let’s arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair,(just like the Abbey) and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there.”  And so some time later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.  Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?”  His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes!  She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.” – think about that . . . Gehazi went right for the “big one” didn’t he?  So let’s see how Elisha responded:

 Elisha said, “Call her.”  When the woman had been called and stood at the door, Elisha promised, “This time next year you will be fondling a baby son.”

Rom 6:4 “We were indeed buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in NEWNESS OF LIFE.”

Matthew 10:37-42. “Jesus said to his apostles:  and whoever loves father of mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

Discipleship Questions:

1.In the first reading the woman didn’t ask for anything but she was blessed beyond her dreams.  This points us towards the heart of God. is He reaches out and wants to bless us.  But remember He blessed this woman through one of His prophets AFTER she had blessed him.  This is a wonderful story highlighting the dance of love.  Elisha was God’s gift to this couple – they responded with love and God responded with more love – the fruit of their love and His love combined!  Has this sort of thing ever happened in your life or the life of someone you know.  Please discuss this “dance of love.”

2.In Romans 6:4 (please read above) the words “Newness of life” jumped out at me.   What do you think Jesus meant by these words?  Please discuss. What Paul’s getting at here is that state of newness that’s eternal.  It’s an agelessness – a sense of sublime carefreeness that’s not weighed down by the cares of time and carefulness! 

In truth, this word is an eschatological term which points us to that experience which we can yet but get the scent of in this world but which awaits us fully in eternity – just the other side of this world.

3.And finally let’s turn to our Gospel reading – Matthew 10:37-42. Now at first blush this passage seems a bit harsh – a bit demanding, but I had been “set up” by our previous readings and what I heard in these verses - perhaps for the first time - is the thought that the Lord wants our first love to be for Him!  He wants us to love Him with an unmitigated heart.  He doesn’t want half of us but all of us! Do you and I love Him this way or have a whole lot of other things crept in between us?  Is Jesus still your first love?  Really . . . your FIRST love?  Please discuss.

4.Please read the following and answer this question – Is Jesus your first love so that you could pass the test outlined below: “An official of a Mission Board, who knew that it takes more than desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate. He told the young man to come to his house at 6 in the morning. The young man went at 6 in the morning to be examined, and the examiner kept him sitting in the room until ten. Then he went down to him and said abruptly, “Can you spell? Can you spell God?” “Yes, sir,” came the answer calmly. “Can you write your name? Do you know what your name is?” “Yes, sir,” again he replied. He put him through a series of questions of that kind, and then went to the Missionary Board and said, “He will do. I tried his patience for four hours, and he did not break down: I then insulted him, and he did not lose his temper. He will do.” That is the way to prove Christianity. If a man answers all abuses with patience, a fortitude, a gentleness that cannot be violated, depend upon it, Christ’s love has conquered his heart, and the Christianity that has made him what he is vindicated by the very quality of his character. Such a Christian causes men to say, “Well, after all, you’ve got to say something for a religion that produces a man like that.”...

5.Please close with prayer.