New Testament in a Year – Luke 12

Warnings and Encouragements – Luke 12:1-12

Understand It

• What was the crowd like? (12:1)
• Against what did Jesus warn His disciples? (12:1)
• What contrasts did Jesus use to prepare the disciples for the future? (12:2-3)
• What did Jesus say His disciples should and should not fear? (12:4-5)
• What proofs of God’s care did Jesus offer to His disciples? (12:6-7)
• How was the disciples’ loyalty to Jesus linked to Jesus’ loyalty to them? (12:8-9)
• What was to happen to those who speak against the Son of Man? (12:10)
• What sin could not be forgiven? (12:10)
• How much were the disciples to prepare for their encounters with religious and political authorities? (12:11)
• How were the disciples to know what to say? (12:12)

Apply It

• How can you remind yourself of your importance to God every day this week?
• How can you pray for those who suffer for their relationship with God?
• What step can you take this week to prepare for persecution?

The Parable of the Rich Fool – Luke 12:13-21

Understand It

• What did the person in the crowd want Jesus to do? (12:13)
• Against what did Jesus warn the crowd? Why? (12:13-15)
• How did Jesus respond to the request from the crowd? (12:14)
• From what did Jesus distinguish a person’s life? (12:15)
• What teaching device did Jesus use? (12:16)
• What was the rich man’s dilemma in the parable? (12:16-17)
• What did the man decide to do about his bumper crop? (12:18)
• How did the rich man view his possessions and good fortune? (12:19)
• How did God intervene in the rich man’s life? (12:20)
• What would become of the man’s abundance? (12:20)
• What kinds of abundance did Jesus mention? (12:21)
• To whom did Jesus apply His teaching about greed? (12:21)

Apply It

• What is one step you can take this week to become less dependent on your possessions?
• With which of your possessions do you want to be more generous? How can you?

Do Not Worry – Luke 12:22-34

Understand It

• Why did Jesus start talking about worry? (12:22)
• About what are we not to worry? (12:22)
• What is more important than food or clothes? (12:23)
• What are we to learn from birds? (12:24)
• What does worrying accomplish? (12:25-26)
• What do flowers teach us? (12:27-28)
• What does worry about clothes indicate about us? (12:28)
• On what basis are we not to worry? (12:30)
• What does God want us to seek? (12:31)
• How did Jesus continue with the Father-child analogy? (12:32)
• What are we to do with our possessions? (12:33)
• Where can treasure be found? (12:33)
• What goes with treasure in heaven? (12:34)

Apply It

• When can you pray today to hand over your worries to God?
• What step can you take this week to share your earthly treasures with others?
• What can you do to encourage your church to help meet the needs of homeless people?

Watchfulness – Luke 12:35-48

Understand It

• What did Jesus tell His disciples to do? (12:35)
• According to Jesus, what are the two traits of the one who is ready? (12:35)
• What did the men in the story do when their master returned? (12:36)
• What happened to the servants who were watching properly? (12:37)
• How long should the servants have been willing to wait? (12:38)
• When do important things often happen? (12:39-40)
• What did Peter ask Jesus? (12:41)
• How did Jesus reply to Peter’s question? (12:42)
• What distinguished the faithful and wise manager? (12:42-44)
• How did some servants handle responsibilities in their masters’ absence? (12:45)
• What happened to the foolish servants? (12:46)
• What was to be the fate of the servants who knew what to do but wouldn’t do it? (12:47)
• What happened to the servants who acted out of ignorance? (12:48)
• What is expected of those who have been given and entrusted with much? (12:48)

Apply It

• What is one area of need in your church or among other Christians that you can serve?
• How can you get ready for Christ’s return?
• What steps can you take toward fulfilling your God-given responsibilities this week?

Not Peace but Division – Luke 12:49-53

Understand It

• What did Jesus come to bring? (12:49)
• For what did Jesus wish? (12:49)
• For what was Jesus waiting? (12:50)
• How did Jesus feel about the baptism He would undergo? (12:50)
• Until when would Jesus be distressed about His baptism? (12:50)
• What, evidently, did most people think Jesus was bringing? (12:51)
• In what way did Jesus indicate that division would affect everyone until He returned? (12:51)
• What did Jesus bring? (12:51)
• Where would the division that Jesus brings be noticed? (12:52-53)
• What relationships would suffer division because of Christ? (12:52-53)

Apply It

• What can you do to prepare for clashes over your beliefs?
• From what other Christian can you draw encouragement and strength in standing for Jesus? How?

Interpreting the Times – Luke 12:54-59

Understand It

• To whom was Jesus talking? (12:54)
• What did a cloud in the west mean to Jesus’ audience? (12:54)
• What did the south wind indicate to Jesus’ audience? (12:55)
• What name did Jesus call the crowd? (12:56)
• What didn’t the crowd know how to interpret? (12:56)
• About what was Jesus exasperated? (12:56)
• What did Jesus want His audience to do? (12:57)
• Where did Jesus recommend the people patch up differences with others? (12:58)
• What could be the consequences if people did not settle their differences? (12:58-59)
• When would a person thrown in jail be able to get out? (12:59)

Apply It

• What spiritual discipline can you work on to help you listen to God’s Word?
• What relationship can you work to reconcile this week?