It’s Like This: Stories of the Kingdom of God
Week Four
How do I deal with excuses to follow Jesus?
Luke 14:16-24
PRAYER & SCRIPTURE
Begin your group with a time of prayer. Here are some prompts.
ONE Begin by praising God for who He is.
TWO Ask God to speak to your heart.
THREE Pray that God would be glorified during this group time and in your life.
Read Luke 14:15-24.
Parable of the Great Feast
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
DISCUSSION
What causes Jesus to teach with this parable?
What excuses are given for not attending the banquet? What kind of excuses do people give today for not following Jesus?
What is special about being in a relationship with God?
What is our responsibility as servants of God?
What keeps many of us from inviting people to follow the Lord? What could make it easier to invite people to follow God?
Do you find your self becoming angry instead of trusting God? What does it look like to be a faithful servant instead of complaining?
What are some ways you could connect with someone outside your normal circle? How could you invite this person to become a Christ follower?
Close your time by praying for one another.
