It’s Like This: Stories of the Kingdom of God

Week Six
What does it look like to be a Church that Heals?
Luke 13:1-9

Read Luke 13:1-9.

A Call to Repentance

1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

PRAYER

Begin your time by asking God to soften your hearts to his word and his ways.

DISCUSSION

• What stands out to you in this Scripture?

• What can cause us to have hard hearts? What can we do to keep soft hearts toward God and others?

• How do we receive spiritual nutrition? What can you do to stay spiritually nourished?

• Where can you multiply your faith? What area of our church can you help multiply to produce more fruit?

Close your time in prayer together.

PRAYER PROMPTS

• Pray that God would keep all of our hearts tender toward him and others.

• Pray for the pastors, staff, and elders to be led by God and encouraged by him and members of the church.

• Pray for renewal and revival in our lives and in our church.

• Pray for someone you know needs to accept the love of Christ and follow him.