The Host & the Hen

Virginia Beach Community Chapel

The Host & the Hen

March 29, 2020 • Robb Esperat

Sermon: THE HOST & THE HEN

Sermon Discussion Questions

Take a moment to share about an area of life where you’ve experienced loss or disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. How are you processing the disruption? Is there a silver lining?

Read Luke 13:22-30. What question precipitated this dialog with Jesus (v23)? Why do you think Jesus chooses a banquet to illustrate salvation?

Which character in the story represents Jesus? What is the character’s role? What is Jesus communicating to us about himself?

Jesus speaks about a ‘narrow door’ in v24. In what way is the door narrow? What is he telling us about the opportunity to enter into salvation?

Read Luke 13:31-35. In the previous passage, Jesus likens himself to the host of a great banquet. What image does he use in this passage to describe himself (v34)? What is the imagery meant to communicate?

We all have ‘mother hens’, or places we run to for security and comfort. What ‘hens’ in our culture have proven to be false securities during the COVID-19 pandemic? What other ‘hens’ keep people from finding refuge in Jesus? What hens are you personally tempted to turn to, rather than turning to Jesus?

Take some time to worship Jesus for who he reveals himself to be in Luke 13. Pray together for one another & for the world around you.

Explore Further
Take some time to review this chart of the meals of Jesus recorded in Luke’s gospel. Some scholars see the meal narratives as the basic narrative framework of the book. What do we learn about Jesus, his mission, and his focus from these meals?

5:27-32 Banquet at Levi’s House

7:36-50 Dinner at Simon’s House

9:10-17 Feeding the 5,000

10:38-42 Hospitality at the home of Mary and Martha

11:37-52 Dinner at a Pharisee’s House

14:1-24 Sabbath Meal at a Pharisee’s House

19:1-10 Hospitality at the home of Zacchaeus

22:14-38 The Last Supper

24:28-32 Breaking Bread at Emmaus

24:36-43 Jesus Eats Meal in Presence of Disciples

Justified

May 3, 2020 • Robb Esperat

JUSTIFICATION When you go to God in prayer, what are your most common habits of thought and emotion? What might they tell you about how you relate to God? Read Luke 18:9-14. This parable contrasts two strategies for justification. What were the 3 contrasts mentioned in the sermon today? Are there any other contrasts you see? In Philip Eveson’s essay on the doctrine of justification, he introduces justification as a grace given to “guilty sinners, who turn in self-despairing trust.” What is meant by ‘self-despairing trust’? How does the tax collector embody it? What would it look like for someone in our day? Everyone struggles with self-righteousness to some degree. Review the ‘diagnostic questions’ from the sermon. Which question is most helpful to you in identifying your own tendencies toward self justification? Do you have a tendency to look down on others with a critical eye? Does your sense of personal goodness, acceptability, and self worth rise and fall according to how well you think you are performing? When you think about your ‘righteousness bank account’, are you worn out from trying to make deposits to keep it (hopefully) in the black, or are you resting in the finished work of Jesus’ merciful atonement? End your time in celebration of God’s merciful atonement for sinners. Review this list of verses on justification (or another list of your choosing). Speak verses to one another and to the Lord by ‘personalizing’ the address. For instance: “Joe, Phil 3:9 says you are ‘found in Him, not having a righteousness of your own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, a righteousness from God that depends on faith.” “Katie, just like Abraham, you have believed the Lord, and he has counted it to you as righteousness (Gen 15:6)!” “Lord, you yourself bore our sins in your body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By your wounds, we have been healed. Thank you! (1 Peter 2:24) MAY 3, 2020

Forgiveness

April 26, 2020 • Robb Esperat

The Difference that makes the Difference

April 19, 2020 • Zach Hardison

1. What are the contrasts to highlight the differences the rich and poor man experienced in life? 2. What are the contrasts after death? 3. What is the significance of Jesus mentioning Abraham in this story? 4. In the story, Jesus only seems to highlight that which the rich man failed to DO in life that led him to eternal suffering in hell. Is Jesus teaching a works-based salvation? 5. The name Lazarus means “whom God helps.” Share some ways that God has helped you through Jesus Christ.