ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

WEEK BEGINNING 19 JUNE 2005

LUKE 23:26-43

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on the talk at Sunday's 6:30 pm service. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

A departure from the series this week - Simon Hill spoke from Luke 23.

 1. Please read Luke 23:26-43.

 2. Simon began by explaining the word 'existentialism'. What do you think this means? What do you make of Simon's simple definition - that existentialism is living for the present with no thought for the future?

 3. In verse 28, why does Jesus tell the women not to weep for him?

 4. Why are they to weep for themselves and their children instead?

 5. What does Jesus mean in verse 31? (Note: Simon's helpful suggestion was that if the Romans do what they did to Jesus as someone who hadn't caused them much trouble ['when the tree is green'], how much more will they do to those who rebel against them - as the Jews did in the years leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 ['when the tree is dry'].)

 6. In what ways should we in 21st century Britain 'weep' for ourselves? Where do you think society's present trends are taking us?

 7. In verse 39, the first criminal appears to be a victim of existentialist thinking. How does what he says reflect this?

 8. But in verses 40-42, the second criminal has a different perspective. What is so remarkable about what he says?

 9. What is so special about Jesus' reply in verse 43? How does it help us?

10. Take some time to reflect on ways in which your thinking is governed by the present rather that the future. Let these insights guide you as you pray together.

David Stone
20 June 2005