The Humble Friend
What is the fanciest meal you’ve ever been to? How did it make you feel to attend?
Read Luke 14:1-6. How would you describe the relationship between Jesus & the religious leaders in this story? Why do you think the lawyers and Pharisees failed to answer Jesus’ questions?
Read Luke 14:7-11. In this parable, what actions does the host perform? How does this parable describe the events that took place in vv1-6?
Jesus’ parable ends with a proverb in v11. This proverb is a classic example of the ‘divine passive’, a way of expressing the action of God without naming him (as a way of showing reverence). What does this punctuating statement tell us about the character of God?
Read Philippians 2:6-11. How does this ancient Christ hymn illustrate the principle of the parable in Luke 14?
Read Philippians 3:4-9. What did Paul have to abandon in order to ‘humble himself’ and receive Christ (vv5-6)? What kinds of things might we put in a similar list? What 'false confidence’ might you personally need to set aside in order to know the fullness of fellowship with Jesus?