Luke 14:25-35 (Key Verse: 26,27)

 1. How big were the crowds that followed Jesus (25a)? To whom did Jesus turn his attention (25b)?

2. What did Jesus say about discipleship (26)? What does he mean by “hate”?    

3. What does Jesus say about the responsibility and direction of a disciple (27; 9:23)? What does he mean by “carry his cross”?   

4. What do Jesus’ example and the phrases “estimate the cost” and “finish it” say about discipleship (28-30)?   

5. How are Jesus’ teaching in verses 31 and 32 related to verse 33? Notice the phrase “give up everything”. Why does Jesus set the bar so high to seemingly discourage people from being his disciples? 

6. In what sense are verses 34 and 35 the conclusion of this section? What does it mean to be like salt? 

7. How should disciples of Jesus understand the difference and make a clear distinction between the time to hate and the time to show love and responsibility to family members (Ecc 3:1,8; 1Ti 5:8; Acts 16:31; Mk 3:35; Lk 12:52,53)?

Based on today’s message let’s pray for the following:

(i) Our God eagerly invites sinners to until the banquet hall is filled. 
(ii) The servants obey out of love for the master and his son until their mission was completed.
(iii) This semester we may all practice invitations of fellow sinners to God  

2. Last Thursday till Saturday there was National Staff Meeting.  Those who attend the meeting (Mark Gamber, Jim Paul and Peter Park) will briefly report what they learned.

 The theme of the conference is “Jesus the Kernel of Wheat: A Beautiful Love Story”.  Sarah Barry delivered the message on John 12 and Moses Yoon on Gal 5, “Live by the Spirit”.  We also had excellent group Bible studies, testimony sharing and Break Out Session.  After the Conference we participated in the dedication service of Minneapolis UBF. 

 Dr. John Jun gave the following prayer topics:

1. Grow in the love and sacrifice of Jesus and practice love and sacrifice for him as well. 
2. Leadership Development Workshop (October 27-30, 2010)
3. UBF’s  50 Anniversary in June 2011
4. Disciple-making ministry in the Fall Semester.

3. This coming Friday student Night.  Participating student leaders will have a brief prayer meeting after fellowship sharing.

4. There will be a table fishing this week at the Studen Union from Monday through Thursday. Please participate for inviting students. The schedule is as below.

Monday and Wednesday (Aug 30 & Sep 1): 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Tuesday and Thursday (Aug 31 & Sep 2): 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

 Luke 14:15-24 (Mt 22:1-14) (KV:14:23)                                                                                

1. How did the person at the table positively respond to Jesus’ teaching (15)? Who is the certain man in Jesus’ parable (16a; Mt 22:2)?  

2. What kind of banquet was prepared (16b; Mt 22:2b)? After the initial invitation, how did the king prepare his banquet and again extend his invitation (17; Mt 22:3,4)?  

3. What were the different excuses of the invited guests (18-20)? According to Matthew’s gospel, what did the people actually do, in addition to their refusal to come (Mt 22:5,6)? What was the consequence (Mt 22:7)?  

4. What alternative plan did the master of the banquet implement (21; Mt 22:8-10)? How is Luke’s account (Lk 14:21-23) and Matthew’s account Mt 22:8-13) similar and also different? 

5. How is Jesus’ concluding remark in Luke 14:24 and Matthew 22:14 the same? 

* What does the parable of the great wedding banquet teach about the kingdom of God? How is this passage relevant as we begin the new semester?

 Second, Jesus humility is courage in doing good. No one was dare to help the dropsy on the Sabbath. In strength Jesus risked his life to save lives.

 Third, Jesus’ humility is his humanity in action.  Once we were all little ones. Jesus called us when we were weak and powerless in sins. Jesus invited us in his heavenly banquet. Now, Jesus wants us to invite little ones and associate with them. The full reward is in his kingdom.

2.    From tomorrow Fall Semester Starts.  Let’s pray for our goal of the ministry of God’s word and prayer. This ministry will do this as of first importance. Each of us prepares to engage in studying and teaching the Bible.  We are committed to pray daily. For the students our focus is to help them the foundation for their lifelong discipleship.

3.    Fellowship leaders will meet at 3:00 P.M. at the Antioch House. Please pray so that our fellowship leaders go forward in the ministry of God’s word and prayer. Please pray for Brothers House.  Pray for Kirk Kayser, Caleb Kim, Anthony Coca, and Jude Roh for their grow through this life together.   Narrow Gate will start regular Monday meeting from tomorrow at 7:00 P.M.

4.   We welcome sister Jihyun Baek and his parents. She will start her graduate work in Business at the University of Michigan. Please pray for her.  We also welcome all those who worship today.  Anyone who need to be recognized, could those who invited and also introduce them? 

5.  Yesterday Esther Reilly, the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Reilly, happily married. Our leaders attended her wedding with their presence.  Both Esther and Joshua are soldiers.  Please pray for their safety and continuous growth as a blessing.

6. Dr. Joe and Sharon Safer and their children visited us Toledo shortly and had chances to speak in our Friday meeting. 

7.   Finally, National Staff Meeting will be held in Minneapolis, MN this week. On behalf of Toledo UBF Dr. Paul Hong, Mark Gamber, Peter Park and Jim Paul will attend this time.

O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM

 Luke 13:31-14:14 (Key Verse: 13:34)                  

1. What warning did some Pharisees give Jesus (13:31)? What does Jesus’ response to Herod’s threat suggest about his determination for his mission (13:32,33)?

2. What does Jesus weep for (13:34a)? What efforts did Jesus make for the people in Jerusalem (13:34b)? What does Jesus say about Jerusalem current prospect and his longing hope (13:35)?

3. Why was Jesus being so carefully watched (14:1)? What kind of person was in front of Jesus (14:2)? What did Jesus ask the Pharisees (14:3; Mk 3:4a)?

4. What did Jesus do for the man (14:4)? To make his point, what common practices did Jesus mention (14:5; 13:15)? Why were they speechless (14:6; Mk 3:4b)?

5. What did Jesus observe at the table (14:7)? What advice did Jesus offer the people (14:8)? Why (14:9)?

6. Instead, what did Jesus suggest (14:10)? What general principle does Jesus teach (14:11)?

7. What very uncommon suggestion does Jesus give to his host (14:12,13)? Why (14:14; Mt 25:36-40)?

* How does Jesus passion for people inspire us today?

  First, Jesus healed a crippled woman. The healing on the Sabbath demonstrates Jesus’ compassion, power, courage and patience.  The focus of Jesus’ ministry is to learn about Jesus’ compassion, power, courage and patience in helping even one person.

 Second, the growth of the kingdom of God is like the mustard seed and yeast. Two patterns of the growth are (1) slow and steady (2) rapid and explosive. The kingdom of God surely grows. At the same time we must guard against the yeast of worldly influences that damages the spirit of prayer and power of devotion.

2. Last Friday Dr. Abraham Nahm shared his life testimony. Jason and Peggy Roth presented on Parenting with distinguished panel members (Bruce Kwiatkowski, Rebecca Wilson, Peter Park, and Sue Paul).  We also had other guests from Lehigh.  Hospitality is an important part of ministry and parenting as well. Let’s do our best to serve them with the mind of Christ.

3. From today Narrow Gate Fellowship will have a retreat. As Greg Lewis asked, let’s pray that this retreat might be wonderful (joyful and enjoyable. We may consider the three questions: (1) What kind of Christian do I want to become? (2) What kind of Christian community do we want to build here in Toledo? (3) What kind of specific efforts are we committed to make to enter and participate in the kingdom of God this fall?
 
4. We welcome Esther Li from Shanghai, China.  Augustine and Albert Hong also returned from LA. Many students also return.  Let’s welcome them.

5. Yesterday God blessed the wedding of Wesley (University of Chicago) and Ester Jun (Argentina).  Pastor Paul Hong, Sarah Hong attended.  Jeremy Holloway joined as well. Let’s pray that God may bless them based on Genesis 12:2, “You will be a blessing”.

                               ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR

Luke 13:10-30 (Key Verse: 24)

1. What was the life-long agony of a woman who came to the synagogue one Sabbath (10,11)? How did Jesus heal her (12,13a)? What was her response (13b)?

2. Why was the synagogue ruler indignant (14)? In what sense was his point reasonable? What did Jesus say about him (15a)? How did Jesus expose his hypocrisy (15b-17)? What can we learn from Jesus?

3. With what did Jesus first compare the kingdom of God (18,19)? How is the kingdom of God like yeast (20,21)? What does this parable tell us about the growth of the kingdom of God? What are the practical implications of these two parables?

4. What was Jesus doing along the way (9:51; 22)? What did someone ask him (23)? What does Jesus command his disciples to do (24)? What is the narrow door (Mt 7:13,14)? Why a narrow door (24a)? Why “make every effort” (24b)? 

5. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, what happens (25)? What does the continuing conversation suggest about the nature of relationship with Jesus (26,27)? 

6. What is the grim prospect about the kingdom of God (28)? What are the wonderful aspects about the kingdom of God (29)? What does verse 30 mean?

7. In this passage how does Jesus himself make every effort to enter through the narrow door? Why is it that we make efforts for healing, growth, and feast in Jesus?

First, Jesus brings fire on the earth (49-53). Jesus’ fire enlightens, purifies and energizes the world. This fire is so powerful that it exposes the true state of people in this world. So people—even in family levels—experience conflicts and divisions in the course of this fire at work.

Second, Jesus blesses the reconciliation efforts of his disciples (54-59).   (54-59).  This world has many hypocrites who see the truth but refuse to take any actions. But Jesus’ disciples instead make efforts to bring sinners for reconciliation.  They are God’s ambassadors.  
 
Third, Jesus commands repentance for life (13:1-5). Without repentance, all sinners perish. Repentance is for our change toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. With repentance, we bring changes in our world.   With our own efforts alone, we may fail.  However, praise Jesus who still brings fire in us for life–fruitful life.

2. Venezuela Conference is now over.  Dr. John Jun and all US team will return this Monday.  We thank God for blessing all Latin American conferences—Mexico, Bolivia and Venezuela.  Let’s pray for the continuous work of God in our neighbors.

3. We all have number of initiatives for action.  Today, HBF members will go for a trip. Tuf Francis will speak briefly about this. All the trip team will come forward. Chicago HBF members will an introduce themselves. 

As mentioned in the message, we will have many guests and new people.  This week we will welcome Abraham and Sarah Nahm (Eau Claire), Wesley Jun and Bill Pottenger (LeHigh), and David Won (Richmond).

Esther Li (Shanghai, China;  August 10 to Detroit Airport) will come. Let’s do our best to welcome them and practice hospitality in Jesus’ name. 

3. In two weeks UT will start with a new semester.  Let’s prepare as faithful and wise servants. Fellowship leaders will meet for regular testimony sharing and report. S. Mark Gamber coordinates this. Narrow Gate Students plans retreats a week after from today.  

Our regular morning prayer meetings (T,W) and fellowship meetings will resume.

                         UNLESS YOU REPENT, YOU TOO WILL ALL PERISH

Luke 12:49-Luke 13:9 (Key Verse: 13:3)

1. In what sense are Jesus’ words in verses 49-51 shocking to his disciples? What painful details does Jesus outline (12:51-53)? What is the relevance of this teaching (Acts 22:1,22; Acts 23:12-15)?  

2. In what sense are interpretting the weather and interpretting the times related (12:54-56)? What is the relationship and flow between interpretting the times and trying hard to be reconciled with adversaries (12:57-59)? 

3. What was the gruesome news that some people brought to Jesus (13:1)? How did people who saw or heard about this event interpret what had happened (13:2; Jn 9:2)? 

4. What did Jesus say about this event and a similar one (13:2,4)? What repeated challenge did Jesus give to those who had told him about it (13:3,5)? What happens to those who refuse to repent (13:3b,5b)?

5. How does the parable of the fig tree show what repentance is (13:6-9)? What shows the servant’s lack of a sense of mission (13:6,7)? How did he repent (13:8,9)? What is the relationship between Jesus’ teachings on repent or perish and the parable of the fig tree?

*  This passage contains seemingly unrelated teachings. How do you integrate Jesus’ three different teachings into meaningful units? 

1. Today we learned from the message:

First,  Be dressed and ready of service.  Our master is Jesus and he is pleased with his servants when they are ready and waiting for him to return. Servants who are ready are servants that Jesus highly values.

Second, The Son of Man will return.  Jesus teaches us to be ready for his Second Coming. Our life may proclaim the event through readiness. For this our hearts may be filled with living hope. Our minds may have the proper perspective and conviction  to live a servants who are ready for Jesus’ return

Third, Who is the faithful and wise manager. Our work and service to Jesus does not go unnoticed. The quality of our work will someday be seen. Therefore we will receive what we deserve both good and bad.

2. Please pray for Pittsburg ministry. Dr. Tom and Maria Kalapos may be ready, faithful and wise servants. God may bless their children and family during their pioneering, providing all their needs. Pray also for Andy Cornell and Jina Park who study with them faithfully.

3. Brian Karcher from Detroit UBF will give the message next Sunday. His family join him here for Sunday. Please pray for his message and we may welcome  them.

4. Student Night is next Friday. Student leaders will be planning for a meaningful meeting.

5. Dr. Paul and M. Sarah Hong will return next Thursday. We may continue to pray for Latin American ministry.