Before the Session
Facilitator: In advance of the session
- Have the Bible Background Video ready to view.
- Review today’s scripture text and the session activities to help better facilitate the discussion.
- Encourage your group to listen to the Faithelement podcast ahead of the next session (Share the link via email or social media)
Context (From the Current Session Page)
Ask the group if they are familiar with Aretha Franklin’s recent performance at the Kennedy Center and show the video, then ask:
- This video notwithstanding, when have you seen a performance was so moving that your eyes were fixed on what was happening.
- What happened in your experience of that song?
- Why was it moving for you?
- What did you see happening in this video?
- How would you describe an experience like this to someone who had not seen it?
Content (From the Current Session Page)
Read Luke 4:14-21, then watch the Bible Background Video.
Ask questions like these:
- Given that this event occurs shortly after Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the Wilderness, what kind of effect do you think these events had on the thirty year-old Jesus as he was beginning his public ministry and why?
- Considering these things, what do you make of the phrase, “in the power of the Spirit” in verse fourteen?
- We can only speculate, but what do you think most drew people to Jesus and impressed them at this point?
- It was an honor for Jesus to be invited to speak in Nazareth, but most of us probably already know the outcome. Why do you think Jesus chose to speak here, despite how he would be received?
Jesus specifically chose these words from Isaiah to describe himself. What do you think these verses reveal about God and God’s purposes? - What do you think these verses say about Jesus’ purpose at that particular point?
Closure (from the Media Session page)
Play the Nobel Speech movie clip and ask:
- In what ways might this be a challenging speech to give in today’s world?
- Think of difficult dialogs you have had with others. In what ways might these words change such dialog?
- What can we, as a group, apply from her speech, and how?
- How does this speech compare to the Old Testament passage Jesus read according to Luke 4?
- What one thing can we strive to do this month to honor Jesus’ words?
Close in prayer that you might find a way to achieve the vision Jesus set forth at the beginning of his ministry.