Recognizing the Spiritual Sickness of Religiosity

Luke 11

What is usually your first clue that you are about to get seriously ill?

Read verses 11: 2 – 4. How would you describe the prayer that Jesus teaches his disciples?

For each element of the prayer, why does he have his disciples pray that way?

How does your prayer life need to change based upon the example Jesus gives?

Pray the Lord's prayer together as a group to help memorize the example.

Read verses 9 – 13. How do Jesus' promises in this passage make you feel as you hear them?

What is the scope of the promises that Jesus makes?

Why does Jesus use a relationship with a parent to illustrate our relationship with God?

How should the perspective this text gives alter your prayer experience this week?

Read verses 14 – 21. Imagine you are the mute man who has his demon removed. How does it feel the instant you realize that you are free?

Why does Jesus exorcise people as a part of his ministry?

Why does some of the crowd react in a negative way to this gracious act?

Trace Jesus' argument with them. What does his argument teach us about the spiritual world?

What is an area in your life in which you need to experience spiritual freedom?

Read verses 24 – 26. Explain the spiritual world as described by this passage.

If evil spirits have a tendency of returning to a re-organized heart, how does a person make sure they stay away?

What is a bad habit that you find has a way of returning to your life over and over again?

How can you get freedom from this stronghold?

Read verses 29 – 32. Why are people asking for a sign from Jesus?

Why does this request frustrate Jesus so deeply?

Why does Jesus argue that two Gentile examples are facing a better time at judgment than his own generation will?

What is the sign that we have that Jesus really is who he claims to be?

What are you going to do tonight to show that you accept his sign?

Read verses 33 – 36. What is the light that Jesus is referring to in this parable?

Compare and contrast how good spiritual eyes and bad spiritual eyes function in life?

Why is it so important to have good spiritual eyes?

How does a person go about acquiring good spiritual eyes?

Read verses 39 – 43 and 46 – 52. Why might some scholars argue that Luke added verse 41 as an editorial note?

Even if he did, does that really change the way we look at that verse?

Compare and contrast Jesus' teaching and the religious leaders view of cleanliness.

Why does Jesus focus on internal cleanliness?

What cleaning does your heart need?

Describe some of Jesus' criticisms of the lifestyle of the religious leaders.

What would you say is the primary issue between Jesus and the religious leaders?

What woe might Jesus say to you if you were one of the religious leaders?

Why is it particularly bad to prevent others from involvement in God's kingdom?

What are some ways that your tendencies are violently opposed to God's kingdom?

How do you tend to make it difficult for others to experience God's design?

What is the process you will go through to change when you discover these patterns in your life?