GROW Guide March 21, 2021

The Narrow Way

Luke 18:31-19:10

Opening Question:

Share about a time when your assumptions about someone were wrong.

Context: 

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and meets 2 men along the way: a blindman and a tax collector.  As a chief tax collector, a Jewish person agreed to work for the Romans to collect taxes.  This ostracized them from the community since they were seen as traitors and thieves.

Discussion Questions:

Close your eyes.  Imagine yourself to be the blindman on the road to Jericho.  What do you hear and experience?  How does the crowd treat you? What does Jesus ask you?  How do you respond?  What happens next?

Jesus continues on his way, the newly healed man along with him. Maybe he’s the one who spotted this man up in a tree as he was looking around seeing trees for the first time.  Jesus sees Zacchaeus.  Why was Zacchaeus up in a tree?  Have you ever needed a new perspective?  When? What helped?

Have you ever been desperate to see someone?  To see Jesus?  Have you ever been desperate to be seen?  What was that like?  What happened? 

Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector and he’s rich.  The people don’t like him.  What do you think it means when Jesus says, “He too is a son of Abraham”?  Who do we exclude from the family of God?  Why? 

What does it mean that Jesus came to seek out and save the lost?  What does this mean for those who follow Jesus and are called to live like him?

What other things do you notice in this reading?  What caught your attention?  Why?

 Take Home Questions:

Sometimes we don’t let people change.  We continue to see them the way we remember them being and don’t allow for growth and transformation.  OR maybe we don’t even know someone, but already assume certain things about them.  Have you ever experienced this?  Have you ever hoped for change in your own life and continued to live with the assumptions and preconceived notions of others? 

Jesus sees you.  Jesus knows you.  Jesus loves you.  Consequently, Jesus also sees, knows and loves everyone around you and those across the world.  God wants us to see each other with love and compassion.  How might we better see each other with God’s grace?  May our prayer become, “Lord, let me see again.”

“Receive your sight.  Your faith has saved you.”