3️⃣ Luke 8:26-39 , John 6:53-71
In the first week we read the beginning of John 6 recounting the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand which happened because a nameless humbly offered his lunch meal for Jesus to perform the miracle. His undivided heart in giving Jesus all that was his was used to bless the crowds.
Last week we went over the sinful woman who was forgiven much so she loved much. Then we looked at the Parable of the Sower going over the four soils which represent our life’s response to what God has done for us.
Now we are looking at the soils exposed in various characters from Luke 8 and then John 9. Next week, we will begin ALPHA where we will go over foundational Christian truths so we can be equipped to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that we have.
Before that, I want to expand more on last week’s characteristics of the soils. Anyone remember?
We can start seeing a blend or bold representations of these soils in the following passages.
vv.26-31
We are in a spiritual war. If we don’t understand that we are soldiers of Christ in this age, our idea of how church, community, discipleship will quickly veer towards a moral therapeutic deistic worldview—where the chief end of man is to be happy by means of our relationship to God.
If the goal of lifegroup is community, you want to orient your group to being as exclusivist, non-missional, non-convicting so that friendships bud in the comfort and security of familiar faces.
No! There are souls that need to be set free! OUR souls need refreshment from our brothers and sisters.
Someone read 1 John 1:7
Walking in the light of God’s truth enables to have fellowship with God? Yes, but this passage reveals a more glorious truth: we have TRUE fellowship with one another.
Why did Spurgeon pray? It is the same as his physical hunger: it is the outward expression of his inward condition.
vv.32-37
Pigs were the economy. Though they undoubtedly witnessed Jesus perform a miracle, their idol of comfort and stability drove them into fear, so they asked Jesus to leave that region. They lose control over their life. The one who maintains control does whatever it takes to keep it.
WHICH SOIL?
vv.38-39
Forgiven much. Loves Much. Tell how much God has done for you! Our love for Him is rekindled by recalling and sharing what God has done for us!
JOHN 6
vv.53-59
why would a 1st century Jewish obeying Mosaic Law be offended by Jesus’ sayings?
Someone read Leviticus 17:10-12
Jesus’ command to ‘drink His blood’ invites us to fully partake in His life-giving sacrifice. Just as blood was sacred under the Old Covenant because it represented life, Jesus’ blood is sacred under the New Covenant because it is life. By ‘drinking’ His blood—by accepting His sacrifice and letting it transform us—we enter into the life He offers, a life that is eternal and abundant. This reminds us that our relationship with Jesus isn’t about adhering to rituals but about internalizing His sacrifice and living in the reality of His grace every day.
vv.60-66
Jesus’ emphasis on God’s sovereignty is not denying the culpability of his disciples to persevere. It explains why He is not overcome with fear like the pig crowd because He is in control. The rejection does not take him off guard. He knows who will not believe.
WHICH SOIL?
vv.67-69
Lord - Jesus is Kurios. This translated Adonai from Hebrew which was spoken aloud instead of YHWH
With Peter declaring this on behalf of the Twelve, they unequivocally sided themselves with Jesus against the religious authorities that colored their religious milieu.
Calling Jesus Lord meant something.
Does your worship really mean anything?
Do we worship at lifegroup because it gets the vibe started right? Or because it’s ritualistic? Idk about you but worshipping with the saints, entering God’s presence, in the middle of the work week after work is what my soul longs for. My emotions don’t always follow but it’s the sustenance my soul longs for.
Okay fine. You know the importance of Lordship and worship.
To whom shall we go - There is no other option. There is an implicit meaning in declaring someone as our Lord. There can be no other master.
Someone read Matthew 6:24
Someone read Philippians 2:9-11
Two sides of the same coin. The Matthew passage is the negative definition of Lordship while Philippians 2:9-111 is the positive definition. Cannot serve two masters because His name is exalted above every other name.
We have come to believe - Spurgeon’s wife would tell her children they do not have to sing along in worship so they would not lie to themselves that they love Jesus.
Is God really holy, set apart from everything else to you?
THIS IS NOTHING NEW, FOLKS.
WHICH SOIL?
vv.70-71
WHICH SOIL?
There are Judases among the fellowship of believers. Great example is COVID.