Introduction
In this session, Luke 9:37-50, Jesus describes the inadequate current state of the child workers before Easter (the death and resurrection of Jesus). Sadly, this state of child workers has continued even after Easter. Why? Jesus highlighted over 6 cases of children kingdom workers and how they think and act, while Satan continues to oppress our children. All this inadequate thinking and acting is due to the little or no understanding of who Jesus is and the power of the cross upon them. We need to focus on the Liberty of children who walk in the valley of the shadow of death. They are oppressed by witches who hate children, by the evil spirit of religion, and by the evil demon of racism. These children are also helpless and have no Shephard.
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Identified at least 6 inadequate categories of child workers (child priesthood workers) in a hostile environment. Agents of change.
- Understood why these workers are in the ministry and why they are not in the ministry?
- Appreciated that knowing the power of the cross would empower them in engaging in the mission of God.
Outline
- Children’s Shepherd State Before Easter
- State of children who walk in the valley of oppression
- Six inadequacies of child workers
- Jesus’ responses to the inadequacy of child workers
- Cost of following Jesus.
Group Study Time
Luke 9: 37-50
Connecting
- Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
- Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
- Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
- Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.
Comprehending
- Read Luke 9: 37-43. Retell the story in two minutes. Who are the characters mentioned in the story? Use 5 words to describe the current state of the boy child before Jesus came into the picture? Who were the agents of his transformation? Why couldn’t they help the boy? How did Jesus help the boy?
- Read Luke 9: 44-45. Describe the second inadequate state of children, agents of change, child workers who work (disciples of children) in cultures hostile to children?
- Read Luke 9: 46-48. Identify the third inadequate state of child workers in hostile cultures?
- Read Luke 9: 49-50. Identify the four inadequate states of child workers in a hostile environment.
Committing
- Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
- List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
- Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
- Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
- Sin to confess
- Promise to claim
- Attitude to change
- Command to keep
- Error to change
- Prayer to make
- Example to copy
- Truth to obey and
- Something praiseworthy
Communicating
- Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
- Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
- Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.
Post Lesson Teaching Summary
Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!
Inadequate kingdom workers case study 1 to 4
Luke 9: 37-50
Audio Summary
Luke 9:37-50
Context
- Following the transfiguration, Jesus continues preparing disciples as agents of change, addressing their failures, misunderstandings, and attitudes.
- Focuses on faith, humility, and inclusivity in the kingdom amid a faithless generation.
Preparing Disciples as Agents of Change (Luke 9:37-50)
- Healing the Demon-Possessed Boy (vv. 37-43): Coming down the mountain, a large crowd meets Jesus; a man begs Him to heal his only son possessed by a spirit that seizes him, causes shrieking, convulsions, foaming, and rarely leaves. The man says disciples could not drive it out. Jesus rebukes the unbelieving, perverse generation, calls the boy, and the demon throws him down. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, heals the boy, and returns him to his father. All are amazed at God’s greatness and Jesus’ power.
- Second Prediction of Death (vv. 43-45): While all marvel, Jesus tells disciples to listen carefully: the Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They do not understand, the meaning hidden from them, and they are afraid to ask.
- Who is Greatest in the Kingdom (vv. 46-48): Disciples argue who is greatest; Jesus, knowing their thoughts, takes a child beside Him and says whoever welcomes this child in His name welcomes Him and the One who sent Him—for the one who is least among you is greatest.
- Outsider Casting Out Demons (vv. 49-50): John reports trying to stop someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name because not one of them; Jesus says do not stop him—for whoever is not against you is for you.
- Purpose: Jesus teaches through failures (lack of faith), predictions (suffering ahead), and corrections (humility over greatness, inclusivity over exclusivity) to transform disciples into effective agents of change.
Application
- Trust Jesus’ power in failures, seek understanding without fear, embrace humility by welcoming the least, and accept others working in His name to advance the kingdom without division.