Luke 10:17-29 (New Living Translation)
17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
22 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
I. Reasons and Seasons of Power (vv. 17-18)
• Ministry is God’s kingdom outflow of love that
• Leadership is a spiritual gift imparted by God irrespective of
• Great leaders first demonstrate being good
• Valuing power over presence identifies Jesus as a
• Our orbit of identity marks the
II. Treasons of Power (vv. 18-20)
• Satan was a
• Our borders of identity protect the
• Treason (sin) is over-reaching our orbit out of
• All authority on earth is
• The reason behind eternal joy is
III. Reasons, Seasons, and Treasons of Worship (vv. 21-23)
• Being filled with God’s Spirit results in
• God is in
• Spirit-fullness results in being a
• Authentic Christians worship Jesus for
• Blessed worship
IV. Reasons, Seasons, and Treasons of Love (vv. 24-29)
•
• Authentic love values the person’s
• Authentic love isn’t obligated to
• Authentic love of God practices
• Self-justification seeks to soften God’s demands on the basis of
1. Read Luke 10:17-20. What was the disciples’ source of joy and how did Jesus redirect them in verses 19-20? How do Christians prioritize positions and power over Jesus’ presence and why is this treasonous?
2. According to Luke 10:18-19, Ezekiel 28:11-17, and Revelation 12:7-12, who is Satan and how much power does he have over God? How much power does Satan have over people? Why is it treasonous to blame Satan, rather than ourselves, for our actions?
3. Read Luke 10:21-22. Why should Christians be full of joy? What behaviors do Christians engage in that demonstrate the “joy of the Holy Spirit?” According to these verses, what does it look like to be filled with the Spirit?
4. Read Luke 10:23-29. Why were the disciples able to see and hear when others couldn’t? How did the expert in religious law show that Christianity is more than believing the right things? What does ministry look like when practiced with authentic love?
5. What else stood out to you in the sermon that you have questions about in this passage of Scripture?