Luke 8:19-21 || Family Matters
Luke 8:19-21 (ESV)
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Luke 2:48–51 (ESV)
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Defining Terms:
disciple—one who follows (apprentices under) another
discipleship (apprenticeship)—the process of growth from a novice to fully mature.
“The goal of a disciple
is to be with Jesus,
become like Jesus,
and do what Jesus did.”
~ John Mark Comer
Spiritual Growth Spectrum
• Unborn
• Infant
• Child
• Young Adult
• Parent
• Grandparent
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
COMMUNITY QUESTIONS:
- Read Luke 8:19-21. How would you have felt hearing Jesus’ reply if you were his mother or siblings?
- Think about your own family, and think about your church family. Do you have more in common with one than the other? Why?
- Jesus claimed that, “My mother and my brothers (family) are those who hear the word of God and do it.” How is your spiritual growth tied to your family of faith?
- Later on in Luke 14:26, Jesus lays out the cost of being a disciple: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Wow. What does this mean to you and how does it fit with today’s passage?
- Confess to one another. Bear one another’s burdens. Pray for one another.