Bible Study – Seventh Sunday After Epiphany “Love Bless and Give”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Epiphany: Shimmering glimpses of the abundance of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps we, too, noticed a star and followed it. Or maybe someone led us to the gift of faith. Now we take the Light – the Good News – out into the world. Will others see the light shimmering in us? Will they risk taking a journey into faith with us?
Jesus continues his teaching with disciples from last week. Instructing them on what this new way of life, this new way of being means. These are reversals and things that flip the current way of life on its head. As we near the end of Epiphany, I wonder what these reversals say to us.
Have you heard of the Golden Rule?
Opening Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for sending Jesus to teach us, guide us, and impart your wisdom to us. May we love, bless, and give to the world as you have shown us. Amen
Please open your Bibles to Luke 6:27-38 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 6:27-38
Love for Enemies
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Reflection Questions:
- What stands out for you in this reading?
- What questions do you have?
- Have you ever heard any of these things before?
- How would Jesus’ words be useful for us today?
- Looking at the teachings of Jesus in this passage all together, what do you think the main message is for the disciples?
Click her for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on the words or url)
Daily Gospel Reading Video - St Luke 6:27-68: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxjJSt1DXZw or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXJ2VL9t0Kc
Gospel of Luke Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIb_dCIxzr0
Song: Love One Another - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47Kf90d7Tf8 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbVGRUB1qNk
Activities
What does Love mean, what does Bless mean and what does Give mean?
Love, Bless, Give: Once you have thought about the meanings, make commitment cards to yourself as to how you will love, bless and give to the world around you. You can write on index cards, in a journal or you can use the sheet found by clicking here and write your commitments in the circles.
Mural: Take your ideas about Love, Bless and Give and create a mural of how you can love, bless and give. You can cut things out of magazines, draw, write, create poetry, whatever you would like to contribute to the mural. Hang it up somewhere so that others can see your mural.
Song: Create a song or poem about this reading. How would you convey Jesus’ teaching to others?
The Golden Rule - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-1
The Golden Rule – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-fill-in-the
The Golden Rule - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-3
The Golden Rule – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-2
Prayer: God Our Teacher and Redeemer, thank you for all you have given us. Help us to leave this place, remembering your words, honoring what you have asked us to do, and living how you have instructed us. Help us to love and be loved, to bless and receive blessings, to give and receive that we may know you through each other. Amen.
