Band of Puzzlers

Week 2: Band of Puzzlers

Luke 20:27-38

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering and Opening (10 minutes). In groups of two or three, have participants complete the following sentence, “If I were to be with Jesus face-to-face, I would ask Jesus…”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read: Luke 20:27-38.

• What do you already know about the Sadducees? [They were the religious elite who derived much of their power and influence through the Temple. Sticking mostly with the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, they did not believe in resurrection, as is pointed out in Luke 20:27. This is one of the distinguishing marks between the Sadducees and the Pharisees, who did believe in resurrection.] Why is the Sadducees’ question to Jesus a trick question? [They are trying to show the absurdity of the idea of resurrection. How could there be a resurrection in which many men had the same wife?]
• How would you summarize Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees’ trick question? [Just because you cannot imagine it does not negate the existence of the age to come. Things then will not be as they are now. God has got all this figured out, even if we do not. God is the God of the living.]
• Why would it be important for Jesus to quote from Moses to the Sadducees? [See note above on Sadducees.]
• What might we learn from Jesus when it comes to dealing with those who seem to be on opposite sides of an issue?
• How might you respond the next time someone is hostile? How might you respond to someone who is open to hearing about your faith?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

God of resurrection and new life, we give you praise for how you continue to abide with us and empower us to be more than we can imagine. Give us the courage to trust that you can and will use us to invite others into your kingdom. May we walk both with humility and boldness in your Spirit this week. Amen.