Life Group Discussion Guide for February 19, 2023
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Resolute: A Focused Study of Luke
2.19.23
The Eye of the Beholder
Luke 1:33-44 (Exodus 32:1-4 and Luke 18:18-30)
Dinner Table Questions
“Attention is the beginning of devotion.” – Mary Oliver
Sit with that simple quote for a moment. What do you think she means by that? Where have you seen this to be true? We noticed a few weeks ago the shrinking of our attention spans. Despite that, where does it seem most people in our generation are directing their attention? What primarily commands your attention? With that in mind, consider again the quotation above.
Open Bible Questions
Read Luke 11:33-36
– Jesus said, “Your eye is the lamp of your body.” What do you think he meant by that? How does that resonate with the Mary Oliver quote above?
– Jesus specifically mentions physical sight because he is playing off the metaphor of light and darkness, but he could just have easily mentioned hearing. In fact, elsewhere he says “…they who have ears to hear, let them hear.” He is essentially talking about our attention.
– Consider another quote written by John Mark Comer in his book, The Relentless Elimination of Hurry, “…what you give your attention to is the person you become.”
– Notice how often the phrase “body…is full of…” comes up in these few verses. What do you make of all of this? What is Jesus saying?
Read Luke 11:37-44
– Notice in vv. 39-41 the words “outside” and “inside” and “full of.” With that in mind, how does this connect with and continue what Jesus said in vv. 33-36?
– Notice 11:42. “…you neglect justice and the love of God.” What does it mean that these very religious and well-behaved leaders neglect the love of God?
– Consider the second sentence of 11:42. It’s not as if Jesus is saying that these people are in the wrong for attempting to do right. What is he saying?
– Notice 11:43. The Pharisees “neglect the…love of God” but what does he say they “love” instead? Again, what is the connection between our attention and our affection?
Monday Morning Questions
Are you up for a personal experiment tomorrow? Take an inventory of who or what you give your attention. Then, at the end of the day, take a few moments to reflect. What effect is the direction of your attention having on what is happening within you?