Family Resources for Bishop's Year of the Bible: Week 21

Sunday, April 18th
Lk 14: 7-11
"Now he [Jesus] told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked [saw] how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 'When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your  place to this man,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.  But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.  For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'”  (Lk 14: 7-11)

  • Do you know what a parable is?
    • A story with a hidden meaning
  • What does honor mean?
    • high respect
  • What does shame mean?
    • disgrace or embarrassment
  • What does it mean to be exalted?
    • honored or highly respected
  • So why should we take the place of least honor?
    • we are being humble and not proud before others
  • I wonder how we can live this every day?

Monday, April 19th
Lk 15: 4-7
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  (Lk 15: 4-7)

  • What did you hear?
  • How many sheep did the shepherd have?
  • I wonder how he knew one of them was missing?
  • What did he do then?
  • When the shepherd found the lost sheep, what did he do?
  • I wonder how happy the shepherd was to find his lost sheep?

Tuesday, April 20th
Lk 16: 10-11
“He who is faithful in very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? (Lk 16: 10-11)

  • What does being faithful mean? 
    • honest
  • What does it mean to be dishonest?
  • What do you think ‘mammon’ is?
    • money or material wealth
  • Can we trust someone who is dishonest?
  • I wonder what Jesus is trying to tell us?

Wednesday, April 21st
Lk 17: 11-19
“On the way to Jerusalem he [Jesus] was passing along between Sama’ria and Galilee.  And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  And as they went they were cleansed.  Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his faith at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.  Now he was a Samaritan.  Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed?  Where are the nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”  And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”  (Lk 17: 11-19)

  • What did you hear?
  • What did the lepers ask of Jesus?
  • What did Jesus say to them?
  • What happened to the lepers?
  • How many came back to thank Jesus?
  • I wonder what happened to the other nine?
  • What should we do when God answers our prayers?

Thursday, April 22nd
Lk 18: 15-17
“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  (Lk 18: 15-17)

  • I wonder why people were bringing children to Jesus?
  • When the disciples rebuked (scolded) the people, what did Jesus say?
  • I wonder who are the children of God are?

Friday, April 23rd
Lk 19: 1-10
“He entered Jericho and was passing through.  And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich.  And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature.  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”  So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.  And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”  And Zacchae’us stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.”  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (Lk 19: 1-10)

  • What did you hear?
  • Who wanted to see Jesus?
  • What did he have to do to see him?
  • When Jesus told Zacchae’us he wanted to stay at his house, Zacchae’us was so happy, what did he do?
  • I wonder what made Zacchae’us change his ways?

Saturday, April 24th
Lk 20: 45-47
“And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widow’s houses and for a pretense make long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation. 

  • What is a scribe?
    • Someone who had knowledge of Jewish Laws.
  • I wonder why Jesus told the disciples not to do what the scribes do?
    • The scribes just wanted the attention and didn’t have concern for the people.
  • Did Jesus want his disciples to be like the scribes?
  • I wonder how Jesus wants us to be?