07/05/2023

The Parable of the Empty House

Connect Group Study Notes:   7 May 2023

Message:  Rev Tim Rist

Theme: “The empty house” (Parable 3)

This format is a guide to you for your small group meeting. Feel free to change and adapt it according to the needs of your group. The objective is for you to build authentic relationships within the group, relationships that enable you to learn to love others who are different to you, and to discover as a reality the treasure of relationships built on the foundation of a relationship with Jesus, his life, and his teaching.

Meeting and Greeting:

Begin with general conversation and sharing about how the past week has gone. Try not to go over time.

Worship and Prayer

Click on the link below on your smartphone, Smart TV, or computer, to select songs to sing; and then spend a few minutes in song and prayer.

PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL SONG’S PLAYLIST:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsAkwbV_S1vXdZVPkZ0_tQW5n9RqeZX0

And if you need to check on the Message for the week again, then click on:

PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL (MESSAGE): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1X4YYw1KLpda1yGnqKgfw/videos

This time of worship and prayer will encourage you to move your thoughts from daily worries and pressures to our time of Bible study and prayer.

READING:  Matthew 12:38-45

Warm up for the discussion time:

Do you have a favourite “ghost story” or “scary tale to tell”?

What feelings rise in you when you see an abandoned building?

Discussion Questions[i]:

  • Why do you think the Pharisees wanted to see a miracle?
  • Can you find other examples in Matthews Gospel (you can check Luke out too if you like) of miracles Jesus performed that the Pharisees might have already witnessed?
  • How does Jesus feel about “this generation” (verse 41)? Why?
  • What is the sign of Jonah? How is Jesus greater than Jonah?
  • How do the Ninevites and the Queen of the South condemn Jesus’ generation?
  • A person who has “cleaned up their life” but neglected to fill their life with God’s presence, is prey to an even greater evil taking up residence. How do the religious leaders of Israel exemplify this principle?

 aith building:

  • What does Jesus want from you, other than a heart “swept clean and put in order” (vs 44).
  • How will you be more mindful of evil at work around you this week?
  • Commit these verses to memory from James 4: 7-8 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

Prayer: share prayer requests and then pray together.

Closing Prayer:  And now may the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now, and forever more. Amen

Have a wonderful week. God bless. Tim.

[i] With thanks to NIV Serendipity Bible For Personal and Small Group Study; pg. 1344; 1998; Zondervan