Surrey Chapel Fellowship Group Notes 26/27th January 2011
Luke 17: 1-19 Teaching and Healing
Teaching on Sin, Faith and Duty v.1-10
In this passage Jesus teaches about four aspects of discipleship: a warning against sinning, showing forgiveness, having faith and serving without demanding a reward. This passage reminds us that Christianity is not a private affair but one in which we have family-like responsibilities to other believers. Note the strong warning in v.2. 
How might we cause other people to sin?
What do we do to actively discourage fellow believers (especially those new to the faith) from sinning? 
How forgiving are we towards each other? Is this easy? (See Matthew 18:21-22)
Is there a risk in evangelical churches with our emphasis on grace and not works that we undermine the seriousness of sin and the efforts that we need to take to avoid it?(Look at Romans 6:1-2)
V.1-4 are challenging so it is no surprise that the disciples felt that they weren’t up to it (v.5). Jesus reply in v.6 appears in all 3 of the Synoptic Gospels so it is clearly important. Jesus indicates that even a small amount of genuine faith can have dramatic results. 
Name some Biblical, historical and contemporary examples.
This verse (v.6) should be understood in connection with other passages that talk about prayer and the nature of genuine faith such as John 15:7 and James 1:6-8.
V.10 reminds us that God owes us nothing and we owe him everything. (See 1 Cor. 4:7) Do you ever slip in to the mentality of thinking that the world owes you a living? Or that God has to bless you in some particular way?
Jesus heals ten lepers
In this miracle the emphasis is not on the healing its self, but the reaction to it.
There are several points that can be learnt from this story, discuss the application of some of them:
•	God’s Mercy should cause us to be thankful. Are we?!
•	God works through Jesus
•	Getting closer to God is a matter of trusting him.
•	Those who respond to God may not be the ones we expect to respond. How does this affect our priorities?
•	God’s blessing can be appreciated or ignored. What is your response?
How often are we thankful to God in our prayers – particularly for answered prayer?
Prayer Pointers										ADB
Spend some time thanking God for answered prayer in your group.
Letton Hall – Young adults Weekend
Relocation, New Assistant Pastor