Day four of each week has extra Bible study questions that are not in the Bible Study Guide. These are for online Bible study participants who want to dig a little deeper.
1. This isn’t exactly a romantic picture of pursuit, but an important one. Read Luke 19:1-9 and answer the following questions in your notebook.
Where was Jesus?
Where was Zacchaeus, and why was he there?
How did Jesus know Zach was in the tree?
An orthodox Jew like Jesus would never enter into a friendship with a tax collector. A Pharisee would not even enter a tax collector’s house, and a tax collector could not enter a Jewish home. Collecting taxes for Rome excommunicated a tax collector from the synagogue on the Sabbath and from Jerusalem for the high feasts. Then here comes Jesus, inviting himself to dinner in a tax collector’s home. A moment of sudden glory for sure! Those two words, “come down,” changed Zach’s life.
How does this story show the extent Jesus would go to, to pursue someone’s heart?
2. How do Jesus’ actions in the following miracles demonstrate that He was more concerned with pursuing someone’s heart than following religious rules…even when He knew it would cause controversy and lead to his death to do so?
Matthew 12:9-14
Luke 13:10-17, especially verse 14
John 9:1-17, especially verse 14
John 5:1-14, especially verse 9
3. Sometimes God pursues us when we don’t really want to be pursued. We walk away and turn our backs on Him. What does God do to continue the pursuit when we’ve walked away? Hosea 11:4 Please share your answer in the comment box.
4. Have you ever experienced that in your own life? This is a personal question. Please share your story if you feel comfortable doing so. I know it would be an encouragement to someone.
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