Day One Luke 8:1-3
“Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.” Luke 8:1-3 (NLT)
Discover
1. What message is Jesus preaching as He travels from town to town?
2. Who is with Him?
3. What do you think is the significance of mentioning them?
Respond
The largely Jewish audience that Jesus preached to would have been looking for the God of Israel to restore their political kingdom back to them. But the kingdom Jesus announced didn’t quite sound like the kingdom they were expecting, leaving people in a variety of different mindsets – some were puzzled, some were angry, and some gave everything they had to follow Him! The backwards nature of the kingdom Jesus ushered in was evidenced even in those He called His disciples – women, tax collectors, and people from every ethnicity and socio-economic background. Spend some time asking God to shake up the soil of your heart. Ask Him to pull back any blinders or pre-conceived notions you may unknowingly have that are holding you back from experiencing the truth of Jesus and the kingdom He came to bring.
For Further Reading: 15 Prayers to Soften a Hardened Heart
For Families with Kids at Home
The entire story of the Bible is about a clash of kingdoms—of God constantly trying to invade our kingdom and save us from ourselves and of us trying to push God out of the equation. What occupies your family’s hearts and minds that distract you from building God’s Kingdom? Today, pray about ways that you and your family, together, can be about God and His Kingdom.
*TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.