Adults

WPC Small Group Study Questions

For the week of April 13th through April 19th

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and then read the scripture, Luke 24:13-25

Relational Question:

What are your biggest disappointments? Have you ever been hopeful about a project, a person, or a program, only to be let down when something happened to take your hope away? How have you reacted to such disappointments? Were you angry, sad, depressed, or did you feel foolish as you looked back and realized that you should have known better? Are you still open to being hopeful or are you hesitant to be optimistic?

Study Questions:

Luke’ tells this story of two disciples walking to Emmaus in a way that draws us into it personally. Like the Prodigal Son story, we identify with the characters and then Luke sets us up for a dramatic twist at the end. We know what is going on and who is walking with the disciples, so we are like an audience watching a movie where we begin to interact with the characters we are watching. We are drawn into the action of the story as we start asking questions of the two disciples. Why can’t you see that it’s Jesus? Why don’t you believe the women who told you Jesus is alive? Didn’t you realize it was Jesus when he explained the scriptures about himself? This is Luke’s skill in his story telling, but he is setting us up to reflect on our own need to believe the witnesses to Jesus being alive, to realize that he walks with us even when we are unaware of his presence, to see Jesus in the Scriptures, and to see him clearly when we are in worship with other disciples.

 1.      What to you think about Jesus coming to walk with these two disciples? He knew they were discouraged, so why did he not reveal who he was? Besides all the serious reasons Jesus had for doing this, do you think it is possible he may have also been having some fun?

2.      Luke tells us that they “were kept from recognizing him.” What are some of the reasons that may have caused them to not see that it was Jesus?

3.      We are told the name of Cleopas. Generally when the Gospel writers give us a name, it has some meaning or was someone known in the early Christian communities, but this is the only time we hear of Cleopas in the scriptures. The name means, “Glory of the Father,” Could Luke be saying something with this meaning? What are your guesses to why we are told his name?

4.      Jesus continues to be sneaky with these disciples. He starts walking with them and asks what they are talking about? Jesus clearly is setting them up for what comes next in this story. Does Jesus ever approach you in an indirect way rather than just revealing himself to you or telling you what you should do? Why does Jesus use this approach sometimes?

5.      Why were these disciples disappointed in Jesus? What were they expecting him to be? Did these expectations make it difficult for them to believe the women who saw Jesus alive?

6.      Jesus explains to them how the scriptures reveal who he is and why the events that had led to these disciples’ disappointment were predicted and necessary for the Messiah. The revealing and understanding of Jesus through scripture is a major theme throughout all Luke’s writing, yet in this account Luke emphasizes that this was not enough for them to see who Jesus was. What is keeping them from seeing Jesus even when it is Jesus who is teaching them? What are some things that keep you from seeing Jesus when you read about him in scripture?

7.      Jesus acts like he is continuing his journey, thus prompting these two men to invite him to stay with them. Does Jesus ever go where he is uninvited?

8.      These disciples finally realize this is Jeus when he took bread, broke it, and gave it to them. Luke clearly is referencing the breaking of the bread at the Last Supper and in the practice of the Lord’s Supper. Why does Jesus wait until he is doing this to reveal himself to these disciples? This happens after the scriptures are taught, Jesus is invited in, and then the breaking of the bread. Do you think Jesus can be revealed to people without these three things or must they always be together?

 9.      These two men run back to Jerusalem late in the day when the road was most dangerous to travel. They describe their hearts as “burning” when Jesus taught the scriptures to them. Have you ever felt the scriptures in this way? Have you ever been so anxious to share something with someone that you forgot something or could not think as clearly as you should?

10.  When the two disciples arrived back with the other disciples in Jerusalem, the message about seeing the Lord included that Jesus had appeared to Peter also. (It is indefinite whether it was the two disciples or the other disciples who were saying this.) This means that Jesus was appearing in two different places at about the same time. How does the stories of Jesus presence with other people affirm your own experience of Jesus’ presence?

Action Question:

Share a time and/or event when you especially sensed Jesus’ presence with you. Did anyone else sense this along with you? Describe your experience with Scripture and how it does or does not give you a sense of Jesus’ presence. Describe with one another in your small group what each of you thinks happens when you receive the Bread and the Cup in communion.