Life Group Study - Mar. 30, 2025

To Know and Share 

Luke 9 opens with Jesus calling and sending out the Twelve — not just to observe His ministry, but to actively join in it. He gives them power and authority, then strips them of earthly security. This wasn’t just a moment of commissioning — it was a call to radical trust. The mission isn’t powered by personal resources but by divine supply.

Read: Luke 9:1-2
Say: Jesus gives the disciples both power (dunamis — divine ability) and authority (exousia — divine right) to act in His name. He equips them to do what He has done: cast out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim the Kingdom.
Ask:  What’s the difference between having power and having authority? Why do you think Jesus gave both? What does that mean for us today? 

Quote: “Authority without power is empty. But power without authority is dangerous. Jesus gives both — ability and permission.” — Dr. Tony Evans

Read: Luke 9:3-5
Brief Context: Jesus sends them with nothing — no food, no money, no backup plan. He strips away earthly comforts to develop a deeper trust in His provision.
Say:  Jesus isn’t just sending them — He’s emptying them, not to punish but to prepare. He’s creating space for their faith to grow. 
Ask: Why would Jesus send them out without the basic necessities? Have you ever experienced a time when God called you into something without giving you all the answers or resources first?

Quote: “God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called.” — Corrie ten Boom

Application 

Read: Luke 9:6  
Say: The disciples obey. They step out. And in their obedience, miracles begin to break out. The power of God moves as they go.  
Ask: What would it look like for you to “go” this week? Where might God be calling you to step out in obedience — even if it feels uncertain?  
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 10:19-20 – “Do not be anxious how you are to speak... for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”  

Read: Luke 9:7-9  
Brief Context: Herod hears about the movement and is perplexed. The message of the Kingdom is spreading so powerfully that even political powers are shaken.  
Say: Herod silenced John, but he couldn’t silence Jesus. The mission of God can’t be stopped.  Rejection, confusion, and persecution may come — but His Word keeps going.  
Ask: What does Herod’s confusion show us about the unstoppable nature of God’s Kingdom?  How can we stay encouraged when it seems like the world is rejecting or misunderstanding our faith?

Quote: “The church is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.” — Charles Spurgeon  

Close in Prayer: Father, thank You for trusting us with Your mission. Help us to walk in the power and authority You’ve given, even when it feels like we don’t have enough. Teach us to depend on You more than our resources. Give us boldness in rejection, obedience in uncertainty, and joy in our going.   Amen.

Reflective Passages:  Acts 1:8, Zechariah 4:6, Luke 22:35–36, Mark 6:7–13, Isaiah 6:8,   Ephesians 3:20, John 15:16