Eyes Opened | Tables | Cormac Parker Jr

Have you ever felt disappointed by God? Expectations are unmet, plans fail, circumstances change. In these moments, you might ask, “Where is Jesus?” In Luke 24, Jesus talks with two grieving men who cannot see him. He walks with them, points them to Scripture, and then reveals himself. Even when they could not see him, he was with them. In what area of your life do you need to trust that Jesus is with you even if you cannot see him?

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KEY VERSES

  • Luke 24:17 ESV: And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

  • Luke 24:21 ESV: But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

  • Luke 24:26-27 ESV: Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

  • Romans 8:28 ESV: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

  • Luke 24:28-31 ESV: So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going fartherbut they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

  • Luke 24:33-35 ERV: So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles and the people with themsaid, “The Lord really has risen from death! He appeared to Simon.”Then the two men told what had happened on the road. They talked about how they recognized Jesus when he shared the bread with them.

HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

+ Reconnect

To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

  • What are you thankful for?
  • What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
  • What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?

+ Recap

  • Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
  • Did you live out your response from last week?
  • Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?

Discovering What God Is Saying

+ Read and Retell the Bible Story

  • One person reads the story out loud to the group.
  • Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.

+ Read and Look

  • Read the passage again (different version if possible)
  • What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?

+ Read and Look Again

  • Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
  • What does this passage say about people in general?

Doing What God Is Saying

+ Consider

  • What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
  • How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
  • Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.

Sharing what God is saying

+ Praying Together

  • Take prayer requests
  • Pray together

+ Share

  • Who in your life needs to hear this story?
  • Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.

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