Study Guide for Seriously:

“Hate Your Mom”

January 11, 2009

Open Up

“Liquid soap (or nail polish or petroleum jelly) applied to a tick will make it drop off.” What is the craziest piece of advice you’ve ever heard?

TRANSITION: Sometimes the truths Jesus told his disciples may have seemed crazy, but studying the full meaning of His teachings will change our lives.

Dig In

(1) Read Luke 14:25-26 and Exodus 20:12. Jesus uses the verb “hate” as a deliberately shocking contrast to emphasize that the love and priority we give to Jesus must tower above every other emotional attachment we have, even family! Even Jesus’ closest followers struggled with giving Jesus their full loyalty. Have you reached the point that Jesus is more important to you than anything or anyone else in your life? What happened to lead you to that life change?

(2) Read Luke 14:27-35. Jesus uses four different illustrations to make the same point about single-mindedly making Him our first priority. Rephrase or retell one of Jesus illustrations using modern examples, for example someone who changes his or her mind halfway through something. Share with your group a time when you were tempted to follow Jesus only half-heartedly.

(3) Read Matthew 6:31-34. Mistakenly placing people above Jesus is not the only way we misplace our priorities. From this text, what are material worries that can obscure our focus on Jesus?

Work On

(1) Ask you group to share real-life examples of being caught between following Jesus and remaining loyal to old relationships. Supportively listen if someone in your group is facing that kind of squeeze, and talk about appropriate ways to help.

(2) During uncertain financial times, we can fall into the trap Jesus described in the Matthew 6 text we studied earlier. What are you doing to keep the right priorities on obeying and trusting God?

Lift Up

The phrase ““You’re my all, you’re the best, you’re my joy and righteousness … and I love you, Lord” from a popular worship song summarizes putting God first. Pray thankfully about the ways that God is the above all others.

Another Step

(1) Read Matthew 5:17-19. What does Jesus say about the relationship between His teachings and the laws and commands given by God through Moses and the Jewish prophets?

(2) How might skeptics misuse Jesus statement in Luke 14:25-26? How could you reply to them?