Catch up on how things have been over the past week (over drinks and snacks if possible), taking time to let any new members introduce themselves. Then ask group members:
This term, we’re exploring some of the meals Jesus shared. Not only will this help us get to know Jesus better, we’ll see how the way he shared meals can teach us a lot as we experience student life today.
Ask for a volunteer to read Luke 10:38-42 to the group, praying a short prayer that, however much they’ve come to know Jesus, they’d know him better as a result of your time together.
Download this video to watch offline.
The Gospel accounts show that that Jesus treated women as friends. This was noteworthy in a culture where women were not held in high regard. In a time when women could be treated as lower than animals or servants, Jesus treated women with dignity and value. Jesus praised women and used women as examples of what it meant to love and serve him (see, for example, Luke 21:1-4).
In Jesus’ day, most women were not given the opportunity to be educated. Many leaders – including religious ones – viewed educating women as scandalous. Today’s episode debunks this ideology. Jesus’ willingness to allow women like Mary to listen to his teaching went against rabbinic practices – and showed that Jesus loved and included women amongst his followers.
Women were present at both the death (Luke 23:29, 49) and the empty tomb of Jesus (Luke 24:1-12). These women gathered to be near Jesus and to honour him in his death. Women clearly enjoyed Jesus’ company and knew they had no reason to fear him, that they might be belittled by him, or that they’d be treated as objects or seducers.
For more on these themes and more, check out the Worthy podcast.
Student life can be busy. It’s easy to lose focus on what’s truly important. Each of us needs to learn to sit at Jesus’ feet. Not because he needs us to, but because he invites us to. He invites us to the supreme goodness of hearing his voice and receiving his welcome every day.
So often we trade the goodness of receiving from Jesus for the lesser goodness of distraction and activity.
Being part of a church is a crucial way for every believer to listen to Jesus’ words today. Gently ask how new students are doing in finding a church to be part of in your city. Ask for group members to pray sentence-long ‘popcorn prayers’ in the light of your discussions.
Augustine, a North African Christian from the 5th Century, says of God: “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
Busyness is just one of the many ways this restlessness can express itself.
Spend some time praying for those that God has placed in your life. Ask God that they would discover the rest that comes from knowing Jesus.
Thank You – Thank everyone for coming, and ask someone to thank God for your time together in prayer.
Ask – Ask those who are new to reading the Bible if they’d like to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in Mark’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life alongside one of you.
Church and CU – What does the CU have planned ahead? And what help would group members value in finding a local church?
Others – Who else could you invite to join your CU Impact Group next week? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
See You Soon – Tell the group where and when you’ll meet next week, and arrange who will bring snacks. (You might like to alternate healthy and less healthy weeks!). See if anyone would be up for sharing a meal or just hanging out in the meantime!