Ready for Impact (10 minutes)
Catch up on how things have been since the last time your Impact Group met. Allow anyone new to introduce themselves. Then ask group members to:
- Tell a story about stumbling across a valuable thing.
Examples could include a bargain item in a charity shop, finding a banknote in an old coat or winning a lot on eBay for a fraction of its true value!
Ask for a volunteer to read Matthew 13:44-46 to the group, praying a short prayer that – however much they’ve come to know Jesus, they’d get to know him better as a result of your time together.
Watch
If you’re not gathered in person, the leader should project the video for the group through sharing their screen. If you’re using Zoom, make sure you have optimized your screen share for video.
Impacted by the Word (15 minutes)
Suggested questions to help your discussion
Read Matthew 13:44-46. What now stands out to you?
- How are the two parables similar? How are they different?
- What does it say to you that (a) the men sell everything they own to possess just one thing (b) they part with these things with joy?
- The Bible teaches that, for the joy set before him, Jesus headed to the cross to win our forgiveness (see Hebrews 12:2). How do these parables picture this?
- When we understand how much Jesus treasures us, we treasure him and his kingdom. What might it look like for you to sell everything with joy for the sake of his kingdom?
- Why do you think we don’t often see people sacrificing everything for Jesus’ kingdom?
The video outlined the two main views when it comes to understanding Jesus’ parable. One is that we are the seeker and the treasure is Christ and his kingdom. The other is that Christ is the seeker and we are the treasure of his kingdom.
Both interpretations have Scriptural support from elsewhere. Some Bible verses emphasise that having Christ and being in his kingdom is paramount (see, for example, Luke 9:23-24, Acts 4:12, Philippians 3:7-9, 1 Peter 1:18-19). Others emphasise Jesus’ commitment to seek and save the lost because we are unable to help ourselves (e.g. Luke 19:10, Romans 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, Revelation 5:8-9).
Jesus probably had one of these meanings particularly in mind as he told his parable. But Jesus probably designed some of his parables to have multiple layers of meaning. As the video made clear, the two interpretations aren’t miles away from each other. Ultimately, we treasure Christ to the utmost when we understand how he has treasured us.
Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)
Encourage group members to examine their own hearts in the light of these parables:
- If we build our lives around what we treasure most, what does your life reveal about you?
- How might Jesus be addressing you through these parables?
Share other prayer points, and bring them together to the Lord.
Impacting the University (15 minutes)
As we’ve been thinking, we all build our lives around that which we desire most.
Most TV programmes and movies encourage us to desire certain things, and to find ‘the good life’ in certain places. This gives us real opportunities to talk with others about where they think life is truly found.
Watch a short YouTube video together, such as Unspoken:
Then use these questions to briefly discuss what you’ve watched – perhaps just a minute or so on each question:
What did you like most about this film?
- How would you describe its story or mood?
- What does this film tell us is worth treasuring?
- How does this film say this treasure can be found?
- To what extent do you agree with the film-maker?
- Where you disagree, how might you live and speak the truth in appealing ways?
Aim to use these questions in something you watch in the coming week on Netflix or YouTube. You might like to put them in your own words and use them with a friend to discuss something you’re both watching at the moment. You could start the conversation with, “Shall we talk about what we’ve just seen?”
Share how you get on with the rest of your Impact Group!
Wrap-up
Some in your Impact Group may never have heard Jesus’ words about treasure before.
- Let them know how much you’ve enjoyed having them, and encourage them to keep coming to your Impact Group!
- Invite them to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in John’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate Jesus for themselves. Make it easy for those who’d like to do so to let you know and to opt in. (You can find hints on using Uncover online here).
- Next week we will be looking at Jesus’ story of a man who had it all – and who lost it all. Who could you invite to join you? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
- Find out who’s in your university city this week. Who’d be up for going for a walk together?
Confirm the time that you’ll meet next week, and ask someone to close your time together in prayer.
Taking it further – links you might like to share with your Impact Group
- Lift your hearts as you sing alone with My Treasure, a song by Olly Knight inspired by today’s parables.
- Through the Roof works with CUs to reach and serve disabled students. They’ve written this specially-written guide. This reflection from their website explain how today’s parables can encourage disabled people.
- Tim Keller’s audio sermon The Parable of the Pearl: On Priorities is a deeper examination of the parables we’ve considered today (44 minutes).
- Dan Strange’s book Plugged In is all about connecting our faith with what we watch, read and play – there’s an interview with the author here.