6. Week Six—God Welcomes The Repentant

Words To Live By I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent. Jesus in Luke 15:7 We’ve watched Jesus in a variety of settings interacting with many different kinds of people. As he continues his journey to Jerusalem, he reiterates his call to repent while also setting a high standard for discipleship. (You’ll remember that John the Baptist also called the crowds to repent.) We’ll see Jesus’ teaching become more and more urgent as he heads to the cross. Part One Study Read Luke 14:25-35. Who is Jesus’ audience on this occasion (14:25)? How does Jesus describe the one who cannot be his disciple in vv. 26-27? I have wondered what Jesus means about hating your family? Doesn’t he teach us to love even our enemies? Wright explains: “Jesus is not denying the importance of close family, and the propriety of living in supportive harmony with them. But when there is an urgent task to be done, as there now is, then everything else, including one’s own life, must be put at risk for the sake of the kingdom. The same is true of possessions.”33 Reading all of vv. 25-35 at once, what is J...