Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

By remaining true in mistreatment, Jesus now reigns–and enables us to be true.

I. Jesus’ words prove true in Peter’s failure (vv. 54-62)

II. Jesus’ words prove true in his mistreatment (vv. 63-65)

III. Jesus himself proves true—and now he reigns over all (vv. 66-71)

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 22:54-71

1. How have you been tempted to act like Peter and downplay your faith when it is tested by others? How might you respond differently?

2. Peter’s story didn’t end that night. One day in the future, he would die, remaining true to his faith - crucified upside down, according to tradition. How does this reassure you to move forward when you fail?

3. In vv. 63-65, Jesus doesn’t fight back even when being brutally - and unjustly - beaten. What does this show about his character? What does this show about how we are to handle injustice?

4. The chief priests and scribes think they are “putting Jesus on trial,” but it’s the other way around. How should they have responded when Jesus says, “But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (v. 69)?

5. Jesus submitted even to death on a cross. What would it look like for you to die to yourself and thereby deny yourself, instead of denying Him?

6. Jesus now sits in full authority over the entire universe at the right hand of the Father. God has sent his “Holy Spirit to help us live openly, consistently, joyfully for Jesus, regardless of the cost.” How do these truths help you live true to God this week?

Prayer

Discussion Questions: On break until January 2026

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Hope in the King whose righteous rule will produce perfect peace.

I. His qualification is unquestionable (vv. 1-3a)

II. His rule will be righteous (vv. 3b-5)

III. His peace will be perfect (vv. 6-9)

IV. His majesty will be magnetic (v. 10)

Digging Deeper

Read Isaiah 11:1-10

1. What injustices in our world make you wish for peace? What does the coming of Jesus have to say about this?

2. When you want peace, who or what do you look to?

3. In the sermon, a distinction was made between what delights human rulers and what delights our King, Jesus. What is different about what Jesus desires from us, versus what earthly leaders and rulers often desire? (see Isa. 1:23)

4. What would it look like to grow in delighting in God, fearing him in a way that longs to honor him?

5. This sermon focused on the kind of righteous rule that Jesus, this promised King, will have. What do you most look forward to about his promised rule?

6. In Jesus’s righteous rule, he will enact justice always. As was said in the sermon, if this is our king, we had better live like him. How can we obey this call in our daily lives?

7. Reread Isaiah 11:6-9, which gives us a picture of what eternity with the Prince of Peace will be like. Which of these particular pictures of peace do you long for? Why does your heart long for this?

8. To get another picture of the peace which comes in eternity, read Revelation 22:1-5. What do these verses mean to you, and how can we start to live out this peace now between one another?

9. “When the King came the first time, it wasn’t to judge, but to save.” How did Jesus fulfill this purpose in his life on earth? What will be different about his second coming?

10. It can feel counterintuitive to consider this majestic, righteous, peacemaking king when Christmas is supposed to be about baby Jesus lying in the manger. Why do you think there is goodness in thinking this way about Jesus at Christmastime?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Our hope for endless peace rests on a child who will reign forever.

I. The future for God's people is a dawn that drives out darkness (vv. 1-3)

II. This dawn will mean the end of enslaving enemies (vv. 4-5)

III. God will make this endless peace through a child who will reign forever (vv. 6-7)

Digging Deeper

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

1. “To be in darkness is to seem to be abandoned by God.” By a show of hands, have you ever or do you now feel this way? Share more if you’re comfortable.

2. “The first coming of Jesus was the beginning of the end of the darkness of the world.” How have you experienced this line from the sermon? How has darkness begun to end? How is it still present? Think in terms of the world and your own life.

3. Anticipating that Christ has come and is coming again should lead to hope and joy. How might we help one another be more intentional about giving thought to Christ’s first and second coming?

4. Do you see spiritual enemies (like sin, demons, the fear of death) as your greatest enemies? Why or why not?

5. How did Jesus’ death on the cross defeat our spiritual enemies?

6. Reread Isaiah 9:6, especially the end. Which of the four descriptors of Jesus catches your attention? Why?

7. What is a takeaway (s) for us from the fact that roughly 700 years prior to the birth of Jesus, Isaiah so clearly and so specifically foretold his coming?

8. Where do you long for peace in your life? With God? With yourself? With others?

9. There are many aspects to the peace Jesus came to bring for his people (e.g. - peace with God, peace among ourselves, peace within ourselves, etc.). Are there any aspects of the peace he brings that you have perhaps not appreciated as much as you should? Why might that be? How might we grow in gratefulness for all that Christ came to do for us?

10. Read Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” How has Jesus brought us peace through his death? How might we use this verse to share the gospel with someone this Advent season?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Rejoice and rest in Jesus' devotion to his Father's will and our salvation.

I. He was strengthened by submitting (vv. 39-46)

II. He conquered by surrendering (vv. 47-53)

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 22:39-53

1. In the first section of our passage, we see that Jesus was strengthened by submitting (vv. 39-46). How do the two identical commands to “pray that you will not fall into temptation” (v. 40b & v. 46b) help us understand what this section is about?

2. Read Isaiah 51:17 and Jeremiah 25:15-16. What is “the cup” in Luke 22:42 that Jesus asks his Father to remove?

3. In vv. 39-46 Jesus shows us how to face temptation. But “before it’s something he did for our example, it’s something he did for our salvation.” What’s at stake for us in understanding this?

4. Is there currently an area of your life where you sense God may be testing you? What truth(s) from this passage might help you endure and remain faithful?

5. In the second section, we see that Jesus was victorious by surrendering (vv. 47-53). What do we see in the text that shows us Jesus is in complete control as he interacts with Judas, his disciples, and his enemies?

6. “Jesus surrendered to the power of darkness so that we could be delivered from it and be brought forever into his kingdom.” (see Heb. 2:14 & Col. 1:13). What implications does this have for how we live our lives, with darkness yet remaining in the world and darkness yet remaining in our hearts?

7. What would it look like for you to rejoice in Jesus’ devotion to his Father’s will and our salvation?

8. What would it look like for you to rest in Jesus’ devotion to his Father’s will and our salvation? Is there an area of your life in which you are not resting in what Christ has done for you?

9. What from this passage could you share with an unbeliever that might help him or her better understand the person of Jesus and what he came to do for sinners?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Persevere in trusting and imitating Jesus in the hope of reigning with Jesus.

I. Jesus redefines greatness as serving like him (vv. 24-27)

II. Jesus redirects our hope to reigning with him (vv. 28-30)

III. Jesus reframes success as repentance toward him (vv. 31-34)

IV. Jesus resets our expectations to rejection like him (vv. 35-38)

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 22:24-38

Jesus redefines greatness as serving like him (vv. 24-27)

1. What might be some indicators that our concept of the nature of greatness has been shaped by the world more than we might want to admit?

2. What is one way you can find yourself tempted to use authority to serve yourself, rather than those around you?

3. How can we guard against that?

Jesus redirects our hope to reigning with him (vv. 28-30)

4. What in this life do you find yourself tempted to put your hope in?

5. Why is that a bad idea?

6. Practically speaking, what might it look like for the hope of our hearts to be directed toward reigning with Christ?

Jesus reframes success as repentance toward him (vv. 31-34)

7. What does it mean to say that success in the Christian life is repentance?

8. Where do we see this in the text (vv. 31-34)?

9. What is at stake here? In other words, what are the consequences of failing to understand this truth?

Jesus resets our expectations to rejection like him (vv. 35-38)

10. Is it our expectation that, like the One we follow, in this life, we will need to endure suffering for the Gospel? If not, why not?

11. In v. 37, Jesus says that he fulfills Isaiah 53:12: “And he was numbered with the transgressors.” (v. 37). How does Jesus’ death in the place of sinners (like you and me) make possible what he is calling us to in this passage? In other words, how does Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice for us enable us to live out what he is calling for in the four reorientations highlighted in this passage?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Jesus’ physical suffering and death are God’s appointed sacrifice that saves all who receive him.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 22:1-23

1. Read the story of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Exodus 12:1-20. What similarities are there in the Passover account to this passage? How does Jesus fit as the Passover lamb?

2. Judas betrayed Jesus for money. Why do you think this detail was included in Luke, and what does it say about human nature?

3. Verses 7-13 show that Jesus knew the details of the Passover meal in advance and directed his disciples to carry them out. Where else have we seen this sort of interaction? What does it tell us about Jesus and his plan?

4. A great irony of this passage is that the first Lord’s Supper was held in the presence of Judas Iscariot. What do you think this teaches us? How does this influence our engagement with those who oppose and wound us?

5. How does this passage move us to more wonder and gratitude for Jesus?

6. What is your experience like when we take communion? What goes through your mind and heart?

7. The next time we will take communion together as a church is Sunday, March 8. What from this passage can we use to prepare our hearts next time we celebrate communion together?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

While you wait for Jesus’ return, remain watchful.

I. Expect deception, and watch with discernment (vv. 8-9)

II. Expect opposition, and watch for provision (vv. 10-19)

III. Expect distress, and watch with anticipation (vv. 20-28)

IV. Expect distraction, and watch through prayer (vv. 29-36)

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 21:5-38

1. The first thing Jesus says about the temple - the Jews’ most sacred and holy space - is “Don’t get too attached to this.” How do you think that would have landed with his hearers? About what in your life would you dislike hearing Jesus say, “Don’t get too attached to this”?

2. For some of us, it can be easy to get concerned that world events will usher in the apocalypse. How do we guard against catastrophic thinking about the end times and trust God’s timing?

3. What sort of opposition have you personally faced for your faith, and how can you use this as an opportunity to bear witness to Christ? Jesus says he will “give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict” (21:15).

4. Jesus says that when signs of the end take place, believers don’t have to tremble because their redemption is drawing near. How does this truth particularly encourage you today?

5. What does it mean that redemption has been fully accomplished, but not yet fully applied? What aspects of future redemption might we be able to look forward to?

6. Take something that is distressing you now (or has distressed you in the past). How can you use this distress to deepen your anticipation for the life to come? Help each other work this out.

7. What distractions do you need to watch for in yourself? What can we watch for in one another?

8. We’ve all experienced things that pull us away from prayer. What steps can you take today to fight what keeps you from prayer?

9. In a world of distractions, what practices (including prayer) can help us stay focused on what matters?

Prayer