Reversal of Fortunes

April 24, 2022

Everyone loves a good rags-to-riches story. The poor high school athlete who gets a big scholarship to college, and later goes pro, the kid from a small town who makes it big in Hollywood, or the single mom who successfully launches a multi-million-dollar business from her kitchen table. These stories inspire us to believe that our lives can change for the better. Jesus’ entire ministry was based on great reversals. Everywhere He went, He reversed people’s lives -- restoring sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk, and the dead to rise. But Jesus’ greatest reversal changed the world. Join us as we explore Luke 12-14 to learn how Jesus turns everything around.

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Passage

Luke 12:15-34

Reversal

We believe that value and security are the found in the ##accumulation## of ##wealth##.
Jesus teaches that value and security are found as we ##seek## ##His## ##Kingdom## ##first##

Practices

Simplify your life by ##giving## ##away## the “##extra##”

Practice ##prioritized##, ##percentage##, ##progressive## generosity.

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple or family devotion, or with a small group.

‍HANGOUT

What is a reversal? What do we mean when we say someone has experienced a reversal?

Have you ever experienced a reversal? If so, how would you describe that experience?

HEAR

As Luke recounts the life and teachings of Jesus, he returns again and again to the theme of reversals. Today we will look at a few examples of reversals from the Gospel of Luke, we will try to understand why the story of Jesus is a story of the greatest reversal.

Read Luke 1:26-38 & 46-56

Where does Mary describe reversals in her song? What instigated these reversals?
What other circumstances related to the birth of Jesus communicates the idea of reversals?
Read Isaiah 55:8-9. Relate these verses to Mary’s experience in Luke 1. How should these verses help us understand reversals we’ve experienced?

Read Luke 6:20-36

How do you interpret the reversals Jesus described in vs. 20-26?
What reversals is Jesus calling his followers to make in vs. 27-36?
How are you doing with these reversals in your own life?

Read Luke 16:19-31

Do you relate more to the rich man or to Lazarus? Why?
What about this reversal is comforting to you? What is disturbing about it?
Based on these three passages (Luke 1, 6, & 16), what would you say are some of the reversals Jesus came to initiate in our world? How can or should the church be involved in these reversals?

HUDDLE

Is there an area of your life that is in need of a reversal? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray.

Daily Reading

This week, as you read examples of Jesus and the great reversals from the Gospel of Luke, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your life needs a reversal.

Day 1: Luke 1
Day 2: Luke 4
Day 3: Luke 6
Day 4: John 12
Day 5: Luke 14
Day 6: Luke 16
Day 7: Luke 22-24

Think Deeper

How do you define rich?
How many square feet of storage are required to keep all your “extra”?
If someone only had your financial records to evaluate your heart, what would they say you loved?