Community Group Questions: March 16th-22nd

March 16th, 2025
by Karissa Smith

Luke 17:20-37

The Coming of the Kingdom

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Questions:

Doctrine - How we Think

Verse 21 says that “the king of God is in the midst of you” How was the kingdom of God in the midst of them? Why were the Pharisee’s missing it?
Over the centuries many Christians have spent much energy and time trying to decipher passages in Daniel, Matthew and Revelation about the timing of Jesus’ return. To what extent are you concerned with understanding the when and where of Jesus’s return?

Worship - How we Feel

Jesus describes how people will be caught off guard at His return (verses 27-28). How does this encourage us to remain spiritually watchful?
The example of Lot’s wife (verse 32) warns us against clinging to the world. How does this help us focus our worship on eternal things rather than temporary ones?

Application - What we Do

Jesus warns against being unprepared for His return (verses 26-30). What does it look like to live in readiness for His coming?
Jesus says that people in Noah’s and Lot’s days were caught up in everyday life and ignored God’s warnings. What are some areas in your life where you might be tempted to do the same?