Hey gang! This Sunday we’ll be looking at Luke 7:11-17 . As you look at that passage, what are the characteristics you notice about this collision of two different groups? What strikes you about Jesus in this passage? If you were to take this story of a miracle and try to make a present and personal application of it…how and where would you see yourself in this story?
A few other things: Remember that we are having Burning House this Sunday (a week earlier than normal, because the following week is Memorial Day weekend, and Riley will be out of town)…so make a note of it!
Also, don’t know if you know Dave Lloyd, but he’s a writer/blogger who hangs with Eastgate, and I read this post he wrote about Tweeting in church…check it out please! Here’s the thing, if you Tweet, I’m encouraging you to start following Dave’s example and Tweet while I teach. His reasoning is really sound for doing this, and I love how interactive our exploration of the Bible becomes in this.
To start, follow Dave on Twitter. (you don’t HAVE to do this step, but since he started this, I thought it would be cool to sort of rally around his tweets)
Next, during the teaching time on Sunday mornings, have your Twitter app open, and copy the main bullet points you see on the screen. Then, as you are listening and thinking about what the text is saying, add your OWN thoughts about it, and use the #eastgate hashtag Dave started. That way, we can all look at the various insights the Holy Spirit has provided during our examination of the passage. Personally, the whole thing sounds like so much fun!!! PLEASE give it a try! (Howbeit, if your first question is “what is a tweet?”, this may not be for you…but if it IS for you, do it!)
See you Sunday!
WONDERWHAT 
Wow, thanks for the shout-out, Rob.
I’m excited for the interaction tweeting can facilitate, but equally about throwing EastGate content out there far and wide.
The story of the two crowds coming together to witness this event is amazing. The mourners couldn’t have known what hit them. When I think about the times when I’ve lost a loved one and have stood in mourning above their casket, it would have been more than I could take in for them to sit up and talk to me. The young man was REALLY dead, after all.
The response that the crowd of mourners must have had…mourning that quickly turns into a party kind of reminds me of the New Orleans type funerals where the band is playing a dirge and then suddenly erupts into a happy dixieland tune. The idea has always been cool to me, but as I’m thinking about it, those guys must have really had some insight into the reality of resurrection.
As much as I can think at 6 am. It seems to be a story of allegory as far as this story relates to us in this present day. We have Jesus with his followers coming across the heartbroken, the sad, the lost (the widow w/no son.). The cause of this overall is death. In that day a woman with no husband OR SON, does not have much hope for life.
I can see myself as one of the bearers. Trudging through life with this weight of death just looming over me as I walk. The people around me are availed to join me as well helping me lug this heavy meaningless dead thing. Its as if we have this in common with each other so we go as far as to network about it. (Can you imagine a Facebook page for your sin.)
What I find cool is that Jesus had compassion on the mother rather than the dead son. He knew what her life was going to be like because of this death. And he took that death away at the snap of his fingers and gave HER new life. And all those people with the body where suddenly free from carrying the dam thing around!
At first it’s like http://tinyurl.com/2e6yavw and then it’s like http://splicd.com/6bdohpu1ZRA/14/50 and then afterward everybody’s like http://tinyurl.com/645xow
Dave – you’re welcome, and it’s a great idea! Speaking of N.O. types of funerals…see Scott’s comment above!
Mike – Great observation about the focus of the story being about the MOTHER’S restoration.
Scott – AWESOME!
Some of the people thought Jesus was a prophet from God because of this miracle, but this was actually the power of God himself in the flesh!!! Jesus showed how much he cared for the suffering and broke the rules of religion by touching that which was considered unclean. This shows me Jesus not only came to save me from my sins but also to show me amazing love and compassion.
man Mike thats so true..thanks
Scott that was funny man. Ok now that Im dirty an sun burnt. I also was thinking… these two groups had to have the strangest clash on the “road.” All these freed hippies and these depressed wailers. Its like bongo playing tie-dyes walking in on a gothic show. (scratch of the record) And Jesus, although not his main intent at the moment, just adds to the already huge group!
I feel that way about Eastgate sometimes. “Oh great! More people I dont know.”
One more thing that I kept thinking about.
What does a resurrected guy say! It says he started speaking right away. Was he a chatterbox before? Thats kind of freaky.
this time Jesus is doing the seeking..it is different from some of the other stories we have studied in Luke..where people are pressing in on Him and searching/seeking Him..in this case we read He(Jesus went to Nain and drew near to the gate)..small detail but no asked Him to go..or sent others to bring Him back..He was doing the work…the poor grieving widow was just probably trying to deal with it all…when Jesus saw her…thats all she had to do…was be seen by a compasionate loving Savior who had mercy on her and her situation..I know what its liked to be seen by a compasionate merciful Savior who choose to show me grace…can you say life changing!!
Jesus is amazing. He heals the centurions’ slave by His word and marvels at the centurions’ faith, a faith He had not yet found. And just so we wouldn’t begin to box in faith, write “how to” books and start seminars on “Faith That Gets the Job Done”, He travels immediately to a no where town to encounter a woman with no hope; not even crumbs of faith to believe this life had anything to offer but sorrow. Sometimes we stand tall in armor, warriors with fist in the air, full of faith. And then there are times the waves start to crash over our heads, knuckle dragging, barely able to remember what faith felt like. It doesn’t matter. In compassion and mercy, Jesus will still come. “Jesus comes to our jack-up lives…bringing restoration by His Word.”