God’s Refining Fire
Luke 12:49-59
1. Read Luke 12:49-59; Matthew 3:11; Luke 12:49.
2. Read Luke 12:50 and Malachi 3:2-3.
3. Read Luke 12:51-53.
4. Read Luke 12:54-56 and Luke 12:15.
5. Read Luke 12:57-59; 1 Corinthians 6:7; John 17:20-21
6. "When God puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer.” -Warren Wiersbe
7. Talk to God about what He is talking to you about.
Luke 12:49-59
1. Read Luke 12:49-59; Matthew 3:11; Luke 12:49.
- What does fire symbolize in Luke 12:49, and why did Jesus long for it to be kindled?
2. Read Luke 12:50 and Malachi 3:2-3.
- Why was Jesus in distress about His own baptism?
- How does His baptism of suffering lead to a baptism of salvation?
- How does God’s refining fire make us fire-spreaders? What kind of fire are Christians called to spread?
3. Read Luke 12:51-53.
- What does it mean that Jesus came to bring division?
- How do we reconcile the fact that the scriptures teach Jesus, the Prince of peace, didn’t come to bring peace but division?
4. Read Luke 12:54-56 and Luke 12:15.
- Why couldn’t some of the religious people in Jesus’ day discern that He was the fulfillment of the messianic prophesies?
5. Read Luke 12:57-59; 1 Corinthians 6:7; John 17:20-21
- What message did Jesus mean to convey with His illustration about settling conflicts before being dragged before a judge?
- What will biblical unity cost? How will not maintaining the unity of the faith cost us? And what if anything does this have to do with being a blazing and compelling witness for Christ in the world?
6. "When God puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer.” -Warren Wiersbe
- What did Wiersbe mean to convey and how should we respond when we find ourselves in the furnace?
7. Talk to God about what He is talking to you about.