Meeting guide · command 33

Do What You’ve Heard

Receive God's word as Jesus' true family by hearing it and putting it into practice.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Luke 8:19–21

19 His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20 Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

World English Bible

When Jesus' mother and brothers cannot reach Him through the crowd, He identifies those who hear and do God's word as His family.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. Where has familiarity with Jesus' words replaced the concrete obedience by which His family resemblance becomes visible?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Recall one clear teaching of Jesus you heard recently. Write the specific response it requires and complete that response before your next meeting.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Which word did you act on, what did obedience require, and how did it deepen your life with Jesus' people?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, thank you for drawing obedient hearers into your family. Help us welcome your word and act on it together.

Teach

Teach that Jesus expands the meaning of family around responsive discipleship; do not use the passage to dismiss His care for His earthly family.