NOTES: 1] LK here gives the impression of writing for wealthier readers. 2] In v.32, 'kingdom' (= God's Rule) has nothing to do with lines on maps, though often used to justify much that's totally alien from God's Rule. 3] Remember that 'Son of Man' has both here-&-now, earthed, human dimensions, & also future supernatural ones. They are both / and, not either / or.

WARMING UP: If we had to pack one case & run for our life, what would go in that case?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Can we identify God at work in anything that's been going on since last week's Group?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

32-34    Does fear play any role in, even dictate the way we live our life? Fear of what? Are there fears inside us that we can't, don't want to identify? Are afraid to name? Might some failure on our part to respond to someone / something, take up a challenge, or venture in a new direction, be because fear of some kind has taken hold in us? Is there anything that's stopping us from living, free from fear, under the Rule God has been pleased to give us? What's the essence of God's Rule? Or, haven't we discovered that yet?
             Is most of our treasure at the material end, or the God end of the scale? Can the balance ever shift from the former to the latter end till we accept God's Rule, God's way of looking at things? How big a container is our real treasure in? How much baggage are we really carrying under the guise of 'treasure'?

35-38    In our case, what might it mean to be: a) 'dressed for action'? b) 'have our lamps lit'? c) 'waiting for our master to return'? Do we actually spend more time waiting for our 'master to return' from somewhere, or enjoying the fact that he's already back among us? Maybe neither? What difference does seeing 'our master' as the centre of life here & now make to the way we approach life?
             May what Jesus says here be coloured by his (?) or the early church's (?) belief that the end of the world was near? Should that have any effect on the way we understand what he says? If we accept that our real treasure is God ruling among us here & now, doesn't that mean 'the end of the world' has already happened in one sense? In which case, what must we be alert for now? Is knowing ourself to be 'blessed' in itself a sign of God ruling among us here & now?

39-40   How are we to strike the right balance between looking for Our Lord's return, & celebrating his continuing presence among us? Is it harder to celebrate his presence among us by his Spirit than it would be if we could actually see Jesus still? Can't we see Jesus still?
            If we (self, Home Group, Congregation) were to prepare a check list of 'readiness' for the Son of Man's return, what would feature on that list? Would it vary between self, Group, & Congregation, or be one & the same list in each case? OK,  we've made our list.... now, how do we rank what's on it?