THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL

The Parable of the Rich Fool – Luke 12:13-21

When was your most recent mountaintop experience with God?

Bible Reading

Luke 12:13-21

13  Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14  But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

15  And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

16  Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

17  “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

18  “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

19  ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”‘

20  “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

21  “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

(NKJ)

Food for Thought

1.   When was the last time you found your self speechless?

2.   Is there a place where you feel particularly close to God?

Bible Study

3.   What happened to Jesus on the mountain? (9:3)

4.   Who appeared with Jesus in the transfiguration? (9:4)

5.   What is significant about the people who appeared with Jesus? (9:4)

6.   How did Peter respond to the transfiguration of Jesus? (9:5)

7.   Why were the disciples frightened when they saw Jesus?? (9:6)

8.   What did God say to the disciples? (9:7)

9.   What did God want the disciples to do? (9:7)

10. What orders did Jesus give to the disciples? (9:9)

11. What caught the disciples off-guard and became a topic of discussion on the way down from the mountain? (9:10)

12. Why did the disciples ask Jesus about Elijah? (9:11)

13. About who was Jesus speaking when he said “Elijah has come?” (9:12-13)

Kingdom Dynamics

14. Why was it necessary for Jesus to go up a high mountain with his disciples?

15. Why do you think Jesus took time for a trip to the mountains not long before his crucifixion?

16. Why do you think Jesus chose only three disciples to witness the transfiguration?

17. Why did Peter suggest building three shelters?

18. What is implied by God’s command that we listen to Jesus?

19. When and how did you come to grasp Jesus’ glory in a special way?

20. When was your most recent mountaintop experience with God?

21. How would you describe your relationship with God right now?

22. Did the scriptures actually say Elijah would come first?

23. How can John the Baptist’s experience help the disciples understand the nature of Jesus’ ministry?

24. How does the picture of a suffering Messiah shape your view of what the believer’s life is all about?

25. What can we learn from this account about the relationship between the Father and the Son?”

Practical Christianity

26. What specific word or command of Jesus can you obey more carefully this week and how?

27. What can you do over the coming week to be more sensitive to God’s voice?