Weekly Teaching Reflection
October 26th Reflection
Sermon Notes and Discussion Questions
Luke: Identity of the King
The Teacher of Love
Luke 6:17-19
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
Luke 6:27-28
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:29-31
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:32-34
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
Luke 6:35
Love your enemies… and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.
The only way to live this kingdom way… is to trust in a King like this.
How Do We Love Our Enemies?
Luke 6:27-28
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
The Greek word for enemy = (echthroi) religious, political, and personal enemies. OT = military enemies.
There is nothing in Jesus’s words that restricts the meaning of “enemy” to certain types of people.
Jesus’s call to love our enemy is indistinguishable; it extends to every last person on the planet.
#1 – Do Good to Those Who Hate You
(Our Actions)
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
#2 – Bless Those Who Curse You
(Our Words)
#3 – Pray for Those Who Mistreat You
(Our Thoughts)
Three Myths That Keep Us from Loving Our Enemies
Myth #1: “You can’t love someone you disagree with.”
Myth #2: “If you don’t reconcile, you don’t love.”
Myth #3: “My enemy must be completely wrong.”
Four Steps for Practice
Self-Examination
Set Things Right
Take Action
Love Like Jesus
For Group Discussion
Recap Practice from Last week:
Practice: A Subversive Sabbath
This week, intentionally carve out 24 hours (or a defined block of time) to practice Sabbath. Not just a day off, but a time of restful worship. This doesn’t mean inactivity but choosing activities that restore your soul and celebrate God’s goodness.
Guiding Questions to Shape Your Sabbath:
What brings life, delight, and joy?
What helps me remember that I’m not in control?
What would it look like to “stop producing” and just be?
Optional Prompts:
Unplug from work email or social media.
Prepare in advance to not cook, clean, or run errands.
Go for a walk, journal, play, feast, worship, or simply nap in peace.
Reflect on this question: Where am I trying to be king, and how can I let Jesus reign here instead?
Sabbath isn’t about being lazy. It’s about being faithful. A “resting” to declare, “Jesus is King, and I am not.”
This week: Scripture for Reflection
Invite the group to read these aloud and sit with them in silence for a moment before discussion:
Luke 6:27–28 – “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:35–36 – “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back… Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us.”
Group Discussion Questions
Use these to prompt honest, Spirit-led conversation and reflection:
When you first hear Jesus say “love your enemies”, what’s your gut reaction? Why does this feel so unnatural or even unreasonable in our world today?
Jesus describes a kingdom where we turn the other cheek and give without expecting return (Luke 6:29–31). What does this “inverse logic” of the kingdom look like in practical, everyday life?
Verse 36 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
How does knowing God’s character (kind to the ungrateful and wicked) empower us to love those who mistreat us?Jesus gives us three ways to love our enemies: do good, bless, and pray.
Which of these comes most naturally to you? Which one is most difficult? Why?When someone’s name comes up who has hurt you, how do you usually respond? What would it look like to “speak blessing instead of curse” in those moments?
How might praying for someone who has wronged you change your heart—even if they never change?
Which of the three cultural myths (you can’t love someone you disagree with; reconciliation = love; my enemy must be completely wrong) do you find most tempting to believe?
The early church was known for enemy-love. What would it look like if today’s apprentices of Jesus were known for this again? How might that transform our families, workplaces, or communities?
For Practice This Week
Invite everyone to choose one tangible way to practice Jesus’s words this week.
For Practice:
Ask God to search your heart: Who feels like an “enemy” to you right now? Someone who frustrates, opposes, or wounds you.
Take one step of love:
Do good: Perform a small act of kindness or service for them.
Bless: Speak life over them (in person or in prayer).
Pray: Pray daily for their good, not their downfall.
Reflect: At the end of the week, ask: How did loving my enemy change me? What did it reveal about God’s heart?