The Christian Life Is Not a Joyride -- a warning from Matthew 10:16-34
- mww
- 20 hours ago
- 20 min read
Updated: 47 minutes ago
You will face opposition and persecution. (But it's worth it.)
Bible Study Ideas and Commentary for Matthew 10:16-34
This week is our one lesson on Jesus' second discourse: commissioning the disciples for their first "unsupervised fieldwork". To prepare them, He is clear about the opposition they will face. But He is equally encouraging: they will have the support of the Holy Spirit, the example of Christ, and the witness of God the Father Himself. They should not be afraid.
Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul (10:28)
Getting Started: Things to Think About
Sheep among Wolves: Stories of Persecution
In this week's passage, Jesus sends out His disciples to preach and teach on their own, and He warns them that they will face opposition. So, this clearly seems like the right week to focus on Christian persecution. I've mentioned recently that we have lots of very current examples in the news.
I'm going to make this topic my "Big Idea", so you'll see more below if you want more. I give you some resources from The Voice of the Martyrs and Global Christian Relief. My suggestion for this topic: do your own research on their websites and find some stories that really resonate with you. Bring those stories to share with your group on Sunday morning.
Open this topic with a general question like, "What do you know about persecution against Christians in the world right now?" Lead your group into a greater awareness of what's happening around the world.
Here's my weird consideration: if you do decide to focus on worldwide Christian persecution, start your group time with parts 1 and 2 (Matthew 10:16-31) and then come back to this topic. Your point would be that Jesus acknowledged the opposition He would face in the world that would be shared by everyone who would boldly follow Him. We want to be aware that Christians around the world face real danger in the name of Christ today, and we also want to ask ourselves if we are also ready to face such danger.
The Practicum Isn't Enough
Sometimes You Just Gotta Throw 'Em in the Pool
In this week's passage, Jesus sends His disciples out for some "unsupervised field experience". It seems pretty early in Jesus' ministry to be giving such a big assignment to these unproven men, but Jesus knows far better than we do.
So, my thought for this topic is something like, "How did you get your career training? or How did you develop the skills you use in your job today?"
Along with that, there's "Did your training ever cause you to leave a career path?"
I think we would all say that there's no substitute for real-world experience. However, I've heard plenty of stories from folks who said that their training (the Academy, boot camp, internships, student teaching, etc.) helped them realize they were not cut out for a certain line of work.
How else are you going to know if you're cut out for something unless you try it? And more to the point, how else are you going to get better at something unless you practice it?
But once you've talked a little about jobs, I'd want you to shift the discussion to church.
If your church is like most, you probably wish that you had more evangelists, more Sunday School teachers, more children's leaders, etc. Secular job skill development is a combination of observation, training, and doing. And guess what -- it's the same thing in the church. And in my experience, the doing has been -- by far -- the most effective method.
One of the most difficult things in church leadership is balancing those methods. I've mentioned how Christians can become "educated beyond their obedience"; and I've seen some church training programs that give the impression that leading children's church is akin to neurosurgery. Jesus did not give us jobs in the church that are too difficult; it's up to us as church members to "jump in". There's no magic fool-proof church leadership development program (whatever you might see for sail). But there is faithful discipleship and service.
As you read this week's passage, I hope your group is encouraged to step out in faith in service. Is there a need in your church? Why don't you decide to be one to help!
Locker Room Speeches
I felt the need to add some fun options; persecution is such a heavy topic.
If your group has some athletes it in (or just sports lovers who watch locker room speeches), perhaps ask about their most memorable speeches. Some coaches are geniuses of motivation. The phrase "run through a wall" is in the vernacular because some coaches really are that motivating.
What makes for a great, motivating speech? (It doesn't have to be a locker room speech; I have that on the brain because we're coming up on the Super Bowl and the sports news is about coach-motivators.) In this week's passage, Jesus gives a speech that, while hard, has motivated disciples for centuries.
Traveling for Jesus (Short-term, local missions)
I just saw the "travel photographer" contest results
Some very stunning photos. And a nice escape from our cold weather.
In this week's passage, Jesus sends His disciples into the surrounding towns and villages to preach and teach (like a "local mission trip"). They're supposed to find somebody who will let them stay in their house. This topic would not be about "exotic" mission work; it would be about your experiences nearby. Have you gone to help a church in the next county over? Maybe a neighboring state? Did you sleep in a church? What were those trips like?
I like "local missions". You're not home, but the area is still familiar. And in my experience, just traveling a short distance usually emboldens mission volunteers -- the excitement and energy levels really shoot up.
How would you imagine Jesus' disciples felt being sent out on their first local mission trip?
Where We Are in Matthew: "The Second Discourse"
Here's the rough outline of this part of Matthew's Gospel --
Part 2: The Kingdom Grows
Demonstrations of Jesus' authority (Matt 8-10:4)
The second discourse: Sending the Disciples (Matt 10:5-42)
Transition: The ministry expands (Matt 11:1)
Part 3: Opposition Rises
Conflicts with the authorities (Matt 11-12)
The third discourse: Parables of the Kingdom (Matt 13)
I'll give the outline of the second discourse in part 3 of my notes.
The Lifeway outline skips a favorite passage for many people. This passage helps us understand everything that follows:
9:35 Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
For Matthew, this is the next major transition in Jesus' ministry. Jesus has demonstrated His authority to teach the truth. But Jesus is still "just" one Man in one location. So, in order to multiply His movement, Jesus will invest some of His authority into His followers. The disciples don't yet realize this, but He is preparing them to continue the mission after His death and ascension. The disciples probably just think of this as a "practicum", but this is truly their first fieldwork, preparing them for the Great Commission.
Let's continue into chapter 10:
10:1 Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
I highlighted the word "authority" just to make sure you caught it. (You'll find some people who argue that the Great Commission only applies to "apostles", which means that modern day "apostles" still have the authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. You'll also find that the people who say that are people who claim to have that authority, and they'll use it on your behalf for a sum.)
We covered these verses in 2016:
Jesus' instructions to them begins in verse 5. Here are some key things that we skip but you should know to better understand our passage:
Their "target" is Jews -- not Romans or Samaritans (yet); this fulfills God's promise to Abraham and also makes it clear that the opposition against them is targeted -- it's true religious persecution. (And if Luke 9 is any indicator, the disciples were not emotionally ready to minister to Samaritans.)
The disciples are to emulate Jesus' ministry -- they can do and say everything He did. They will teach God's true morality and God's true religion, which means they can't do anything for profit or power.
(Incidentally, this is where some monastic orders got their ideals. I guess they didn't read the rest of the New Testament.)
Our main takeaway is that Jesus is (for now) sending the disciples to their own people, and they will find opposition even there. This will prepare them for the opposition they will find later, when they begin to take this message to the nations.
[Aside: lots of possibilities for discussion that are simply beyond the scope of this week's passage. I mentioned local, short-term missions above, but that's really just the tip of the iceberg. Your experiences staying in the home of a stranger. Your experiences with street preachers or street evangelists. The kind of help that churches in nearby counties might need. All of those can be fun topics, but the lesson outline really just skips all of that and gets straight to the much more serious topics.]
That leads me to a massive fast-forward to today.
This Week's Big Idea: Global Christian Persecution
I want to give you two of my favorite resources, and I'll encourage you to dive into them and find stories and videos that you want to share with your group.
Global Christian Relief: The Red List
Global Christian Relief just released their "Red List" for 2026.
These are the most dangerous places for Christians right now. Their report is too large for me to post, but you can use their "Get the Free Report" button. It really is a free report -- you don't have to sign up for anything. I'll summarize a few things from the report.
GCR bases their Red List on five categories: killings (of Christians); violence and intimidation against churches; arrests and detentions; forced displacement; and assaults or abductions. You might have seen this catchy graphic on social media:
What I like about GCR reporting is they only publish what they can verify. They don't sensationalize the numbers to get clicks. If these numbers seem low, they probably are. But every one of those numbers can be associated with a person or a church.
About killings: "Africa remains the global epicenter of lethal violence against Christians. . . . The majority of these killings occurred in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Russia, and Mozambique. While the drivers of violence differ across these contexts, they share several underlying conditions: weak or uneven state protection, the presence of Islamic State-affiliated groups that deliberately target civilians, and a persistent lack of accountability for perpetrators."
About violence: "Across the countries with the highest number of building-related violations— Rwanda, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, and Ukraine—the VID reveals how different forms of pressure, violence, and instability can all undermine the ability of Christian communities to worship and gather. In Rwanda, restrictive state regulations have led to thousands of church closures. In Mozambique and Myanmar, armed groups and the military have destroyed churches and entire Christian villages. In Nicaragua, even a 95% Christian population has not shielded believers from state repression. And in Ukraine, the destruction of churches amid war has left many communities without a place to worship. Though the contexts vary widely, each case illustrates how the loss of religious buildings—whether through policy, insurgency, or conflict—strikes at the heart of Christian communal life."
About arrests: "The countries with the highest levels of arrests and sentencing of Christians during the reporting period reflect different political and social contexts, yet they share a common pattern: governments use legal and administrative tools to restrict Christian activity outside state-approved boundaries. These cases represent documented actions by the state against Christians in environments where religious practice is tightly regulated, politicized, or treated as a threat to political stability or national cohesion."
About displacement: "The countries with the highest levels of Christian displacement reflect a range of drivers, including insurgency, civil conflict, communal violence, and criminal governance. Although the mechanisms differ across contexts, these cases share a common reality: Christians are displaced because their presence, identity, or community role makes them vulnerable amid broader patterns of violence and insecurity."
About abductions: "The countries with the highest levels of abductions, sexual assaults, forced marriages, and other forms of physical abuse against Christians reflect a wide range of insecurity drivers, including organized crime, communal violence, civil conflict, and authoritarian repression. Although the contexts differ, these cases share a common pattern: Christians become vulnerable because of their identity, community role, or the social environments in which they live."
GCR sees a confluence of pressures creating the context in which Christians today face more persecution than ever in human history:
Violence in Contexts of Chronic Insecurity
The Destruction of Churches, Homes, and Christian Spaces
Expanding State Power and Its Impact on Christian Life
Personal, Gendered, and Hidden Forms of Harm
Displacement as the Loss of Home, Stability, and Worship
Here are their trends to watch in 2026:
The West Discovers Religious Liberty Again
Africa Remains the Epicenter of Anti-Christian Violence
The Middle East’s Christian Communities Continue Their Exodus
China Escalates Crackdown on World’s Largest Persecuted Church
More Attention, Less Impact
(That first trend is directly attributed to Trump and Vance, and GCR's take on what they accomplished is very interesting.)
And here's what GCR is worried about in 2026:
Some governments are working hard to hide instances of Christian persecution in their borders.
Some persecutors are hiding the religious intent of their actions (which is why some people are saying that there is no Christian persecution happening in Nigeria).
Violence is targeting the structures of Christian life -- churches, schools, and community centers.
Governments are quietly ratcheting their pressure on Christians -- new laws, more surveillance, heavier restrictions.
Persecutors are using displacement as a way to achieve their goal of eliminating Christianity without the negative press of a massacre.
Read their report through, though, and you'll find their for hope, including incredible stories of faith, forgiveness, and resilience. They send you to this website for more stories:
On that page, you'll find videos, articles, maps, and prayer guides. Of course they're going to ask for your financial support, but they don't restrict access to their content.
The Voice of the Martyrs: Pray for Persecuted Christians
VOM doesn't do as much statistical reporting, but they do emphasize stories. In my opinion, their prayer resources are top notch.
Go to their prayer guide, and you can click on any country and be taken to a list of active prayer requests from people in that country.
In their most recent magazine, they have a "10 Ways to Pray for Persecuted Christians": "Pray that these persecuted Christians will . . ."
Sense God's presence (Heb 13:5)
Know that we are praying for them (2 Tim 1:3)
Experience God's comfort (1 Thess 2:16-17)
See God provide opportunities for evangelism (Col 4:3)
Boldly share the gospel (Acts 4:29)
Mature in their faith (Col 1:28-29)
Be granted wisdom in covert ministry work (Acts 9:23-25)
Remain joyful amid suffering (Acts 5:41)
Forgive and love their persecutors (Matt 5:44)
Be rooted in God's Word (2 Tim 3:16-17)
Their latest magazine includes stories about
A widow who forgave the man who murdered her husband, the director of the only Christian bookstore in Gaza City;
A pastor ministering to fleeing Christians and Muslims in Burkina Faso;
A guerrilla fighter in Columbia who became a Christian and now gives Bibles to Columbians in harm's way (under constant threat);
An imprisoned pastor in Iran who led 13 Muslim inmates to Christ.
It's all both uplifting and challenging.
For even more resources, check out:
But Wait -- What about Minnesota?
So, this one's interesting, and I think how we ultimately categorize it depends on what happens next. I hope you all saw this story from a couple of weeks ago:
There are two reasons why this event is different from the church-storming that has happened in Nigeria and Ukraine and China:
The protesters weren't primarily protesting Jesus; they were going after a member of the church. They just picked the time and place that would create the biggest spectacle -- Affidavit outlines fear caused by Cities Church protesters | Baptist Press
The government is (for now, at least) on the side of the church -- DHS Arrests 3 Ringleaders of St. Paul Church Riot for Federal Crimes | Homeland Security
That said . . .
This event has all the hallmarks of "classic" Christian intimidation, and it's very clear that members of Cities Church were intimidated, even frightened. What do you think might happen if our government did not go after these rioters? Do you think there might be more protests in more churches? And do you think that might embolden actual persecution from our country's anti-Christian population?
Indeed, when you read the GCR data, you'll find that government action is critical to deterring religious persecution. Once the government stopped prosecuting threats against Christians in those "most dangerous countries", the danger quickly ramped up.
We have a responsibility as Americans to make sure that never happens in our country. But we have a bigger responsibility as Christians not to look to our government for guardrails. We look to Christ alone, and we follow His leadership alone.
Part 1: Be Innocent and Shrewd (Matthew 10:16-20)
16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.
I consider this one of the most important passages in the New Testament, and it's provided inspiration and comfort to pastors and missionaries for 2000 years. Jesus says something similar to the Seventy-Two in Luke 10, so I believe that these words are meant for all of Jesus' disciples (including us).
This does not mean that every disciple will find yourself in every one of these situations. But when you do, you can take comfort (and satisfaction) in Jesus' words.
We've already seen the sheep and wolves imagery in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus wants His followers to understand that their opponents are not simply indifferent to them; they are hostile to them.
Therefore, Jesus counsels us to be innocent and shrewd.
My recommendation is that most of your group time in this section be devoted to establishing what those things mean. A great parallel is Romans 16:19: "I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil."
The word for "innocent" (akeraioi) does not mean "naive" but rather "blameless". The word for "shrewd" (phronimoi) does not mean "cunning" but rather "prudent".
Do you see how those things must work together for a Christian? Innocence without shrewdness is just naivete. But shrewdness without blamelessness is "cheap cunning" (to quote Carson).
In other words, a Christian cannot use "I was being shrewd" as an excuse for sin (see Eph 4:26). Likewise, a Christian cannot use "I had no idea that was going on" as an excuse for enabling someone else's sin.
Jesus loves the people of the world so much that He willingly died or us all. But He knows what's in our hearts. He wants His disciples to be very realistic about the task at hand.
I don't have much to say about the rest of the passage. Jesus doesn't want His followers to shy away from bold proclamations that bring about arrests, but neither does He want us to be careless or reckless.
Eventually, a Christian must stand before an anti-Christian authority and give witness. In the modern West, we like to think that these presentations can be amicable. This is why we thank God for gifted apologists who can handle such confrontations on our behalf.
But one day, it might be you on trial. Jesus wants us not to panic if that day comes; He is "with us in the fire".
One thing this promise is not: an excuse to be lazy about knowing and understanding your faith. How many times have I said that for the Spirit to recall truth to your mind, it has to be in your mind in the first place! Learn your Bible! Rather, this is a promise to "perform under pressure". You might be like me in that when you feel the pressure, words seem to flit and fly away. Words just don't come, and you feel stupid. What a terrible time for that to happen when you're standing before an authority giving witness to your faith in Jesus Christ!
And that's Jesus' point. Don't worry about that. Under those circumstances, the Spirit will bring the words to your mind.
Aside: The Spirit
Would the disciples have understood "the Spirit" in the same way we do? Of course not. But the Old Testament is clear enough that God the Father had an "agent" doing his work (think Gen 1:2). So, they wouldn't have had a Trinitarian view of the Godhead when Jesus said this, but this would not have been an unfamiliar phrase from Jesus.
Aside: We Skip 10:21-25
I get it, these words are tough, but someone in your group will read them and be concerned. Jesus puts an apocalyptic spin on what's about to happen, and He will flesh this out a lot more in Matthew 24 and 25.
It won't be long before Christian discipleship reveals faultlines in one's own family. Jesus doesn't want His disciples to be distraught when that happens (just like He wants them to be emotionally prepared for His own death). It won't happen to everybody, but it will happen.
"Everyone will hate you" does not mean everyone without exception but everyone without distinction. There is no "safe population" you can go where you will not face opposition.
But what about verse 23? What does it mean for "the Son of Man to come"? Scholars have given many, many interpretations. Based on the context, this almost certainly means "the message of judgment of God". As the disciples take Jesus' message of repentance (and soon, salvation) to the cities of Israel, they are also delivering a message of judgment to those Jews who reject the Messiah. That message of judgment will be solidified in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ -- the disciples won't have made it through all of Israel before this climactic event happens.
But Jesus spins this into a message of hope for His disciples. "Yes, they're going to say and do terrible things to you, but it won't be anything I've not already experienced."
All of this will make a lot more sense to the disciples after the resurrection.
Part 2: Be Bold, Not Afraid (Matthew 10:26-31)
26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
The disciples (like most humans) would have assumed that the worst thing someone can do to you is kill you. As a result, fear of death is just about the greatest manipulator in the human experience.
Heb 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
Peter, after a few decades of thinking about these words, concluded
1 Pet 3:13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
In today's world, where surveillance means there are so few secrets, intimidation into silence is a common goal of the powerful. But Jesus' very simple point is that with God, there are no secrets. Therefore, Jesus' disciples should not be intimidated into silence (the rest of the world will find out soon enough; may as well let them find out from you).
And that leads to Jesus' incredibly powerful (but obvious) observation: why would anyone worry about their mortal existence more than their immortal existence?
A couple of things to establish from these words:
Humans are made up of a physical part (our physical body) and a spiritual part (our immaterial spirit or soul).
God the Father -- and only God the Father -- has the power of heaven and hell. Satan does not decide who is saved or damned.
Both heaven and hell have a physical reality -- soul and body are reunited before judgment, and then they enter into an eternal destination.
So, yes, the worst someone can do to you is kill you. But compared to God's power over heaven and hell, death is minor.
And Jesus wants His followers to share His faith in God the Father.
First, He reminds them about God's omniscience. If there are no secrets from God (see 10:26), then no disciple can suffer persecution without God knowing. If God knows every bird and every hair on your head, are you worried that He might miss your trial before "Caesar"?
God cares about every detail of your life, big and small. And in the next section, Jesus explains why this should be a comfort to His followers.
Part 3: Care More about Christ Than Comfort (Matthew 10:32-34)
32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. 34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
The long and short is this: Jesus' followers who faithfully obey -- they don't have to worry about whether God will destroy their body and soul in hell.
This is an early and critical look into what salvation means. The disciples don't understand the crucifixion yet, but Jesus gives them a glimpse into what salvation will accomplish.
The imagery mirrors the "trials" that Jesus' followers will face. When they "stand trial" before a non-Christian authority, the Holy Spirit will help them say what brings glory to God. When they "stand trial" before God after their death, Jesus (the "Son of Man") will stand with them and help them say what brings glory to God.
When we think of death and judgment, we often think of it as a trial in a courtroom before God with Satan as the prosecuting attorney and Jesus as our defense Attorney. And that probably works as well in our brains as anything. But in these words, we also realize that Jesus is the only "star witness".
If you die without faith in Jesus, not only will Jesus not be your "attorney", but He also won't testify on your behalf. It will be just you against Satan. And you are not more cunning or clever than Satan. Plus, Satan's right -- you don't deserve salvation. Without Jesus' direction and gracious intervention, you will go to hell when you die.
Usually there's a break before verse 34. To explain, I'll finally share my outline for this discourse.
Jesus' Second Discourse: Mission and Martyrdom (10:5-10:39)
The commission (10:5-16)
Don't fear opposition
The Spirit will help you (10:17-20)
Persecution will come (10:21-23)
Take inspiration from Jesus (10:24-25)
Let faith outweigh fear
God sees all (10:26-27)
God has power over eternity (10:28)
God cares about you (10:29-31)
The picture of discipleship
Bold witness (10:32-33)
Jesus before even family (10:34-36)
Jesus above everything (10:37-39)
Vv. 32-33 are one part of discipleship: bold witness. Vv. 34-36 are another part of discipleship: aligning with Jesus even above family.
I'm guessing that last part would have been very real for the disciples. Many of them were from Galilee and probably had family and friends in at least some of the towns they would visit. Would they care about their family's reaction to their mission? Would it interfere with their obedience?
But for our lesson, we're just focusing on v. 34.
The Pharisees had a vision of utopia that's not unlike a lot of people's today: there will be peace when everyone who disagrees with me is gone. To the Pharisees, the Messianic Age meant that the Messiah would destroy all of their enemies and talk about how great they are, and they wouldn't have to change a thing about themselves. That's their "peace on earth". Talk to a bunch of people, and I think you'll find similar thoughts.
And that's why we cannot say that Jesus came to bring peace on earth.
The gospel tells the world and its powers that they are condemned and bound for judgment. Such a proclamation will always bring about rejection and resistance. And after Judgment, there will only be those whom God allows in His presence -- there will be peace on earth.
But the difference between the world's vision of peace and God's is that God wants everyone to share in His peace. The world wants to get rid of everyone they don't like.
Do you see why it would be important for Jesus to establish this from the get-go with His disciples? And more to the point, how well are churches doing with this today?
The Lifeway material suggests a "loyalty" exercise, and that is very appropriate.
For my part, I want to challenge you and your group to consider what Jesus is saying to you in these verses.