Faith, Familiarity, and Full Gospel
June 23 | Discipleship Guide
Be Real Together:
Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DNA, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DNA share their story.
Read Together: Matthew 13:53-58 CSB
In this passage of Mathew 13, after Jesus finished the parables, he returned to his hometown of Nazareth and taught in the synagogue. His former neighbors are bewildered by his wisdom and powers. Because they know his family and background; they wonder how a person from such a common and familiar background could possess such abilities. This familiarity with Jesus and his family leads them to doubt his authority and dismiss his message. Because of their unbelief, Jesus performs very few miracles there. This passage highlights the theme of unbelief and the idea that familiarity can breed contempt.
The One Question:
Ask this question at your family meal or DNA.
Why do you think that familiarity with Jesus and his family members made it difficult for the people of Nazareth to accept him as a prophet?
Use these questions to go deeper with your DNA or for personal study.
- Why do you think Jesus chose to teach in his hometown despite knowing the possible rejection he would face?
- How do the reactions of the people in Nazareth contrast with the reactions of those who heard Jesus in other towns?=
- How do you think the disciples were impacted by witnessing Jesus’s rejection?
- In what ways might we today be tempted to dismiss or undervalue someone’s message because of their background of familiarity?
- Verse 58 states that Jesus did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith. What does this say about the role that faith plays in the experience of miracles or divine works?
Pray Together:
Take time to pray with and for each other.
Deeper Study:
Enduring Word Commentary: Matthew 13