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Luke 9:49-50

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48Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

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49“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

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1)       Is verse 48 included in VisionCasting-Luke9.44-48?

o   Yes.

 

2)       Why is verse 48 included here?

o   It is included here to provide continuity of context.

 

3)       Was the man successful in driving out demons in Jesus’ name and why?

o   Yes, because otherwise

§  He would have stopped trying to do so.

§  And the disciples would not have needed to tell him to stop.

 

4)       What is a better translation for ‘he is not one of us’?

o   A better translation is ‘he does not follow along with us’.

 

5)       What motivated John to tell Jesus what they told the man?

o   John

§  Noticed that Jesus pointed out that the significance of welcoming a child rested with doing so in his name.

§  So wanted to know if it was legitimate for them to tell the man to stop driving out demons in Jesus’ name.

§  Since

§  He was not following Jesus along with them.

 

6)       Could John have simply said, “We saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him” and that would already convey the idea that the man was not following along with them?

o   Yes.

 

7)       What did John mean with what he had said?

o   He meant that

§  He and the other disciples had invited the man to follow Jesus along with them.

§  But

§  He declined.

§  So they told him to stop driving out demons in Jesus’ name.

 

8)       How does what John said reflect the disciples’ idea about who had the exclusive right to drive out demons in Jesus’ name?

o   Only those who followed Jesus along with them had the exclusive right to drive out demons in Jesus’ name.

 

9)       In accordance with what Jesus said in verses 49 and 50 is someone driving out demons in his name for the disciples or against the disciples?

o   The person is

§  Not against the disciples.

§  And therefore for the disciples.

 

10)   According to what Jesus said in verses 49 and 50 how should the disciples deal with someone driving out demons in Jesus’ name?

o   They should not stop him.

 

11)   Who authorizes driving out demons in Jesus’ name?

o   Jesus does.

 

12)   Based on what has been discussed, does Jesus authorize driving out demons by someone only to have the person going against the disciples?

o   No.

 

13)   What is the implication of Jesus’ statement that whoever is not against you is for you in the context of the whole world?

o   The whole world comprises those who are

§  Either against the disciples.

§  Or for the disciples.

o   Those who are

§  Neither against the disciples.

§  Nor for the disciples.

o   Do not exist.

 

14)   What does driving out demons in Jesus’ name authenticate?

o   It serves to authenticate the message of the worker.

 

15)   Did the man have a message in favor of Jesus to convey, had he only driven out demons in Jesus’ name without saying anything else?

o   Yes.

 

16)   What is Jesus’ view on who is allowed to drive out demons in Jesus’ name advantageous for and why?

o   Jesus’ view is advantageous for advancing the kingdom of God.

o   Because

o   It maximizes manpower for the work.

 

17)   What is the disciples’ view on who is allowed to drive out demons in Jesus’ name advantageous for?

o   Their view is advantageous for protecting their personal turf.

 

18)   In what way is the disciples’ view on who is allowed to drive out demons in Jesus’ name disadvantageous for advancing the kingdom of God?

o   It minimizes manpower for the work.

 

19)   Who would approve of the disciples’ view on who is allowed to drive out demons?

o   You guessed it, it is the demons.

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Luke 9:49-50

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