Community Guidance
Core Scripture Readings
Luke 24:27
“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.”
- What does this moment suggest about how Jesus wants His followers to approach Scripture—alone or in relationship?
At its core, Luke 24 exposes a misunderstanding about how Scripture works.
The disciples are not ignorant of Scripture.
They know Moses.
They know the prophets.
They know the stories.
What they lack is understanding shaped by Christ.
This moment makes clear that Scripture, on its own, does not automatically reveal its meaning—even to faithful readers.
To approach Scripture alone often assumes:
- Meaning is obvious
- Understanding is individual
- Faithfulness is measured by correct interpretation
- Certainty is the goal
But Jesus models a different posture.
He approaches Scripture in relationship:
- He walks with the disciples
- He listens before explaining
- He interprets patiently
- He reframes everything around Himself
Jesus does not correct them from a distance.
He enters their confusion and stays with them as their understanding unfolds.
A helpful way to articulate this:
“Jesus treats Scripture not as information to be mastered alone, but as a story that must be interpreted in relationship—with Him and with others.”
In other words:
Reading alone asks, “What does this text say?”
Reading in relationship asks, “How is Christ revealing Himself here—and how does that reshape me?”
This matters for Walking His Way because it reframes faithfulness.
Faithfulness is not proven by independence or certainty.
It is formed through humility, companionship, and willingness to be taught.
You might also note:
- The disciples’ misunderstanding is not rebellion—it is incomplete vision
- Jesus does not shame them for reading wrongly
- He assumes Scripture requires guidance, context, and presence
That’s crucial pastorally.
This passage does not suggest people fail because they lack Scripture.
It suggests people struggle because they try to understand Scripture without walking with Christ and one another.
Luke 24 shows us that discipleship is not solitary study.
It is a shared journey where meaning emerges as we walk, listen, and remain open to being changed.
This directly reinforces Walking His Way’s conviction:
Scripture is not meant to be possessed.
It is meant to be walked with.
John 1:14–18
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us…”
- How does seeing the Word embodied in Jesus change what it means to “know” God?
this is a foundational question, and it does important reframing work for the whole study. John is redefining knowledge itself.
Before Christ, “knowing God” could easily be understood as:
- Knowing God’s commands
- Knowing God’s attributes
- Knowing sacred texts
- Knowing correct doctrine
- Knowing how to speak about God
John disrupts that understanding by making a radical claim:
The Word does not remain an idea.
The Word becomes a person.
To know God, then, is no longer primarily an intellectual or informational task.
It becomes relational and experiential.
If the Word is embodied in Jesus, then knowing God looks like:
- Watching how Jesus treats people
- Listening to how He speaks truth and mercy together
- Noticing who He draws near to and who He challenges
- Paying attention to how He uses authority without domination
In this sense, knowledge shifts from abstraction to encounter.
A helpful way to articulate this:
“Knowing God is no longer about how much Scripture we can explain, but how closely our lives resemble the life of Christ.”
In other words:
Knowing asks, “What do I believe about God?”
Embodiment asks, “What kind of person is my faith forming me to be?”
This matters deeply for Walking His Way.
If the Word is flesh, then obedience cannot be reduced to rule-keeping or right belief alone.
It must take shape in how we live, love, forgive, and respond to others.
You might also note:
- Jesus does not merely teach God’s truth—He reveals God’s character
- God chooses proximity over distance
- Authority is expressed through presence, not control
That’s pastorally significant.
John is not dismissing Scripture or theology.
He is insisting that they reach their fullness only when they are embodied in real human life.
For disciples, this means:
To know God is to follow Jesus closely enough that His way of being becomes visible in us.
This reinforces a central Walking His Way conviction:
Faith is not proven by what we can articulate about God.
It is revealed in how the Word takes flesh in our own lives.
Matthew 5:17–20
“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
- What do you notice about Jesus’ posture toward Scripture in this passage—defensive, dismissive, or purposeful?
This passage shows that Jesus is neither reacting to Scripture nor trying to escape it.
He is deeply purposeful.
Jesus anticipates misunderstanding, but He does not argue defensively.
He also does not dismiss the law as outdated or irrelevant.
Instead, He situates Himself within Scripture while also clarifying its direction and goal.
A defensive posture would sound like fear of losing authority.
A dismissive posture would suggest Scripture no longer matters.
Jesus demonstrates neither.
His posture toward Scripture is intentional and confident:
- He assumes Scripture has meaning and weight
- He treats it as something moving toward fulfillment, not fossilization
- He understands Himself as the lens through which its purpose is revealed
Fulfillment here does not mean simple preservation.
It means bringing Scripture to its intended end.
A helpful way to articulate this:
“Jesus treats Scripture as a living witness pointing toward God’s redemptive purpose, not a static system to be guarded for its own sake.”
In other words:
A defensive approach asks, “How do we protect Scripture from change?”
A dismissive approach asks, “Why keep Scripture at all?”
A purposeful approach asks, “What is Scripture meant to accomplish in forming faithful lives?”
This distinction matters for Walking His Way.
If Jesus approaches Scripture purposefully, then disciples are not called to freeze it in place or set it aside—but to discern how it continues to shape lives in alignment with Christ’s teaching and example.
You might also note:
- Jesus speaks with clarity, not anxiety
- He deepens the law rather than weakening it
- He locates authority in God’s intention, not human control
That’s pastorally important.
This passage reassures us that Christ-centered interpretation is not a rejection of Scripture.
It is an act of trust in its purpose.
Walking His Way does not ask us to abandon Scripture.
It asks us to take Jesus seriously as the one who fulfills it—and shows us how to live it faithfully.
What Does It Mean That Jesus “Interprets” Scripture?
Read Together: Luke 10:25–28
A lawyer stood up to test Jesus… “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”
1. Why do you think Scripture needs interpretation at all?
This exchange reveals that Scripture is not meant to function as a shortcut.
The lawyer knows the law.
He can quote it correctly.
He is not confused about the words.
Yet Jesus does not affirm his answer and move on.
Instead, He responds with a question:
“What is written in the law? What do you read there?”
This makes clear that knowing the text and understanding its meaning are not the same thing.
Scripture needs interpretation because:
- It is written in human language
- It emerges from specific historical and cultural contexts
- It addresses real human lives, not abstract ideals
- It must be lived, not merely recited
Without interpretation, Scripture risks becoming either a checklist or a weapon—something applied mechanically rather than discerned faithfully.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Scripture requires interpretation because it is meant to guide living people in complex situations, not function as a set of self-executing commands.
In other words:
Uninterpreted Scripture asks, “What does the text say?”
Faithful interpretation asks, “How is this meant to shape how we live and love?”
2. What does it suggest about faith that Jesus explains Scripture rather than simply quoting it?
Jesus treats faith as a relational process, not a test of recall.
If faith were about correct quotation, Jesus could simply recite the law back to the lawyer and end the conversation.
Instead, He invites engagement.
Jesus assumes that:
- Scripture requires discernment
- Faith grows through dialogue
- Understanding deepens through questioning
- Meaning unfolds in relationship
This suggests that faith is not passive reception but active participation.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Jesus assumes that faithful reading involves conversation, reflection, and growth—not just accuracy.
In other words:
Quoting Scripture asks, “Can you say the right words?”
Explaining Scripture asks, “Can you live into what those words demand?”
This matters for Walking His Way because it removes pressure to perform certainty.
Faith is not about having immediate answers.
It is about being willing to wrestle honestly with Scripture in the presence of Christ and community.
3. How does this challenge the idea that the Bible should be read without context or discussion?
This passage directly challenges the assumption that Scripture is always self-evident.
If Scripture were self-explanatory in every situation:
- Jesus would not ask questions
- Interpretation would be unnecessary
- Community discernment would be irrelevant
Yet Jesus consistently does the opposite.
He draws out context.
He responds to motives.
He engages the person, not just the text.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Jesus treats Scripture as something that must be read with attention to situation, intention, and impact—not in isolation from real life.
In other words:
Reading without context assumes meaning is fixed and universal.
Reading with discussion recognizes that applying Scripture faithfully requires wisdom and care.
This does not weaken Scripture’s authority.
It honors it by taking responsibility for how it is used.
Community Insight (Leader Framing)
Jesus does not treat Scripture as self-evident. He models discernment, showing that faithful reading requires wisdom, relationship, and context.
As a leader, you might quietly reinforce:
- Discernment is not distrust
- Context is not compromise
- Discussion is not disobedience
Jesus models all three because He understands the power Scripture carries—and the harm it can cause if handled carelessly.
That’s pastorally crucial.
This passage reminds us that Scripture is not dangerous because it is unclear.
It is dangerous when it is treated as simple, context-free, and unquestionable in its application.
Walking His Way invites a different posture:
Scripture is approached with reverence, humility, and shared responsibility—because how we read it shapes how we treat others.
The Word Became Flesh
1. What does it mean that the Word of God became a person rather than remaining a text?
This claim changes where authority is located.
If the Word remained only a text, authority would rest primarily in:
- correct interpretation
- accurate quotation
- rule enforcement
- institutional control
But when the Word becomes a person, authority takes on a different shape.
Authority becomes visible in how Jesus lives:
- how He loves
- how He heals
- how He confronts injustice
- how He extends mercy
- how He holds power
This means the Word is not only something to be understood, but something to be encountered.
A helpful way to articulate this:
The Word becoming flesh means God chose relationship and presence over distance and abstraction.
In other words:
A text can be analyzed.
A person must be followed.
This is essential for Walking His Way because discipleship is not about mastering ideas—it is about walking with Christ and learning His way of being in the world.
2. How does this shape the way we think about obedience?
If the Word is embodied in Jesus, then obedience cannot be reduced to compliance with rules alone.
Obedience becomes relational rather than transactional.
Instead of asking:
- “Did I follow the rule correctly?”
- “Did I meet the requirement?”
Obedience begins to ask:
- “Am I responding faithfully to Christ’s way of love?”
- “Does my life reflect His character?”
This doesn’t remove discipline or accountability.
It deepens them.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Obedience is not measured only by what we avoid or comply with, but by how closely our lives align with the life of Jesus.
This shifts obedience from fear-based performance to faithful imitation.
3. In what ways might focusing only on rules cause us to miss the heart of faith?
Rules can provide structure, but they cannot generate transformation on their own.
When faith becomes rule-centered:
- compassion can be replaced with judgment
- obedience can become external rather than internal
- faith can become defensive rather than loving
- people can become problems to manage instead of neighbors to love
Jesus consistently critiques this kind of faith—not because rules are wrong, but because they are incomplete.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Rules can shape behavior, but only relationship with Christ shapes the heart.
This is pastorally important.
Many people who focus on rules believe they are being faithful.
They are often sincere, disciplined, and committed.
Jesus does not accuse them of bad intentions—He warns them about misplaced focus.
Gentle Prompt (Leader Framing)
Consider whether your faith has been shaped more by texts or by Christ’s example.
As a leader, hold this prompt lightly.
- Do not ask for answers.
- Allow silence.
- Let discomfort surface without resolution.
This prompt is not meant to shame.
It is meant to invite honesty.
Walking His Way does not reject Scripture.
It insists that Scripture finds its meaning when it is embodied in the life of Christ—and reflected, imperfectly, in our own.
This section helps participants notice what has been forming them—rules or relationship—and opens space for reorientation without coercion.
Fulfillment, Not Preservation
Read Together: Matthew 5:21–22
(an example of “You have heard it said… but I say to you…”)
1. How does Jesus change the focus of the law in this passage?
Jesus shifts the law’s focus from external behavior to internal formation.
The command against murder is already clear and widely accepted.
Most people listening would feel confident they were keeping it.
Jesus does not dispute the command.
He deepens it.
He moves attention from:
- visible actions
- measurable compliance
- outward innocence
to:
- inner disposition
- relational harm
- the condition of the heart
This reveals that the law was never meant to function as a minimum standard of behavior.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Jesus shows that the law’s purpose is not merely to restrain harm, but to transform the heart from which harm grows.
In other words:
The question is no longer only, “Did I break the rule?”
It becomes, “What is shaping how I see and treat others?”
2. Does fulfillment mean “keeping everything the same,” or “bringing it to its intended purpose”?
This passage makes clear that fulfillment is not the same as preservation.
Preservation focuses on:
- maintaining forms
- protecting boundaries
- enforcing continuity
Fulfillment focuses on:
- revealing purpose
- completing intention
- deepening meaning
Jesus treats the law as something moving toward a goal, not something frozen in time.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Fulfillment means allowing the law to accomplish what it was always meant to do—form lives marked by love, reconciliation, and integrity.
This distinction matters because it clarifies Jesus’ authority.
He is not discarding the law.
He is showing what it was always pointing toward.
3. Why might this distinction matter in a modern world?
In a modern world marked by complexity, diversity, and rapid change, this distinction protects faith from two extremes.
On one side:
- rigid literalism that applies ancient rules without discernment
On the other:
- dismissal of Scripture as irrelevant or outdated
Jesus offers a third way.
A way that:
- honors Scripture’s authority
- takes responsibility for its application
- prioritizes transformation over enforcement
A helpful way to articulate this:
Understanding fulfillment helps us remain faithful without becoming rigid, and adaptable without becoming unmoored.
This matters pastorally.
People are still harmed when faith focuses only on rule enforcement.
People are also disoriented when faith loses its grounding.
Jesus’ approach shows that faithfulness involves discernment—guided by love, justice, and the example of Christ.
Community Insight (Leader Framing)
Jesus moves faith from external enforcement to internal transformation.
As a leader, you might gently reinforce:
- Transformation takes time
- Inner work cannot be policed
- Faithfulness is measured by fruit, not fear
This section helps us see that Jesus is not lowering expectations—He is raising them.
Walking His Way does not ask, “How little must I do to remain faithful?”
It asks, “How deeply am I willing to be transformed?”
That shift is essential for a discipleship practice centered on Christ rather than control.
Scripture, Power, and Responsibility
Read Together: Matthew 23:23–24
“You tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness…”
Purpose of This Section
This section is where pastoral care and theological clarity have to work together.
1. Can Scripture be misused? Why or why not?
This passage assumes that misuse is possible.
Jesus is not speaking to people who ignore Scripture.
He is speaking to people who take it very seriously.
They tithe carefully.
They follow details precisely.
They are sincere in their religious commitment.
Yet Jesus names a problem.
Scripture can be misused not because it lacks authority, but because it carries power.
When Scripture is separated from its purpose—to cultivate justice, mercy, and faithfulness—it can be reduced to a tool for measuring, ranking, or controlling others.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Scripture is misused when accuracy replaces compassion and obedience is detached from love.
This is not about bad intentions.
It is about misplaced priorities.
2. What happens when Scripture is used to justify fear, exclusion, or control?
When Scripture is used this way, its fruits reveal the misuse.
Fear replaces trust.
Exclusion replaces care.
Control replaces guidance.
Jesus names this distortion clearly.
The leaders’ focus on minor regulations allows them to overlook:
- harm done to others
- injustice embedded in systems
- the dignity of real people
A helpful way to articulate this:
When Scripture is used to control rather than to heal, it no longer reflects the character of Christ.
This matters pastorally.
People who are excluded or shamed in the name of Scripture often carry long-lasting wounds.
The harm is not theoretical—it is lived.
Jesus does not respond with mild correction.
He responds with direct, compassionate truth-telling.
3. How does Jesus respond to religious leaders who enforce rules without compassion?
Jesus responds with clarity and moral seriousness.
He does not accuse them of ignorance.
He accuses them of neglecting what matters most.
His critique is not about their attention to detail, but about their failure to love.
He exposes the imbalance:
- precision without mercy
- discipline without justice
- faith without faithfulness
A helpful way to articulate this:
Jesus confronts religious leaders not for caring too much about Scripture, but for caring too little about people.
That distinction is essential.
Jesus does not remove responsibility from leaders.
He intensifies it.
Grounding Question: How can we remain faithful without becoming rigid?
This question pulls the section inward.
Faithfulness does not require rigidity.
Rigidity often signals fear—fear of ambiguity, fear of loss, fear of losing control.
Jesus models a different kind of faithfulness:
- rooted in love
- attentive to context
- responsive to human need
- guided by God’s purposes rather than human anxiety
A helpful way to articulate this:
We remain faithful by keeping Christ’s priorities at the center and holding our interpretations with humility.
In other words:
Rigidity asks, “How do we enforce this?”
Faithfulness asks, “Who does this serve, and does it reflect Christ?”
Leader Framing
As a leader, reinforce gently:
- Scripture has authority—but so does how we use it
- Faithfulness includes responsibility for impact, not just intent
- Christ’s example is the measure of faithful application
This section is not about condemning religious leaders.
It is about forming disciples who handle Scripture with care.
Walking His Way calls leaders and participants alike to remember:
Scripture shapes lives.
Because of that, it must be handled with wisdom, humility, and love.
Reading Scripture in a Modern World
Purpose of This Section
This section is where historical awareness, moral responsibility, and spiritual humility come together.
1. How might the Bible’s imperial and monarchical contexts influence its language and imagery?
This question acknowledges that Scripture speaks from within history, not outside of it.
The Bible was written in societies where:
- power was centralized
- authority flowed from the top down
- kings, emperors, and lords shaped daily life
- survival often depended on obedience to rulers
As a result, Scripture frequently uses language drawn from those realities:
- kingship
- lordship
- conquest
- inheritance
- obedience
- judgment
Recognizing this context does not diminish Scripture’s authority.
It helps us understand how God communicated within the realities people knew.
A helpful way to articulate this:
God speaks through the language people understand, even as He reshapes what power and authority truly mean.
This matters because Jesus consistently reorients these images—redefining kingship as service and power as self-giving love.
2. What responsibility do modern Christians have when applying ancient texts to today’s world?
This question centers responsibility rather than permission.
Modern Christians do not get to choose whether to interpret Scripture—interpretation is unavoidable.
The question is whether we do it carefully and faithfully.
Our responsibility includes:
- acknowledging historical distance
- considering real-world consequences
- resisting harm done in the name of faith
- applying Scripture in ways that reflect Christ’s character
A helpful way to articulate this:
Faithful application requires us to ask not only what Scripture said then, but how its purpose calls us to live now.
This is not about rewriting Scripture.
It is about living it responsibly.
3. What role does conscience play in faithful interpretation?
Conscience functions as a moral awareness shaped over time by:
- Scripture
- prayer
- community
- lived experience
- the example of Christ
Conscience is not infallible, but it is essential.
Jesus repeatedly appeals to moral discernment rather than mechanical obedience.
A helpful way to articulate this:
Conscience helps us discern how Scripture should be lived when rules alone do not address complex human realities.
This guards against both extremes:
- blind rule-following without reflection
- subjective interpretation without grounding
In Walking His Way, conscience is not elevated above Christ—it is formed by Him.
Important Clarification (Leader Emphasis)
Reinterpretation is not rejection. It is participation in a living faith tradition.
As a leader, this sentence matters.
You may want to say it slowly and let it stand.
Reinterpretation does not mean abandoning Scripture.
It means taking responsibility for how it is understood and applied across time.
The Christian tradition has always engaged in reinterpretation:
- prophets reinterpreted the law
- Jesus reinterpreted tradition
- the early church reinterpreted Scripture in light of Christ
Walking His Way stands firmly within that tradition.
This section reassures us that:
- thoughtful engagement is faithful
- historical awareness strengthens belief
- humility deepens discipleship
This invites the us to hold Scripture with reverence and courage—trusting that God continues to meet people through it, even as the world changes.
Personal Discernment
(Journaling or Silent Prayer)
Purpose within Walking His Way
This section intentionally shifts the study from communal discernment to personal encounter.
Up to this point, we have:
- engaged Scripture together
- reflected aloud
- listened to others
- practiced shared interpretation
Personal Discernment creates space for something different:
interior honesty before God.
Walking His Way is not only about learning how to read Scripture wisely—it is about noticing where faith rubs against real life.
These questions are designed to surface:
- unresolved tension
- inherited assumptions
- quiet discomfort
- moral complexity that cannot be solved quickly
Importantly, this section resists the urge to resolve or explain.
Why silence matters here
Silence allows:
- conviction without public pressure
- clarity without debate
- honesty without performance
By explicitly stating that no one is required to share, the study:
- protects vulnerability
- removes social pressure
- affirms that discernment is not a group exercise alone
This reinforces a core Walking His Way conviction:
Faithful discipleship requires space where God speaks without commentary.
Leader posture
- Do not explain the questions
- Do not interpret responses
- Do not invite sharing afterward
- Hold the silence with confidence
Your restraint here communicates trust—in God, in the process, and in the all of us.
Practice for the Week
Purpose within Walking His Way
This section grounds the entire study in embodied discipleship.
Walking His Way does not end with insight.
It always moves toward practice.
This is not homework in the academic sense.
It is an invitation to walk with Jesus during the week, not just talk about Him in the room.
By focusing on a single Gospel passage, the practice:
- keeps attention on Christ rather than abstraction
- avoids overwhelm
- reinforces Jesus as the interpretive center
The questions are deliberately simple.
They are not asking:
- “What does this passage mean?”
- “How would you explain this?”
They are asking:
- “How does Jesus treat people?”
- “What does this call me to live differently?”
This keeps the practice aligned with Walking His Way’s core emphasis:
discipleship is lived, not claimed.
Leader posture
- Do not assign specific passages
- Do not check compliance the following week
- Do not evaluate outcomes
This is an invitation, not a test.
You can gently frame it as:
Notice what stays with you—not what you get right.
How These Sections Work Together
These two sections form the quiet closing movement of the study.
- Personal Discernment turns reflection inward
- Practice for the Week turns faith outward
Together, they communicate something essential:
Walking His Way is not about resolving every question.
It is about forming people who listen, discern, and follow Christ in daily life.
They also protect the study from becoming:
- purely intellectual
- overly verbal
- performative
Instead, they create rhythm:
reflection → silence → practice → lived faith
Why This Matters for Leaders
Leaders often feel pressure to:
- explain
- clarify
- summarize
- resolve tension
These sections ask us to do the opposite.
To trust that:
- the Spirit continues the work beyond the gathering
- not all formation is visible
- some of the most important work happens quietly
That trust is not passive—it is deeply faithful.
Walking His Way forms disciples not by controlling outcomes, but by creating space where Christ can shape people over time.
Transition to the Closing Prayer
You can move from reflection into prayer without commentary.
A simple transition is sufficient, such as:
We’ll move now into a closing prayer. You’re welcome to remain seated, eyes open or closed, as you’re comfortable.
No explanation is necessary.
Closing the Study
As we close this week’s practice, we remember that Scripture is not something we finish or master in one sitting.
Like the disciples on the road, we are still walking.
Still learning.
Still discovering how Christ meets us along the way.
Some questions may feel clearer.
Others may feel more unsettled than before.
That is not failure.
That is part of faithful discernment.
Walking His Way does not ask us to resolve every tension or reach perfect understanding. It asks us to stay in relationship—with Christ, with Scripture, and with one another—as we continue the journey.
Thank you for walking this path together this week. May Christ, the living Word, continue to meet you in Scripture, in practice, and in the ordinary moments of your days. Go in peace, and keep walking His way.
Walking His Way 