Matthew 13: 54-58

Pastor Brian McGuffin

February 23, 2025

Introduction

Think about your life as a child/teenager.

            What was your home like?   What was your church like? What was your school like?

            What were you taught, or what did you learn, about Jesus?

Scripture

Matthew 13: 54 - 58  ESV

"and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief."

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus lived in his hometown for approximately 30 years before he began his ministry, and he worked as a carpenter during that time. We know he would have learned the trade from his father, but we don't know how long his father lived since he is not mentioned.

 a) What reaction do you have when you realize the depth of rejection Jesus felt in his hometown?

b) Has anything like this ever happened to you?

2. a) Are your family and/or friends Christ followers? Why or why not?

    b) What made you decide to follow Jesus?

3. How do you behave with non-Christians? Do you share your faith with them? Why or why not?

4. a) What is the most amazing thing about Jesus that you feel you could explain to a non- Christian to introduce them to Jesus?

b) What makes that point so important to you?

5. a) Have you been rejected and/or offended when sharing your love for Jesus? Where/when did that take place? 

b) What do you feel about that today: still hurt? afraid to share? worry about people's perception of you? not concerned at all? still talking about Jesus?

6. Why do you think people turn away from Jesus and/or the church today?

7. What might attract someone to Jesus?