Study The Chosen - Season 1 Episode 7

 

 The Chosen" Season 1 Episode 7 - Small Group Study

Episode 7 is yet another awesome episode. In this one we see the famous meeting with Nicodemus that can be found in John chapter 3. In this episode of The Chosen, Quintus asks Nicodemus if their worlds are colliding and tasks him to talk to Jesus. 

Before the meeting, Matthew goes to his childhood home to see his parents because he has some deep questions. However, his father is gone for work and his mom, who doesn't agree with his profession, has a hard time with the discussion because she's hoping Matthew is there to apologize for being a tax collector. Matthew is having a personal crisis that she doesn't understand. He asks her, "do you think that impossible things can happen that over turn the laws of nature?" He was wrestling with what he saw when Jesus performed the miraculous catch. He said, "Everything I thought I knew, what if it's wrong?" When did you first believe in angels or the supernatural world? Were you young or was it more recently? 

Jesus meets with Nicodemus on a rooftop under the cover of darkness. They discuss Nicodemus' visit to Mary in the Red Quarter (episode 1). Jesus tells him, "you were meant to be there" He says, "so I could fail miserably?" Jesus says, "If you weren't there would you be here tonight?" Have you had a difficult circumstance in your life that God used as a blessing in disguise?

Jesus tells Nicodemus to follow him, to leave his life as a Pharisee and follow him. Nicodemus says, "To give up who I am?" Jesus says, "It is true, you would give up a lot. But what you'd gain is far greater and more lasting." 

Towards the end of the episode, Jesus walks by Matthew's tax booth and says "Matthew, Son of Alpheus. Follow me." (Does anyone else get goosebumps when you see Jesus say that?) From earlier in the episode we could see that Matthew's heart was ripe. Ready to be harvested. So he closes up shop and follows him. Gaius, in disbelief, says, "have you lost your mind? No Jew lives as good as you and you're going to throw it all away?" Matthew simply says, "yes." Both Nicodemus and Matthew had a decision to make. Would they give up all they had to follow Jesus. Have you had a similar experience? How much have you given up to follow Jesus?

Lastly, Simon has hard time with Jesus calling Matthew. When he questions Jesus on it, Jesus says, "you didn't get it when I chose you either." Simon says, but this is different, he's a tax collector." Jesus says, "Get used to different." We're all surrounded by various types of people. Some look, act, and think just like us. Some are very different. How have you surrounded yourself with those different than you in order to share the gospel with them? Or in order to be a positive influence on them?

Summary Questions:

• When did you first believe in angels or the supernatural world? Were you young or was it more recently? 
• Have you had a difficult circumstance in your life that God used as a blessing in disguise?
• Would they give up all they had to follow Jesus. Have you had a similar experience? How much have you given up to follow Jesus?
• How have you surrounded yourself with those different than you in order to share the gospel with them? Or in order to be a positive influence on them?