Light House Bible Study | November 11, 2026
What difference has knowing Jesus made in your life?
That’s a question worth considering.
It’s possible to know Bible stories, remember Scripture, and participate in Bible Study without always stopping to consider how God’s Word should change us.
During our latest Light House Bible Study, we began an interactive review of Luke 19. The questions were designed not only to help us remember what happened, but also to consider what we learned about God, about people, and about ourselves.
And as the community shared their thoughts, several important lessons emerged.
1. A Changed Heart Should Lead to Changed Actions
We began by revisiting Zacchaeus, the chief publican who wanted to see Jesus.
Although he was short and couldn’t see over the crowd, he climbed a sycomore tree to get a better view.
When Jesus called him down and went to his house, the crowd complained because Zacchaeus was known as a sinner.
But Jesus saw something beyond what the crowd saw.
Zacchaeus responded by promising to give half his goods to the poor and restore fourfold anything he had taken dishonestly.
During our discussion, we considered what his response teaches us about repentance.
One participant pointed out that when our hearts change, our actions should change too.
That doesn’t mean every struggle disappears immediately.
We discussed how some habits and behaviors may take time to overcome, and how we need the Holy Spirit’s help.
But there should be a willingness to change.
A relationship with Jesus should lead us toward becoming more like Him.
The question isn’t whether we’ve already become perfect.
It’s whether we’re allowing Him to transform us.
2. God Has Entrusted Us With Something
Our review continued with the Parable of the Pounds.
Before leaving, the nobleman entrusted money to his servants and instructed them to conduct business until he returned.
Some servants were productive with what they received.
Another servant allowed fear to keep him from acting.
This led us into a discussion about stewardship.
What has God entrusted to us?
We often think about money, talents, and abilities.
But during our discussion, we considered something else.
God has also entrusted us with our testimonies.
Think about the challenges you’ve experienced and the ways the Lord has helped you through them.
Someone else may be facing a similar situation.
Your willingness to share what you’ve learned may encourage them to keep trusting God.
The things we’ve experienced aren’t always easy to talk about.
But when we share them appropriately, they can become opportunities to demonstrate God’s faithfulness.
3. Fear Can Keep Us From Being Faithful
The servant who hid his pound explained that he had been afraid.
During our discussion, we considered how fear can affect our own decisions.
Sometimes fear keeps us from stepping forward.
We worry about failure.
We worry about rejection.
We worry about what might happen if things don’t work out as expected.
The group also recognized that fear can arise from difficult experiences, including situations where people have been hurt or mistreated.
Those experiences are real, and overcoming fear may require time, support, and healing.
But the parable challenges us not to allow fear to become a permanent excuse for failing to act.
Being afraid doesn’t mean we have to remain inactive.
We can acknowledge our fears while asking God for the strength, wisdom, and support to move forward.
4. Faithfulness Includes What We Do With Our Experiences
One of the most encouraging portions of the study concerned the value of our testimonies.
A participant reflected on how God can use the difficult seasons we’ve experienced to help us encourage others.
When we’ve faced challenges, remained faithful, and seen God’s provision, we have something meaningful to share.
That doesn’t mean every painful experience happened simply so we could teach someone else.
But God can bring encouragement and purpose even from difficult circumstances.
We may be able to comfort someone who feels alone.
We may help another person recognize that they can keep going.
We may remind someone that the Lord has not abandoned them.
What God has brought us through can become a source of hope for someone else.
That is another way we can be faithful with what He’s entrusted to us.
5. There’s a Difference Between Asking Questions and Resisting God
As we reviewed Jesus’ instructions to His disciples concerning the colt, our discussion moved into the subject of obedience.
The disciples were told where to go, what they would find, and what to say.
They followed Jesus’ instructions.
That led to a thoughtful conversation about questioning God.
Is it wrong to ask God questions?
During the discussion, we considered examples from Scripture, including Job, Abraham, and Moses.
We recognized that there is a difference between asking questions because we want to understand and questioning from a position of pride or resistance.
Sometimes we genuinely need clarity.
Sometimes we’re struggling to understand what God is doing.
We can bring those concerns before Him.
But when God’s Word clearly instructs us to do something, we should be careful not to use endless questioning as a way to avoid obedience.
Seeking understanding can help us grow. Resisting what God has clearly said can keep us from growing.
The condition of our hearts matters.
6. Learning God’s Word Together Helps Us Grow
One of the beautiful things about this week’s review was how much we learned through the conversations.
A question that could have taken only a few seconds to answer sometimes led to several minutes of reflection.
Different participants shared experiences, raised questions, and helped us consider the Scripture more carefully.
We also encouraged everyone to look for the answers in the biblical text.
That is an important part of learning to study God’s Word for ourselves.
Rather than simply accepting what someone says, we can return to Scripture, examine the passage, and grow in our understanding.
Bible Study isn’t only about knowing the correct answer.
It’s about understanding God’s truth and allowing it to influence our lives.
A Challenge for This Week
As you reflect on the lessons from Luke 19, consider these questions:
- What has changed in my life because of my relationship with Jesus?
- Is there an area where I know I need to grow, but I’ve been resisting change?
- What has God entrusted to me that I could be using more faithfully?
- Could my testimony encourage someone who is struggling?
- Am I seeking to understand God’s Word so I can obey it, or looking for reasons to avoid what it teaches?
You don’t have to answer every question at once.
Choose one that speaks to your heart.
Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to help you respond.
The goal isn’t simply to know more about God. It’s to grow closer to Him and allow that relationship to change how we live.
Join Us for Part 2 of Our Luke 19 Review
Our interactive chapter review continues next Wednesday.
We’ll explore the remaining questions, return to the Scriptures, and continue discussing how God’s Word applies to everyday life.
Light House Bible Study
Wednesday at 6:00 PM Eastern
With Samuel & Karen Stewart
Visit www.iamlighthouse.com.
The Light of the Lord shines on me, lives in me, and passes through me to others.
