“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

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A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’re new to our community please take a moment to fill out our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!  

If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes! 

¹² In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. ¹³ And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: ¹⁴ Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, ¹⁵ and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶ and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

The mission of God flows from the prayer of Christ, is formed by His gracious calling, and moves forward through the cross.

I. Jesus Prays v 12
II. Jesus Chooses the Twelve vv 13-15
III. Jesus Walks Toward the Cross vv 15-16

Introduction

1. When you have a major decision to make, what usually drives you most: planning, logic, emotion, advice from others, or prayer? Why?

Into the Text

2. Read Luke 6:12 carefully. Why does Luke emphasise that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the Twelve? What does that reveal about His relationship with the Father?

3. Look at other moments of prayer in Luke 3:21, 9:18, 9:28, and 22:41. What do these moments have in common? What does Luke want us to understand about how Jesus carries out His mission?

4. In verse 13 Jesus chooses twelve. Why is that number important in light of Genesis 35:22–26 and the twelve tribes of Israel? What might Jesus be signalling about God’s covenant purposes?

5. Luke says Jesus “chose” them and “named” them apostles. In first century Judaism disciples normally chose their rabbi. What does this reversal tell us about Jesus’ authority and about how people come to belong to Him?

6. Verse 16 ends with Judas, “who became a traitor.” Why does Luke include that detail here at the beginning? What does it teach us about Jesus’ knowledge, sovereignty, and the shadow of the cross?

Application

7. Jesus’ mission flowed out of prayerful dependence. What does your prayer life reveal about what you truly trust when it comes to work, family, or ministry?

8. The Twelve were ordinary and flawed men, yet Jesus chose them. Where do you feel weak or inadequate right now, and how does this passage speak into that?

9. Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus lives to intercede for us. How does knowing that Christ is praying for you today change the way you face failure, fear, or responsibility this week?