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Series: The Gospel According to Jesus New Hope EFC Aug 23, 2009 Message # l: Luke 15:
l-3 & 11-32
*** In Luke 15 Jesus invites every one of us to come ______ to the Father:
1. …by revealing that we are all _________ - either __________, immoral, “__________-son” sinners or ______, religious, “ __________-son” sinners.
II. …by revealing that the Father loves & welcomes home
those of us who are ___________, immoral
III. ...by revealing that the Father loves & welcomes
home those of us who are ______ religious, ______ -son sinners. Digging Deeper into today's Bible verses & themes
A. Here are a few questions to help families & small groups spend more time reflecting on this past Sunday’s Bible passage & theme. Adapt them as you find helpful.
1. What insight, principle or observation from Sunday’s message did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening or troubling? Explain.
2. Who are you most like? The younger son or the older son? Explain some of the ways you are like that “son”. (Also: what would those closest to you say?) • Follow up: have you changed from being more like one brother to the other one over time? If so, explain.
3. Which of the 2 kinds of sinners do you think are most welcomed at New Hope & churches like New Hope? Why is this? What can we do to welcome every kind of sinner?
4. What do you notice about how the Father relates to his sons? Does this shock you in any way(s)? How is this Father like our heavenly Father?
5. Do you feel wonderfully loved by our heavenly Father? What keeps you from knowing & experiencing His amazing love at a deeper level?
6. What does help you to know & experience His love?
7. How do you see the 2 parables in Luke 15:4-7 & 8-10 relating to the teaching of the parable in Lk 15:11-32? What central teaching(s) is Jesus getting at?
B. Additional Questions mainly for individuals:
I. Ask I or more of these questions in order to reflect on Sunday’s worship service:
• How did God speak to you or reveal Himself to you in Sunday’s service?
• How did God use you at our worship gathering (to speak through you or use you to touch someone else)? • During the worship service was there anyone God seemed to be laying on your heart for whom to pray? Is there anyone God is calling you to write, phone or meet with soon?
2. Digging Deeper for yourself: • There are 2 books on this parable that I highly recommend: The Prodigal God by Tim Keller is the best exposition of our parable that I know of. It is masterful! Also helpful, honest & creative is Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal. • Read & reflect on the many different times Luke refers to “tax collectors” &/or “sinners” (11x in Luke: Luke 3:12, 5:27, 5:29-30, 7:29, 7:34, 15:1, 18:10-11, 18:13 & 19:2). What do you make of this repetition? What do you think Luke us trying to teach us as your read these verses & their context? • Study Lk 5:27-32, 7:36-50 & 19:1-10. How do these passages overlap with Lk 15:11-32? What additional lessons do you learn about bow Jesus relates to both “sinners” & “religious” people. What do you learn about yourself?
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