Stories Jesus Told - Lost & Found
Stories Jesus Told - Lost & Found DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (Page 1) TRADITIONAL DISCUSSION MODEL (pick 4-5 for discussion)
When have you lost something of value and then recovered it? What emotions did you experience in the loss and recovery?
Why do you think Jesus used stories (parables) to teach? (See Mark 4:33 & Luke 8:10)
When have you lost something really valuable and then found it later? What did that feel like and how does that contribute to these three stories?
Take time to read each story and have the group to make observations. How do we balance taking care of that which isn’t lost and seeking after that which is?
Review the unique factors that contributed to becoming lost: The ignorance of the sheep. The carelessness of the woman. The son’s rebellion. In what ways are these same factors still contributing to people becoming estranged from God or people? Can you think of real-life examples of each?
What are some of the individual strategies that we can employ to recover people who find themselves lost?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (Page 2) When have you pursued someone who was away from God or in a broken relationship? What did you do and how did it turn out?
How do you picture heaven celebrating over a sinner who repents? (Luke 15:7 & 10)
CONTEMPLATIVE DISCUSSION MODEL What are you learning about God from this story?
What are you learning about yourself from the story?
What questions does this story bring up for you?
What is God doing in your heart lately?
What things do you feel are getting in the way from what God wants to do in you?
What is the biggest thing causing you concern these days? (something to pray about)
Leader’s Guide: Lost & Found Luke 15 Sometimes a story is the only way to understand. Stories breakthrough in places where data, facts and creeds cannot. A story can help us understand things that cannot be understood by mere instruction - things like God, love, the world, or ourselves. We lose ourselves in stories, and every once in a while, we find ourselves – especially in The Stories Jesus Told. OUTLINE & SCRIPTURES Lost & Found Lost sheep Luke 15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Lost coin 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Lost son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Similarities In The Stories 1. Something is lost 2. The joy of recovery Sheep 6 Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ Coin 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ Son 20 he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 3. Something isn’t lost Why Jesus told the stories: Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: In spite of what is safe and sound, there is a disproportionate amount of concern over what isn’t safe.
Differences In The Stories 1.
What is lost and how it came to be lost:
A sheep lost by its own ignorance A coin misplaced by carelessness A son isolated by his own rebellion 2.
The methods of recovery:
Those lost out of ignorance are pursued Those lost from carelessness, steps are retraced until recovered Those lost from their own rebellion are loved and anxiously awaited to return.
If you’ve ever wondered about how God feels about your failures 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 24 So they began to celebrate…
When have you lost something of value and then recovered it? What emotions did you experience in the loss and recovery?
Why do you think Jesus used stories (parables) to teach? (See Mark 4:33 & Luke 8:10)
When have you lost something really valuable and then found it later? What did that feel like and how does that contribute to these three stories?
Take time to read each story and have the group to make observations. How do we balance taking care of that which isn’t lost and seeking after that which is?
Review the unique factors that contributed to becoming lost: The ignorance of the sheep. The carelessness of the woman. The son’s rebellion. In what ways are these same factors still contributing to people becoming estranged from God or people? Can you think of real-life examples of each?
What are some of the individual strategies that we can employ to recover people who find themselves lost?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (Page 2) When have you pursued someone who was away from God or in a broken relationship? What did you do and how did it turn out?
How do you picture heaven celebrating over a sinner who repents? (Luke 15:7 & 10)
CONTEMPLATIVE DISCUSSION MODEL What are you learning about God from this story?
What are you learning about yourself from the story?
What questions does this story bring up for you?
What is God doing in your heart lately?
What things do you feel are getting in the way from what God wants to do in you?
What is the biggest thing causing you concern these days? (something to pray about)
Leader’s Guide: Lost & Found Luke 15 Sometimes a story is the only way to understand. Stories breakthrough in places where data, facts and creeds cannot. A story can help us understand things that cannot be understood by mere instruction - things like God, love, the world, or ourselves. We lose ourselves in stories, and every once in a while, we find ourselves – especially in The Stories Jesus Told. OUTLINE & SCRIPTURES Lost & Found Lost sheep Luke 15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Lost coin 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Lost son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Similarities In The Stories 1. Something is lost 2. The joy of recovery Sheep 6 Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ Coin 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ Son 20 he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 3. Something isn’t lost Why Jesus told the stories: Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering round to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: In spite of what is safe and sound, there is a disproportionate amount of concern over what isn’t safe.
Differences In The Stories 1.
What is lost and how it came to be lost:
A sheep lost by its own ignorance A coin misplaced by carelessness A son isolated by his own rebellion 2.
The methods of recovery:
Those lost out of ignorance are pursued Those lost from carelessness, steps are retraced until recovered Those lost from their own rebellion are loved and anxiously awaited to return.
If you’ve ever wondered about how God feels about your failures 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 24 So they began to celebrate…
