Breaking Ground
Share a story about a time that you got totally & completely lost (in a store, on a hike, visiting a new city, etc). Where were you? How did you respond? How did you eventually find your way out?
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued our series Jesus the Christ by exploring the three parables about lost things from the Gospel of Luke.
Begin by reflecting generally on the sensation of feeling lost mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. How would you define what it means to be lost? What attributes, feelings, or experiences do you associate with this idea?
Next, read Luke 15. In this chapter, Jesus tells three parables about lost things, in which the ratio of lost vs. found items/people in the story keeps getting smaller (first 1 out of 100 sheep, then 1 out of 10 coins, & then finally 1 out of 2 sons).
Interestingly, as is always true with parables, these stories also all include elements that would’ve come across as odd or provocative for Jesus’ original audience.
- A shepherd who leaves the rest of his flock totally unprotected to go seek out just 1 lost sheep.
- A woman who throws a party to celebrate finding 1 lost coin (which likely would’ve cost her more than the coins he found).
- Two brothers who shame their father who forgets one son & forgives another despite having no cause to do so.
Consider all of these stories as one, united chapter & teacher. Why do you think Jesus connects them all together? What’s similar & different between them? What do you think Jesus is trying to convey through both?
What do these stories reveal about how Jesus understands what it means to be lost? How about what it means to be found? How are both different from our world’s understanding of these two terms?
Close by reflecting on your own experiences with being lost & found.
Identify a time in your life when you felt lost spiritually, mentally, or emotionally. What happened? How did you feel? How did you respond?
How were you ultimately found again? What happened? Who was involved? How did that feel? How did that experience change you beyond just that experience?
Where do you currently feel lost? How might these parables, your past experiences, & the shares of your fellow growth group members provide you with some wisdom & hope for how to move forward?
Getting Out of the Hole
In this series, take time each week to reflect upon the story from the story & how you can find yourself within it during this season of your life.
- Read Luke 15. First, break this story or teaching down into pieces. What is Jesus doing or saying? How are people responding to him? What changes by the end of the story?
- Next, close your eyes & reflect upon the story. Imagine yourself in it. Put yourself into the space of the various characters & imagine what it would be like to encounter Jesus in the story.
- What images, teachings, or ideas speak to you the most in this story? What intrigues or confuses you? What feelings arose as you thought about being in the story? How can this story impact your life & your relationship with Jesus in this next season?
Additional Resources*
TheBibleProject.com
Simply Jesus by NT Wright
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, January 26th: Join us next Sunday as we continue our series Jesus the Christ!
* Please see mye3.org for details.