from the pastor

from last week

It's About Repentance not Karma

from the scriptures

Preparation

1. Read the Psalm aloud.

2. Read the Scripture from Luke 15:1-3, 11-21
   

3. Take a moment to meditate on the Scripture.

Questions for Reflection

1. Think of a time when you lost something really valuable. How did you react? How long did you spend searching for it?

Studying the Text

Read verses 1-3

1. Who were gathering around to hear him?

2. What were the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttering?

3. What did Jesus do?

Read verses 11-

1. What did the man have? What does that tell you about the story?

2. What did the younger son ask  for?

3. What did the father do?

4. What did the son do with the wealth?

5. What happened after he spent everything?

6. What did he have to do?

7. What did he long for?

8. What did people give him?

9. What did he finally realize?

10. What did he decide to do?

11. What would he say to his Father?

12. When did his father see him?

13. What did his father feel about his son?

14. What did the father do?

15. How did the father greet him?

16. What did the son say?

17. What four things did the father tell the servants to do?

18. Why?

19. Where was the older son?

20. When did he hear the music?

21. Who did he ask about what was going on ?

22. What did they tell him?

23. How did the older son respond?

24. What did the father do?

25. What did the older son say to explain his reaction?

26. What did the father say?

Living the Text

1. Why don't we have "sinners" gathering around to hear our message?

2. Why aren't we accused of scandalous behavior by the respectable members of society?

3. Stop seeing yourself in the parable and think of yourself outside the parable?

4. What does that parable say to you about how you should be responding to people?

Closing

1. Read the Scripture lesson again and take a moment to meditate on the passage.

2. What is God saying to you?

3. Thank God for his presence and ask him to apply what you have learned to your life.