Jesus Changes Everything - A Radically Connected Community

A RADICALLY CONNECTED COMMUNITY

OUTLINE

• Our Hero 15:1-3
• Our Hurt 15:11-19
• Our Humility 15:20-21
• Our Happiness 15:22-24
• Our Hardness 15:25-32

QUESTIONS

1. Every church has a culture, how it’s like them to act and interact with each other and outsiders. Do you find yourself consuming, critiquing, and complaining about the culture of the church or actively contributing to creating a better culture? What are some ways you can create a warm, welcoming, inviting place for people to hear about and see Jesus at work?
2. We are all writing a story with our lives and want to be the hero of the story. We tend to compare ourselves to others and compete with them to make sure we are the hero. In the Bible, Jesus is always the hero. How does this set us free to collaborate with others instead of competing with others? (Luke 15:1-3)
3. In our stories, we all carry hurt, wounds of the heart, shame, and guilt. This tends to keep us isolated, separated, and alienated from others as we cover our wounds and hide. When did you hit rock bottom? When did you realize you couldn’t do life without Jesus? What scars and hurts do you carry from your journey toward Jesus? How has the Gospel healed you? (Luke15:11-19)
4. We hide because we expect rejection and condemnation from others. How does the father’s heart help you see the heart of your heavenly Father? How does His kindness lead you to further repentance? How does it impact you that there is joy in heaven over repentance? What can you repent of today and rejoice with God in? (Luke 15:20-24)
5. The story ends with the older brother refusing to come in and celebrate. Religion ruins everything because it demands to be the hero of the story. Who do you think you’re better than? Who do you look down on? Where can you grow in celebrating the work that Jesus has done in you and is doing around you? (Luke 15:25-34)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

LUKE 15:1-3; 11-32

The Lost Sheep1Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2Both the Pharisees and the scribes beganto grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”3So He told them this parable, saying,The Prodigal Son11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.17But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ 20So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.29But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”