Lost in Rebellion
- Dave Gustavsen
- Mar 7, 2010
- Series: Prodigal
Lost in Rebellion
Sermon Questions for Luke 15:11-24
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SPECIFIC PRAYER (suggestions)
Obviously this has been a very emotionally and spiritually difficult time for Chapel families. Please pray for all of those who were affected directly and indirectly. During this time more than ever we want to live by Col 3:1-2, setting our hearts and our minds on things above.
SCRIPTURE AND SHARING
Crawl:
This section of Scripture, the 3 parables, is in response to the Pharisees’ disbelief that a rabbi, a man who claimed to be sent by God would be eating with sinners and tax collectors.
What do you do as a Christian that a non-Christian might view in disbelief?
In this past week, have you seen God use the story of the lost sheep or the lost coin in your own life?
Has God revealed Himself in an unexpected way recently?
Have you ever had a job you hated? What part of it made it so bad?
Who in your life is lost? Are they believers or nonbelievers?
Walk:
Many times we view all 3 of these parables as God’s search for the “lost,” people who do not yet know Christ. But, being part of a flock, being owned or purchased (the coin), and being a part of the family, are analogies for being a believer. Is it possible that these stories, especially the lost son, are really about rebellious believers in need of repentance? Is it possible the heart of the parable is about how the Father yearns for a close relationship and how hurt He is when we wander to foreign countries?
Read Luke 15:11-12
What is it like to watch someone wreck their lives? Has this ever happened to someone you loved? Discuss. What feeling occurred in you while you watched?
These 2 verses seem very ordinary, but they represent earth-shattering, life-defining moments. In your life, what were some life-defining or life-altering events? At the time, did they seem as big as they really became?
What are some reasons why a young person would want to leave home? Could you conjecture what might be happening in this scenario?
Have you ever had to deal closely with someone who saw the world in a totally different way?
Are you more of a conformist or a rebel at heart? How about your spouse? Kids?
Why should the dad be insulted by this request? What would be some likely ways people respond? How would you respond? How does the Father in this story respond?
How does God honor our free will, like the father in this story?
Read Luke 15:13-14
What keeps the son from going home immediately?[1] Is this a sinful reaction? What keeps us from doing what God would have us do?
What circumstances have happened in your life that you now realize it was God trying to get your attention? Did God ever use a natural disaster to wake you up to His will?
What do you imagine is going on at home in the son’s absence? Have you ever had to experience an absent child or parent?
How long does the party last when we are in rebellion? Why do we run away so easily?
Do you imagine that the son in this story is thinking of the father as much as the father is thinking of the son? How does that relate to our relationship with the Lord during times of our rebellion?
Read Luke 15:15-20a
Have you ever been totally defeated? Feeling like a loser? Had your plans crushed?
Why does God allow us to experience brokenness?
Have you ever had a major decision towards repentance that you would like to share?
What is different about this story from the other two?[2] Which is more true (or happens more often) in your life?
Read Luke 15:20b-24
What are some of the things the father could have said? What had to happen in the son’s heart and mind in order to go to the father?
Do you have any “younger brothers” in your life? In you?
What does this story do for your view of God? Does anything surprise you? Is anything new?
Run:
Have you ever gotten involved in something that wrecked your life for a time period? Discuss.
This story is an extremely clear picture of grace. How have you clearly experienced grace?
Key Words and Further Study:
The following notes come from LifeChange Series on this parable:
Share of the estate (15:12). A Jewish father sometimes divided his estate among his sons but continued to use the income from the whole estate until his death. It was extraordinary for a son to request his share along with its income before his father's death; it was equivalent to wishing the father's death.
Pigs (15:15). Eating pigs was forbidden to Jews (Deut. 14:8), and feeding them was unclean and "thoroughly degrading."
Ran (15:20). The head of a family normally lived in the center of the village, rather than on the edge. Therefore, such a father could have seen his son a long way off only if he were intentionally watching for the young man from the roof of his house or from the village gate. It was considered extremely undignified and humiliating for a man to run, especially to greet someone. A man signified his own importance by waiting or at most walking to receive someone.
Robe... ring... sandals... feast (15:22-23). The quality of his robe showed a person's status, so the best robe went to the heir with the most authority. The ring was also a sign of authority. Shoes signified that a man was a freeman and a master of the house, for slaves went barefoot and guests removed their shoes upon arrival. Meat was eaten only rarely, on special occasions; a fatted calf was saved for the most important events.
[1] It could be a combination of things, but pride is a root sin. So in your discussion, discuss why pride keeps us from doing what God wants us to do.
[2] The Father is waiting rather than searching.
