Prodigal Daughter
- Sam Ingrassia
- Mar 14, 2010
- Series: Prodigal
Prodigal Daughter
This is a different animal then our normal sermon and teaching time. Sam, Vikki, and Tina all share their personal stories, a testimony, to God’s faithfulness. As with life, several passages of Scripture come to life and are applicable. This is more of a theme based journey through God’s working in the lives of one family. As such, there might be some jumping around and topical based discussions. Whatever way the Lord directs your conversation, go that way and keep going. The sub-headings under “Scripture and Sharing” are created by me, and are not meant to be an outline of the testimony. If you have feedback, please let
SPECIFIC PRAYER (suggestions)
The Ingrassia story continually refers to the heart. It demonstrates how easy it is to be swept away into a life style of manipulation, destruction, and self centeredness. Pray in several specific ways tonight. First, pray for the hearts of the people in this group. Pray we will be protected from the “broad path” that leads to destruction. Second, pray for family members and children of the group. Pray they will not reject God’s call upon their lives. Finally, pray for those around us. As Tina shared, your environment shapes who you are. Pray the Lord will build a hedge of protection for us so we are not of the world, but remain in it.
SCRIPTURE AND SHARING
Walking in the Lord:
Read 3 John 3-4. What does it mean to say someone is “walking in the truth?” Or walking in the Lord?
Do you see your life as a journey? Where are you in that journey? Would you consider yourself walking closely with the Lord, running to catch up, being dragged by him, standing still, or something else?
Read Matt 7:13-14. Jesus talks about the broad road that leads to destruction.
What are some of the sign posts on this road? In other words, what are some things that entice people to follow the broad way?
Talk about the imagery, the fact that is it broad and easy. What should that tell us about our own journey? How easy is it to take the wrong path?
Read or summarize Luke 15:11-32
Sam makes the point it can happen to Christian kids. On some level, do you think doing the right things and raising children with God’s Word is a contract with God? Does He violate your unwritten contract when things don’t go your way? Is that what the older brother was feeling?
Why is it entirely possible for people to reject what they have been taught and what is best for them? Have you ever experienced this situation? What did you do right? What could you have done better?
Isa 30:21 talks about an inner voice guiding you. For Christians, this is the Holy Spirit. How can you become more in tune with God’s leading through the Spirit? What direction is He leading you in right now?
The heart and rebellion:
The converse of 3 John 4 is also true, there is no greater pain than seeing your children not walking in the truth. Who in your life has pained you to watch not walk in the truth? How do you think the Lord feels when we are not walking in His truth? Put yourself in the shoes of the father of Luke 15. How does he feel not knowing where his son is? What is his son doing? Knowing he is in rebellion?
Tina said, “I believed I was very important to the church.” In the Luke 15 story, do you think the older brother felt the same way? Have you ever felt that way? What sin is being committed when we believe this?[1] How can we avoid it? (see Rom 12:3)
Read Isaiah 14:12-15. What evidence of pride and rebellion are found in this verse? Why is pride so deceptive?
Tina also talked about not unpacking her bags when she first moved to
Everyone in rebellion believes they are blazing their own trail, doing their own thing, going their own way, but they do not see that their own way has been tried many times before and ended in failure every time. Discuss the need for community and for accountability. What has this group meant in your own life? Where have you tried to go your own way but found yourself at a dead end?
Have you ever felt indifferent to God? Have you felt dead to your own sin? Have you ever been purposefully unremorseful? How did you get out of that? How can we avoid it?
Many times we become just like those who we interact with the most (see 1 Cor 5:6, Gal 5:9). In your life, is this a good or bad thing? How can you better surround yourself with good friends and faithful people?
The Disciples were in danger of having a hard heart (See Mark 8:13-21 as only one example). How do we keep our hearts soft? (Hint see Mark 6:32-34.)
Learning to Trust and being restored.
When times are the most difficult, where is your heart anchored? (Heb 6:19)? Is there one Scripture more than any other you turn to in times of trouble? What brings you comfort?
When was the last time you went through something that made you feel as if you were dying? Why would God make you go through those times (See 2 Cor. 1:8-11)? What did you learn on the other side?
Vikki talked about loss of control which affected her comfort level. Does God want us comfortable? Where do you need to give up control? How does it feel to give something up to the Lord? Read Ex 2:3, how do you think Moses’ mother felt putting her son into the basket?
Have you ever cried out to the Lord like David does in the Psalms? What was going on in your life?
Vikki also said “She has all the information, but now what she needs is revelation. God shining the light of truth on her and bringing it alive (paraphrase).” God is in the resurrection business. Read Ezekiel 37:1-14. In what areas do you need to experience new life? Has God ever made something come alive in your life?
The above quote also points out for the need to be like Christ in our head, heart, and hands. Out of those 3, where do you struggle most? What about as a group, where do we need to grow? Where are our strengths? How can we build on them?
Do you view every day as a gift? If not, why? Is every breath precious to you? See Ps 150:6
Read Joel 2:25. Where in your life do you need restoration?
Key Words and Further Study:
Several times the Bible talks about not turning to the left or the right, which hints at the idea that following God is a narrow road and obeying His precepts are not easy. Look into these verses and discuss their importance: Deut 5:32, 17: 11, 20, 28:14; Josh 1:7 and 23:6.
Many older scholars believe Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:1-2 speak of the fall of Satan while some younger scholars disagree. What do you think? What evidence support it is speaking of Satan? What evidence does not?
Look up the following verses and encourage one another. Gal 5:1, Ps 40:1-3, and Ps 46:3.
Serving the World
Do you know someone with a prodigal child? How can this group reach out to them and help support and strengthen the faith of the parents?
[1] I was thinking of pride.
