“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” -Luke 15:20
In his short story, The Capital of the World, Ernest Hemingway writes of a young man named Paco who runs away to Madrid to become a matador. His desperate father goes and puts an advertisement in the local newspaper that simply reads:
PACO, MEET ME AT THE HOTEL MONTANA AT NOON ON TUESDAY. ALL IS FORGIVEN! LOVE, PAPA
The story goes that the next day the police had to come and disperse the 800 young men looking for their father.
In all likelihood, it is the most well known story that Jesus taught, the story of the prodigal son. It is the theme of the Kansas hit song Carry On My Wayward Son, Rich Mullins’ Growing Young and Benny Hester’s He Ran to Me. It is also woven in the modern films Ironman, Batman and even Star Wars. The reason is simple: we all identify with this story.
There is great hope in the story whether you are a prodigal child, a prodigal parent or have been left at home by one of them, looking down the road with compassion.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: March 13, 2016 // Title: Prodigal Son
Scripture: Luke 15:11-32
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This week we dug into Luke 15. It teaches that Jesus was speaking to an audience of three different people groups: the Pharisees, the Scribes and the sinners. Jesus tells a story of a father with two sons. One asks him for his inheritance and leaves his father and home to travel off to a far away country where he spends it all. The son tries to redefine what was his good by pursuing his appetite, approval and ambition. When he was left with nothing, he returns home to find his father waiting for him and ready to throw him a welcome party for his return. His love for his son was never lost. His forgiveness for his son was ready to be given and lavished on him by giving him what his son needed: a robe, a ring, shoes and a fattened calf. Have you received that kind of forgiveness and love? If your family is broken and there is something you can about it, will you? When you are “home” make sure you are enjoying the Father—don’t miss the opportunity to feel and experience that love.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
No matter how far away you go, you are still in God’s love.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture: Who was the audience of this story? How would each group hear this story? What is the younger son asking for and what does it mean? What is the son saying to his father? What does rebellion mean? What are the three means of us redefining our own good?
Mirror: Where are you trying to define your own good? Where are you trying to get your appetite/needs met? Where are you looking for approval? Where are you looking to find your authority?
Window: Do you know any really great parents with rebellious kids? How do you deal with that in your own parenting? In all relationships, what do you do when people leave?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 15 minutes
Randy talked about our present day “Father” waiting for us on the front porch and praying for us. Having that in mind, let’s allow some space to invite your group to the “front porch.” In this time on the porch, intercede for our next generation. Call out your child’s name, a student you are discipling or a neighbor’s kid and pray two words for them and over them.
Change IN // Group Activity 5 minutes
The father had a huge party that he was planning for his son. Think through each of the ways the father loved. The robe represents him meeting needs. The ring represents the family identity. The shoes represent going somewhere. The fattened calf represents being with each other and celebrating. How has this group done this for you? Give examples. What do you as a group need to start doing for each other.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
Easter is just around the corner and is a great time to reach out to your neighbors. We are going to continue the conversation of how you been making plans for the day. Continue to pray for who you could invite into your day. Maundy Thursday is a great time to gather with others to experience community together by sharing a meal and taking the elements. Pray for who you could invite into this time.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.