06.15.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“The Loving Father”
Small Group Plan
June 15, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
What should we call the third parable in Luke 15? Most call it the parable of the prodigal son, but we could just as easily call it the parable of the loving Father. In fact, the future of everyone in the story, the younger son who wastes his life and the older son who can’t accept his brother, both of them are taught and changed by the Father. He is really the central character in the story.
So yes, there are lessons to be learned by looking at the sons and the servants. But the most power lessons come from watching the Father.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Is it difficult for you to trust people in general? Why or why not?
· Is it difficult for you to trust people who have failed you? Explain.
· What does it usually take for someone to win back your trust?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Father’s Trust
Luke 15:11-12
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
· How is the Father trusting his son in this story?
· What has God, our Father, entrusted to us?
· What does this story teach us about trusting our children?
The Father’s Pain
Luke 15:13-19
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
· If this father received a report on his son’s poor choices, what would he feel – what would you feel: anger, pity, apathy?
· If he learned of his son’s lowest point, what should he do? What would you do? Explain.
· Why was the son confident that he could return home?
The Father’s Joy
Luke 15:20-24
20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
· Why was the father watching for his son?
· Imagine their reunion as it unfolded - seeing each other, touching each other, talking to each other. Describe all the emotions you imagine.
· Why did he respond so lavishly?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· In view of those to whom this story is told (Vs. 2), what does Jesus want them to learn about God?
· When/how did first see the joyful side of God’s nature?
· What role does risk taking play in trust?
· What is God risking in giving the human race choice?
· Which of the father’s qualities do you most need? Explain.
Close by reflecting in prayer on the love and compassion of God.
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06.11.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Life: Looking for Relationship”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
June 8, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
The Sermon on the Mount consistently presents a radical way of life. Jesus calls those who follow Him to be completely different from the world in which we live. Our morality is to be deeper because it reaches our hearts. Our love is to be larger because it covers even our enemies. The message of Jesus confronts us on every level, asking us to choose which way we will live. He places before us two kinds of riches, two sources of control, two ways to dream, and now, at the end of the sermon, two gates, two roads, two crowds and two destinations. Will we be persuaded by majority or ruled by God alone?
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Where did our taste for “options” come from?
· How has this taste effected or changed us?
· How do we feel when “options” are reduced or removed?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
People: Gates — Roads — Crowds — Destinations
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
· Why is the road to life “narrow”?
· Does “narrow” mean “closed-minded” or “difficult”?
· Why does “broad” accurately describe the way to destruction?
· When Jesus says a few will “find” the way to life, what does this say about the character of those searching?
· Why does Jesus say that those traveling to destruction will simply “enter” rather than “find”?
Religious People: Trees — Fruit
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
· Where does bad religion draw its power?
· Jesus says “false prophets” wear “sheep’s clothing.” What disguises does bad religion wear today?
· Why does Jesus use such a vicious description as “wolf”?
· Contrast the “fruit” or bad and good religion?
Christian People: Sincerity — Submission
Matthew 7:21
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
· How is it possible to think of Jesus as “Lord” without submission and obedience?
· What will grow in the life of the one who continues to be in God’s presence while resisting God’s power?
Active Christian People: Words — Deeds — Relationship
Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
· How is it possible to be very involved in Christian ministry without really knowing Jesus?
· If Jesus in not in the picture – “I never knew you” – why is ministry performed – “prophecy, miracles”?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· What broad roads did you travel before you met Jesus?
· How did He narrow your road or bring focus to your life?
· What did you have to leave behind in order to travel His narrow way?
· Why do people today dislike the idea that there is only one gate or road to life?
· Which “fruit of the Spirit” is especially significant to you? Why?
· Why does God put relationship even above words and deeds?
· How can we really know Jesus?
Close with a time of quiet, personal prayer.
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06.04.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Wait: Looking for Growth”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
June 1, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Prayer is not a way
of being busy with God
instead of people …
[It’s] standing in front of him
without anything to show, to prove,
or to argue,
and … allowing him to enter
– Henri Nouwen
Be not afraid of growing slowly,
be afraid only of standing still.
– Anonymous
What grows makes no noise.
– Anonymous
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Who in your family (current or growing up) could grow anything? Why?
· Who killed everything? What made the difference?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
QUIET GROWTH
Mark 4:26-29
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain — first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.
· Spiritual growth is sometimes hidden and sometimes visible. Where do you see these two aspects at work in spiritual growth today?
· This story is filled with the theme of patience.
· Why is patience difficult for some, but natural for others?
· Why do so many want “quick” results?
· The farmer anticipates the harvest but is not impatient. How can a person be eager and expectant, but not impatient?
· What does “the harvest” mean?
AMAZING GROWTH
Mark 4:30-32
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.
· Why did Jesus choose the mustard seed to represent the kingdom?
· Why is it powerful for greatness to come from smallness or weakness?
· What hope does this story give you when you feel that your life, your family or your church is insignificant?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Does knowing that the power to grow is ultimately in God’s hands cause you to rest more or work more? Explain.
· At what stage of growth are you: A seed? Sprouting? Growing? Producing? Drying up?
· Where do you want to be?
· When did you see something small grow into something big? How did it happen?
· Which of the three lesson applications is the most difficult for you:
- Waiting for God?
- Stilling the noise?
- Yielding control?
Close with a time of quiet, personal prayer.
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05.28.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Mission: Looking for People to Trust”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
May 25, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Iron rusts from disuse;
stagnant water loses its purity,
and in cold weather becomes frozen:
even so does inaction sap the vigor’s of the mind.
– Leonardo da Vinci
Do what you can,
with what you have,
where you are.
– Theodore Roosevelt
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Are you more of a saver or a spender? Explain.
· Are you are risk taker? Why or why not?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
ABILITY
Matthew 25:14-15
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
· The story begins with “again.” What themes or messages are being carried into this story from prior stories?
· He “entrusted” his property to his servants. What was their relationship like? How did he feel about them? What did he expect from them?
· If you had been the third servant, would you have felt slighted or grateful for the smaller responsibility? Explain.
RELIABILITY
Matthew 25:16-18
16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
· Explain the basic difference between how the three servants approached their mission?
· Why did the third servant hide what his master had entrusted to him?
· What does this say about his view of his master?
· What does this say about his view of himself?
ACCOUNTABILITY
Matthew 25:19-30
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
· Why was the third servant afraid to risk, while the first servants were not?
· Was the master too harsh or justified in his response?
· Was the master happiest with the use or the increase of the talents? Explain.
· Speculate: What would the master have thought if the servant had taken the risk and made an investment, but then lost the money?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· As a group think of all the resources available to all. What would be the least risky way to handle each? How would God feel about such an approach?
· What does this parable teach about the value of taking risks?
· As an individual, what is risky about living faithfully for God?
· As a congregation, how could we take risks for God?
· When you consider how you are “investing” your life, do you feel satisfied, do you need to make some changes, do you feel that your life is on hold, or are you unsure about how to proceed?
· How can the group pray for how you use the resources God gives you?
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05.20.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by collodi
“Grace: Looking for Fairness”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
May 18, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Bob Schwartz was the owner of a trucking firm in Chicago. He made the decision to sell the company to a large national corporation while he was still ahead of the game.
Each Christmas Bob gave his employees and drivers a bonus based on company profit and time on the job. The final year of operation was an especially good year and so Bob decided to give everyone an especially generous bonus. Everyone would receive more than they had during the previous years and everyone would receive the same amount. If you were on the payroll December 20th when the checks were written, you got the bonus!
When the envelopes were first opened there was joy all around, even laughter and cheers. But then, people began to compare checks. “Hey Bill, what did you get?” — Matthew 20 all over again!
“I couldn’t believe it,” Bob said, “I tried to do something good for everybody and now I get angry phone calls at home from people who got larger bonus checks than they ever got before. Are people that greedy?”
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· In the story above, why was the initial joy followed by anger?
· How often do you hear someone say, “That’s not fair.”
· How early do children learn to compare how many cookies, rides and toys each has received?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Why We Say “It’s Not Fair” – Matthew 20:1-12
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
· If you had been one of the first workers hired, how would you have reacted to the landowner? Explain.
· From a business standpoint, was the landowner too soft, unfair, or balanced in his compassion? Explain.
· When pay time came at 6 pm how would you have felt if you were in the last group hired? Why?
· The first group expected higher wages only after they heard what the last group was being paid. If they had never known they would have been happy. What changed inside their hearts?
Why God Says “It’s Not Fair” – Matthew 20:13-16
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
· If the landowner represents God, what does His answer mean?
· Why is it dangerous for us to compare our situation to that of some someone else?
· If God was really “fair” and gave everyone what they deserved, how would you describe the outcome?
· Why did the Twelve need to hear this story?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Why honestly, if you had lived a moral life for a long time, would it bother you to think that those who didn’t were receiving the same benefits of God’s kingdom? Explain.
· Should we conclude from this story that people should wait until just before they die to follow Jesus? Why or why not?
· To some, God seems unfair. To others, He seems generous. How can He be thought of in both ways?
Justice is getting what you deserve.
Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.
Close by thanking God for his mercy and grace.
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