There are two types of people in this world: those who love surprise parties and those who greatly dislike the idea of surprise parties. This week in our series Party Pooper, we are studying about a surprise party that took place in one of Jesus’ most well-known parables, or stories that He told during His ministry on earth. Jesus told this story that included a surprise party in order to teach us something about God and His amazing grace and love for people. This parable also teaches us how fully devoted followers of Christ are to show gratitude for the grace God has shown us as well as extend God’s grace to those around us.
Do you like surprise parties? Why or why not?
1. Read Luke 15:11-16. In what way did the younger son offend his father?
Luke 15:11-15
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
2. Describe the younger son’s circumstances at the end of this passage of Scripture.
3. Read Luke 15:17-24. What stands out to you about the father's grace-filled response to the younger son’s return home?
Luke 15:17-24
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
4. Read Luke 15:25-32. Why was the older son upset at his father’s act of grace and love toward his younger brother, and how did his father respond?
Luke 15:25-32
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
1. Do you relate to the older or younger son in Jesus’ parable? Why?
2. What does this Scripture teach us about God?
3. Who do you know who needs to hear the good news that God is full of grace and waiting and ready for all people to turn back to Him, regardless of their past?
Hopefully, you have all shared people in your life who are in need of God's hope. Your challenge today is to share your two-minute stories with them this week to remind them of the difference Christ has made in their lives. Take a few moments now to break into groups of two or three and practice sharing your stories so that you will be prepared to share these stories when the opportunities come.
Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 was meant to teach listeners something about God the Father. Throughout this parable, three specific characteristics of God the Father shine through: God’s forgiveness, God’s grace, and God’s love. Let’s take a few moments now to read more about what Scripture teaches about God's forgiveness, grace, and love for all of humanity.
Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 highlights just how far God’s forgiveness extends. It extends far and wide to anyone who turns to Him. In fact, He took steps to offer us forgiveness even while we were still lost in sin. Because we are His beloved children, we are called to extend His forgiveness to those around us.
1. Read 1 John 1:9
1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
2. How does John describe God’s forgiveness in this passage of Scripture?
3. How do we receive God’s forgiveness, according to this passage of Scripture?
4, How can we, as followers of Christ, model God’s forgiveness to those around us?
The second characteristic of God the Father that is highlighted in Jesus' parable in Luke 15 is God's extravagant grace. You see, the father, who represents God, not only gave the younger son in the story forgiveness, but he threw a party in his honor to celebrate his homecoming. That is certainly more than he deserved. That is what grace is: getting what we do not deserve. Scripture reveals that God has been infinitely gracious to us, giving us far more than we deserve: salvation and eternal life with Him forever.
1. Read Ephesians 2:8-9.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
2, How has God shown us extravagant grace, according to this passage of Scripture?
3. Can grace be earned? Why or why not?
4. How can we, as followers of Christ, model God’s grace to those around us?
God’s love for people, even those who turn from Him and break His heart, is also highlighted in Jesus’ parable in Luke 15. The father in this story, who represents God the Father, was watching for his son to come home and ran to his son out of joy and love when he saw him making his way home. That is the kind of love God has for His people. He loves people so much that He would do anything to bring them back to Him.
1. Romans 8:35-39.
Romans 8:35-39
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2, Summarize Paul’s teaching about God’s love in this passage of Scripture.
3. How is God’s love different from any other love on this earth?
4. How can we, as followers of Christ, model God's love to those around us?
Because we have placed our faith in God, we are called to model His same forgiveness, love, and grace for those around us. Take a few moments to think about how you are doing in modeling these characteristics in your own life. Which of these do you need to grow in? Share that with your group, along with one step you can take to grow in that area.
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