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By kellitempleton
Jason Greene is kicking off the Lost and Found sermon series in Prosser. Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:
- In one word or short phrase, describe your life before you met Jesus (lost). What one word or phrase describes your life after Jesus (found)? (e.g., depressed to hopeful; alcoholic to sober; anxious to trusting; legalistic to gracious)
We are hoping this question will help your group connect relationally and spiritually. We added the last two examples for those that may have grown up in the church.
2. Read Luke 19:1-10 and discuss the following:
- Review why being a tax-collector was so despicable.
A tax collector was just not an unpopular government official, he was considered a traitor hired by the Romans to find the money and keep the extra for himself, a thief. The Jewish Mishnah said that a tax collector was so loathsome that they should not even be considered human.
- How did Zacchaeus uniquely show interest for Jesus? What do you think peaked his interest?
He ran and climbed a tree - two things seemingly undignified for a businessman. Jason states that it is only by God’s grace that we seek Jesus (Rom. 3:11). Perhaps Jesus’ gracious reputation was leaking out, drawing Zacchaeus to him.
- How did the crowd respond to Jesus? Why do you think they responded this way?
The crowd grumbles and judges Jesus decision to eat with a sinner (v. 7). Jason thinks they responded this way because they believed you should clean yourself up first, then God will accept you (religion). The gospel says “God has offered acceptance to you; in light of that invitation, change”.
- Review the changes in Zacchaeus’ life. What prompted those changes?
He helps the poor by giving them half of his goods, making restitution for his sins of omission. He returns money stolen fourfold, making restitution for his sins of commission. Zacchaeus’ love for Jesus prompted those changes.
3. What changes has Jesus made in your life? What changes are you still working on with Jesus? Consider using the 2-Minute Sharing Your Story template as preparation for sharing with others.
Changes will vary from person to person as well those that God is stilling refining in us. The 2-Minute Sharing your Story template can help your group communicate those changes. We recommend this for three reasons: 1) It helps your group get to know eachother, 2) It gives everyone a front row seat to the power of God when they hear stories of salvation, and 3) it helps us prepare when we are asked about the hope we have (1 Pet. 3:15).
4. Describe the difference between the gospel and religion. What do you think unbelievers would say is the difference? How does your life display the gospel?
Religion says “Change, clean up, and then God might accept you.” The gospel says “God has offered acceptance to you; in light of that invitation, change.” In the gospel, God’s acceptance is not the reward for having cleaned up your life - its the power to actually clean up. Religion is often about following a set of rules, do’s and don’ts. The gospel is about a relationship with the Living God! Unbelievers do not see a difference between religion and the gospel UNLESS we are living in the gospel. When we are gracious, forgiving, in love with Jesus…..the world can tell a difference. They will often ask about it (1 Pet 3:15).
5. Brainstorm people groups in our society that are morally bankrupt, socially isolated, and/or spiritually disconnected. God sees, knows, and pursues these people; how does your heart compare to God’s heart? Spend a few moments praying for these people and your own heart.
The question writing team came up with the following groups: the elderly, the disabled, pedophiles, Mormons, prison inmates, etc. Often our hearts do not want to see, know or pursue these people as God would like us to do. This is a great time to confess hard hearts, pray for our hearts, and then pray for the people to believe in Jesus.
6. The more attractive Jesus is to you, the more you will want to share Him with others. What about Jesus was particularly attractive to you from this passage?
We will use this question each week of the sermon series. Answers will vary but we shared the following: We thought it was attractive when Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name and asks to eat with him - be in relationship with him, Jesus sees him. We love how relational and personal Jesus is.
Break into gender groups to talk about the following:
7. Discuss this quote from the sermon: “A proper love of Jesus sets all other loves [people and things] in their proper place.” What could others do to help keep you in love with Jesus?
Jason says when we love Jesus and leave our sin/other loves, its like getting the first button right on your button-down shirt. However, it is so easy to stray from our first love in Jesus. We need others to help us, remind us, pray for us, rebuke us, hold us accountable, etc. I have a friend who knows what my heart is prone to love more than Jesus and she regularly checks in with me and asks probing questions.
8. After hearing the sermon, how is God asking you to respond:
- Receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord?
- Share Jesus with someone specific?
- Other?
By kellitempleton
Dave Dawson is launching the Lost and Found series at the W. Pasco campus. Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:
- In one word or short phrase, describe your life before you met Jesus (lost). What one word or phrase describes your life after Jesus (found)? (e.g., depressed to hopeful; alcoholic to sober; anxious to trusting; legalistic to gracious)
We are hoping this question will help your group connect relationally and spiritually. We added the last two examples for those that may have grown up in the church.
Read Luke 7:36-50 and review the sermon outline.
2. Contrast the ways Simon and the woman treated Jesus. Jesus says to the woman “Your sins are forgiven.” Why doesn’t he say that to Simon?
Simon controlled everything: his home, his guests, his menu, his servants. Simon was trying to impress Jesus and his guests. The focus was on Simon (the heart of entertaining). He did not show Jesus proper hospitality. The woman was completely humble and all about Jesus: she is close to Jesus, she washes Jesus feet with her tears, wipes Jesus feet with her hair, kisses Jesus feet and then puts valuable perfume on Jesus’ feet. She lavishes hospitality and love on Jesus. She worships Jesus.
Jesus does not state forgiveness for Simon’s sin because Simon has not seen his sin. He believes Jesus is not the Messiah because he would not allow this woman to do this given her reputation. In fact, Simon does not see a need for a Savior. He believes he is righteous.
3. If someone said “God could never forgive the things I’ve done,” what would you say? (Ps 103:11-12, Rom 5:8, 8:1, Eph 1:7-8)
We can show them this very story - Simon, who seemed to be all cleaned up was not forgiven but the woman was forgiven for her many sins, most likely the sin of prostitution. The verses listed also show the power of forgiveness is in God’s control, His power NOT the magnitude of our sin. We could also affirm the fact that they see their sin, unlike Simon did.
4. Eph 2:8-9 says we’re saved by grace. What do you think that means? How should the grace you receive motivate you to care about others?
From the ESV Study Bible: “By grace refers to God’s favor upon those who have transgressed his law and sinned against him. But grace may also be understood as a “power” in theses verses. God’s grace not only offers salvation but also secures it. Saved refers to deliverance from God’s wrath at the final judgement. Salvation is a gift of God and not something that we can accomplish ourselves. We are dead in our sins, unable to do anything. God alone is the one who saves us by his grace.
This amazing grace helps us lavish grace on others - forgive quicker, bear with easier, delight in others, be more patient, etc. We stop addressing immoral behavior in our unbelieving friends and family and start lavishing God’s grace on them. We care about the lost and seek to join God in finding them.
5. How did Jesus see the woman differently than Simon saw her? What do you think Jesus would say to you about the way you “see” people? Who is Jesus asking you to “see?” (Use the “Relational Circles” tool.)
Jesus saw the woman as someone who expressed her love from a heart that was grateful for having her debts cancelled. Her deep emotion was from a heart of gratitude. Jesus saw a person who needed a Savior, wanted a Savior, worshipped Him. Simon did not see a person but a nuisance, an interruption, something that defiled his party and guests. He saw a sinner who he was better than.
We all need to see the unbelievers in our midst more clearly and lavish grace on them. Use the relational circles tool to identify the unbelievers in your relational circles. Use this tool to pray for those unbelievers. Ask each other weekly if you have had a casual conversation with one of these people. Has the conversation gone from casual to significant to spiritual?
6. The more attractive Jesus is to you, the more you will want to share Him with others. What about Jesus in this passage was particularly attractive to you?
We will use this question each of the 6 weeks of the series. Answers will vary. Here are my answers as an example: Jesus’ wisdom and storytelling was attractive to me. His tenderness with the woman was attractive. His patience and pursuit of Simon is attractive.
7. Hospitality is a potential tool for engaging the lost and encouraging the found. What’s the difference between biblical hospitality and entertaining? Who could you show biblical hospitality to this week? See answers to question #2 to describe the difference between entertaining and hospitality. Is there anyone from the relational circles tool that we could invite over for dinner? a football game? dessert?
8. This sermon series is all about “Lost and Found.” What does God want you to do because someone you “see” is “Lost” and needs to be “Found?”
personal answers will vary but could be pray, engage them in conversation, invite them over, etc.
By kellitempleton
Pastor Dave Bechtel kicked off the Lost and Found sermon series at the Richland campus on 9/20/15. Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:
- In one word or short phrase, describe your life before you met Jesus (lost). What one word or phrase describes your life after Jesus (found)? (e.g., depressed to hopeful; alcoholic to sober; anxious to trusting; legalistic to gracious)
We are hoping this question will help your group connect relationally and spiritually. We added the last two examples for those that may have grown up in the church.
2. Read John 9:1-41 and discuss the following:
- What did the disciples think caused the man’s blindness? (vs 2) He or his parents had sinned. This was the common belief of the Jewish culture - hardship was due to personal sin. However, sometimes its just a result of living in a fallen world.
- What was the actual reason for his blindness? verse 3 says “so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”. This healing was further proof Jesus was the promised Messiah. Healing of the blind is uniquely the Lord’s work, and a mark of the Messiah (Ps. 146:8; Isa. 35:4-5).
- How does John 8:12 relate to this passage? Jesus is the light of the world. We don’t think it is a coincidence that Jesus says this just a few verses earlier than the miracle of the blind man receiving his sight. He went from physically and spiritually in darkness to physically and spiritually in the light.
- Why does Jesus keep healing on the Sabbath when it upsets the Pharisees so much? (vs 14) He is Lord of the Sabbath and he wants to shake the religious leaders out of their legalistic man-centered lifestyles to teach them that God did not make up their petty rules, they did.
- What obstacles did the blind man have to overcome to see (physically and spiritually)? Dave lists lying, fear, rejection from family/community, opposition, threats/hostility, and exclusion.
3. Salvation is often a process like we see in the blind man. Review the blind man’s progressive understanding of Jesus in John 9:11, 17, 27-28, 33, 38. How does this progression, coupled with the truth of 1 Cor 3:6-7, encourage you when sharing Jesus? The blind man went from seeing Jesus as man (Jn 9:11), to a prophet (Jn 9:17), to worthy of being followed (Jn 9:27-28), to stating he is from God (Jn 9:33), to believing Jesus is the Son of Man and worshipping him (Jn. 9:38). This progression should encourage us in that God is the one who opens a person’s eyes, we just plant seeds and it might take some time. We need to faithfully plant and water seeds, be patient, and pray for God to grow our friends and family into believers.
4. Look at the Lost and Found logo. If you are holding up Jesus as the light of the world how might the lost respond (John 9:16b)? What are the implications to us as we try to share Jesus with the lost? You can find the logo on the Bethel Facebook page. Note the extreme effort this man is going through to find something/someone. Dave makes a point that some want to be lost and some want to be found. Jesus, as the light, divides people. We need to expect this mixed reaction to Jesus, not be caught off guard.
5. Some characteristics of darkness are self-centered thinking, unbelief, fear, and inconsistency/dishonesty. According to the following scriptures what characteristics of the light are the opposite: Phil 2:3-4, Heb 11:1, 2 Tim 1:7, Matt 5:37, and Eph 4:25. Thinking of others, faith, power, love and a sound mind, integrity and honesty. Salvation is a sure thing - we are always in Jesus; however, a believer can chose to live in the darkness when not living for Jesus. Repentance and being filled with the Holy Spirit help us live in the light. It’s a continuous process. These indicators help us self-assess if we are living in the light or not.
6. The blind man was healed. If you were sharing your faith with someone, and they asked why your God has not healed you, how would you respond? How does God work in hardships? Probably the most important thing in answering this question is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern if the person asking is asking theoretically or because of personal pain. Our attitude, questions back and answers need to minister to the person no matter what but especially if they are hurting.
I remember one of my son’s asking me if God was real and truly powerful because he had asked God to take away his ailment and God did not. It rocked my son’s faith, caused bitterness and doubt, and he stopped praying. My son falsely believed that God would answer his every request like a personal genie and if God did not, He was not truly God. My son’s hope was in the answer/cure not God. My son thought he knew best; thus, putting himself in the place of God. The Lord does not promise us a problem free life. In fact, He tells us just he opposite (John 16:33). God promises He will be with us - He will not leave us (Hebrews 13:5). When we cling to Him, worship Him, experience His comfort, joy and peace in our troubles THAT is when we can most sincerely share Jesus with others. Often, this is one of the greatest works of God when we suffer - the salvation of others through our testimony and our own faith deepens. God draws near in a particularly deeper way than we have ever experienced Him. For further reading go to Biblical Reasons God May Not Heal
7. The more attractive Jesus is to you, the more you will want to share Him with others. What about Jesus in this passage was particularly attractive to you? We will use this question every week of the sermon. Answers will vary from person to person. Here are a few of my answers: Jesus’ compassion is super attractive to me. I like how he rebelled against religious rules to do the will of God. I love how personal he is in verses 35ff. He found the man after he had been rejected and thrown out. I love how he turns the world’s values upside down.
