Opening question: Can you think of anyone who has lived, or is living, a wild and crazy life?
Read and look over the following story that Jesus told:
11 "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to his father. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the family property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons. 13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. 17 Then he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." 20 So he got up and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He 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 fit 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 fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' So they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:11-24)
Discussion questions:
1. Try to retell the story, putting it into your owns words.
2. How would you describe the son?
3. What do you think is one of the key words in this story? Explain.
4. Make a list of all the actions of the father toward his prodigal son.
5. In what way was the son "dead" and how did he come "alive again"?
6. How does this story illustrate man’s relationship with God?
7. As this story illustrates, what do we have to do before our relationship with God can be restored?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
the boy Jesus
Opening Question: What was the highlight of your winter vacation?
Take turns reading the verses in Luke 2:41-52
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went up to the Feast as usual. 43 After the Feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it. 44 They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere." 49 "Why were you looking for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he meant by that. 51 Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. 52 Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.
Word List:
Passover Feast – a major holiday for Jewish people 2000 years ago, and today as well.
Jerusalem – spiritual capital of Israel, and the city where Jesus was crucified (killed on a cross).
Temple courtyard – the place outside the temple in Jerusalem, where the people of Israel, the Jews, worshipped God.
Father – another word for God. The Bible tells us there is one God, with 3 personalities (or titles) – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are all equally the one, true Creator of the universe, the Trinity.
Nazareth – a small city, about 65 miles north of Jerusalem, where Jesus grew up.
Discussion:
1. How would you retell this story, using your own words?
2. Based on the story, what kind of child was Jesus?
3. Agree or disagree: Jesus was being disrespectful toward his parents.
4. What do you think Jesus’ parents were thinking and feeling when they realized he was missing?
5. What was Jesus doing in the temple; why did he end up there?
6. Which was more important to Jesus – his relationship to his “father” or his “Father”? Explain.
7. Just about all we know about the next 18 years of Jesus’ life is found in verse 52. How do you think he was pleasing to God and to people?
Take turns reading the verses in Luke 2:41-52
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went up to the Feast as usual. 43 After the Feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it. 44 They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere." 49 "Why were you looking for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he meant by that. 51 Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. 52 Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.
Word List:
Passover Feast – a major holiday for Jewish people 2000 years ago, and today as well.
Jerusalem – spiritual capital of Israel, and the city where Jesus was crucified (killed on a cross).
Temple courtyard – the place outside the temple in Jerusalem, where the people of Israel, the Jews, worshipped God.
Father – another word for God. The Bible tells us there is one God, with 3 personalities (or titles) – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are all equally the one, true Creator of the universe, the Trinity.
Nazareth – a small city, about 65 miles north of Jerusalem, where Jesus grew up.
Discussion:
1. How would you retell this story, using your own words?
2. Based on the story, what kind of child was Jesus?
3. Agree or disagree: Jesus was being disrespectful toward his parents.
4. What do you think Jesus’ parents were thinking and feeling when they realized he was missing?
5. What was Jesus doing in the temple; why did he end up there?
6. Which was more important to Jesus – his relationship to his “father” or his “Father”? Explain.
7. Just about all we know about the next 18 years of Jesus’ life is found in verse 52. How do you think he was pleasing to God and to people?
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