Bible ReadingJohn 21:15-17 “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
[26:29]Luke 15:1-32 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
‘Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
And he said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
‘But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’” 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. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.” But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, “Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!” And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”’”
[34:54]Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
[39:13]Luke 19:1-10 “He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
[39:54]Observation questions- In John 21, what does Jesus tell Peter to do each time Peter answers him?
- In Luke 15, what are the three lost things Jesus talks about, and what does each person do after what was lost is found? [35:47]
- In the story of the prodigal son, what does the father do when he sees his son “while he was still a long way off”? [37:45]
- In Luke 19, what change shows up in Zacchaeus after Jesus says he will stay at his house? [40:36]
Interpretation questions- Jesus does not shame Peter for answering with a smaller love than the love Jesus asks for. What does that show about the way Jesus deals with people who are weak, wounded, or not ready yet? [27:08]
- Luke 15 repeats the same pattern three times: something is lost, someone goes looking, and then there is joy. What does that repetition reveal about the heart of God toward people who are far from him? [36:33]
- The father in Luke 15 seems to have been watching for his son and then runs to him before hearing the whole speech. What does that suggest about how God receives people who come back to him? [38:15]
- Zacchaeus had a reputation for taking from people, yet one encounter with Jesus led him to repay generously. What does that say about the difference between mere religious contact and a real meeting with Jesus? [40:22]
Application questions- Jesus meets people where they really are, not where they pretend to be. Where is there a gap in life right now between the love Jesus deserves and the love that can honestly be offered to him? What would it look like to bring him an honest answer instead of a polished one? [27:13]
- God’s pursuit can work through years, not just moments. Is there an area of anger, bitterness, or old hurt that still feels unfinished? Where can God already be seen changing hatred into sympathy or sympathy into compassion? [29:05]
- Somebody’s patient love can become a doorway for Jesus to be heard. Who has shown that kind of steady love in life, and how did it soften the heart? Is there someone who may need that same steady love now? [32:39]
- The one who is lost still matters, even when everyone else thinks, “It’s only one.” Who is one person that is easy to overlook right now, but may be precious to God in a way that needs attention? [36:36]
- Jesus says love proves discipleship through care for real needs. What is one practical way this group or each person could feed, visit, help, or make room for someone this week? [44:57]
- People are more connected than ever and still deeply distant. Where has conversation stayed too much on the surface lately? What would it look like to slow down and make space for a real answer from someone? [47:03]
- The people placed right in front of someone are worth the time and cost of pursuit. Who is already in front of each person right now—at home, at work, in church, or in the neighborhood—that may be an invitation to love more intentionally? [48:16]
