Bible ReadingLuke 15:11-32 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; he was lost, and is found.'"
[46:28] [48:31] [50:04] [52:04] [55:11] [58:14]Luke 15:1-10 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."
[41:39] [43:33] [44:49]Luke 5:1-11 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
[38:29]Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
[01:04:14]Observation questions- In Luke 15:1-2, who is drawing near to Jesus, and who is grumbling about it? What exactly are they upset that Jesus is doing? [41:39]
- In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, what actions are taken to find what was lost, and what happens when the lost thing is found? [44:49]
- In the story of the younger son, what events bring him from reckless living to the point where he says, “I will arise and go to my father”? [50:04]
- When the older brother hears that his younger brother has returned, how does he respond, and what words show that he no longer sees him as a brother? [57:02]
Interpretation questions- Jesus receives sinners and eats with them. What does that reveal about how Jesus sees people whose lives are a mess, and why would that have bothered the Pharisees so much? [01:01:54]
- The younger son thought the estate would give him life, but the famine exposed something deeper. What does his collapse teach about where real security is actually found? [49:20]
- The father runs to the younger son before the speech is finished. What does that show about grace, repentance, and the fact that compassion moves before worthiness? [52:04]
- The older brother stayed near the father’s house but still missed the father’s heart. How can a person be outwardly obedient and still inwardly far from the Father? [58:35]
Application questions- Is there any place in life where security has quietly shifted into “the estate” instead of the Father—money, control, reputation, plans, comfort? What tends to expose that most clearly? [49:20]
- The younger son came to his senses and went home. Is there any area right now where coming home to the Father needs to look concrete and honest instead of vague and delayed? [50:04]
- Jesus sees the lost as valuable and worth seeking. Who is one person that is usually easy to avoid, dismiss, or write off, but needs to be seen the way Jesus sees them? [46:10]
- The older brother was close to the house but cold toward his brother. When does that older-brother spirit show up most easily—in church life, family life, or toward people with obvious sin? What usually feeds it? [58:14]
- The Father’s heart longs for lost sons to come home, and for sons to go looking for brothers. Who in this season might God be putting on the heart to pray for, reach out to, or walk toward? [59:24]
- God is already moving and invites His people to join Him. What might it look like this week to stop forcing spiritual moments and instead ask, “Lord, where are You already at work?” [01:07:27]
- Jesus came to seek and save the lost. What sacrifice, inconvenience, or fear tends to keep someone from joining that mission, and what would trusting Jesus in that area look like in real life? [01:08:27]
