Steve Welch Rockford Campus March 26, 2023
REACH SUNDAY
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
REMINDERS
Group Leaders Spring Refresh was this Sunday (3/26) and was a great way for us as life group leaders to gather, be refreshed and filled up together. ICYMI, here’s the video link for our discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v7QgIwnPxM
Keep your eye out for another invitation to join in with us for our Leader Celebration coming in May!
Palm Sunday – April 2
Holy Week Experience (4/2 @ 5:45pm) – Set-up by Children’s and Student Ministries, the HWE is an opportunity to slow down and ponder the extent of Christ’s love for you! Click here for more details: https://magnifychurch.org/event/holy-week-experience/
Easter Sunday – April 9
TOGETHER IN LIFE
**This week, Pastor Steve Welch gave us an encouraging reminder about the grace we have received from Christ that we can pass along to others as we REACH the world with the Good News. He began his message with a story about a reluctant opportunity to welcome a new family…
Share a story of God using you or someone in your life when you least expected it or were initially resistant.
TOGETHER IN THE WORD
THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 15
Note: We encourage you to read the entire text together as a group out loud.
TWO DOUBLE STORIES
Luke 15:1-10 – The Parables of the Lost _______ & Lost ___________
Luke 15:11-32 – The Parable of the Lost ______________
QUESTIONS:
What is the context in which Jesus two “double stories” are told?
What are the similarities across the stories? Differences?
In the first two parables, what is the objective and response upon completion?
THE LOST SONS – PART 1
Luke 15:11-24
DISCUSS:
Think through and discuss all the contextual anomalies, ‘shock factors’, or cultural implications in this parable (use a commentary or Study Bible if possible).
**Jesus tells this shocking story to illustrate his relationship to the “lowest of the low” that the religious elite despised. He teaches: the Father not only will restore but will joyfully celebrate anyone willing to repent and believe the Good News!
REFLECT:
This Grand invitation extends to you, too! In love, the Father is running after you.
How have you responded to this invitation? Discuss what this means for you right now.
If this is the first time you are responding and receiving this Good News Gift, celebrate!!! There is “more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”(Luke 15:7)
QUESTION:
What does it mean to receive the Good News?
In what ways does the Gospel set apart following Jesus from every other religion?
How can this motivate us from ‘Come and see’ to ‘Go and tell’?
THE LOST SONS – PART 2
Luke 15:25-32
DISCUSS:
Think through and discuss all the contextual anomalies, ‘shock factors’, or cultural implications in this parable (use a commentary or Study Bible if possible).
QUESTION:
How did the elder son ‘get it backward’?
How did this storytelling begin in 15:1-2?
Why does Jesus leave the story with a cliffhanger at the end of v32?
BIG IDEA:
WE ARE INVITED TO SEE THE HEART OF THE FATHER FOR ALL TO BE RESTORED IN RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
WE ARE THEN SENT TO GO SHARE THIS NEWS WITH THE WORLD HE HAS PUT US IN.
REACH
Colossians 4:2-5
QUESTION:
Discuss: what this passage calls believers in Jesus to know and do.
In what order ought we to pursue REACH conversations?
How can we REACH those around us with prayer?
How can we REACH those around us with action?
How can we REACH those around us with speaking?
Why are all of these important?
Which part do you struggle with?
How can this group help you grow?
TOGETHER IN PRAYER + ACTION + SPEAKING
On Sunday, Steve gave out cards to be in prayer for 3 people in your life to know the Lord. Share these three names you have.
Pray for each of these people by name.
If you struggled to come up with three names, pray that God would bring 3
people into your life to share the Good News with.
Think of ways you can actively pursue these people this week.
Take 15 minutes of group time to practice sharing the Gospel using Romans 6:23 as your guide this week. We will return to this each week to give you time to sharpen one another.
Our Life Groups should be a place where we can practice what it looks like to share the Good News with the world around us – don’t miss this gift!
For more, refer to Steve’s Study Guide here: Magnifychurch.org/pray-act-speak
