LifeGroup Discussion:

1. Read Luke 15:1-2. The audience is Tax Collectors, Sinners, Pharisees, and Scribes. Can you think of a modern day equivalent for each?
2. What are the types of people that you struggle to picture at the Father’s table? How can you reach out to those people?
3. Read Luke 15:11-32.
4. Who in Jesus’ audience corresponds to the younger brother? The older brother?
5. What does the younger brother reveal about his heart for the father?
6. What does the elder brother reveal about his heart for the father?
7. Who do you tend to identify with more, the older brother or the younger brother? Why?
8. Discuss and pray for the crisis in Haiti.

1. Read Luke 15: 1-2, 11-32.
2. How are the younger brother and the elder brother alike?
3. What are the two ways to rebel against God (answer: being very bad…and being very good). How so?
4. How does the story end? How does that correspond to Jesus’ audience?
5. Why is the elder brother syndrome more dangerous (answer: because you may not know you have it!).  Discuss.

Consider the five indicators of elder brother syndrome. For each, discuss (1.) why elder brothers have these characteristics, and (2.)where you can see it in the story (vss. 25-32).

1. deep anger
2. begrudging submission
3. a bitterness toward younger brother types
4. a lack of assurance of the Father’s love
5. an unforgiving spirit

Have you struggled with any of these things yourself? Discuss.

Pray for each other!

BONUS: *If you have time, read the other two parables is Luke 15.  How are they different, and how are they similar? Why do you suppose Jesus put these three parables together?

LifeGroup Discussion:

1. Read Luke 15:1-10
2. In the second parable what’s the significance of the lost coin? Why is it so important to the woman?
3. What’s the difference between these parables, and the parable of the prodigal Son? (answer: no one goes after what’s been lost)
4. What’s the law of primogeniture? (answer: Primogeniture—the eldest child’s exclusive right to inherit his father’s property)
5. What’s the purpose of that law? (answer: the purpose was to maintain unity within the family.)
6. Who should have gone after the lost son? Why?
7. How is this a direct challenge to the Pharisees and scribes? To us?
8. Why do you think the elder son didn’t go after the younger son?
9. Who is our true elder brother?
10. Jesus brought us home at his own expense.  How are we supposed to be “true elder brothers.”
11. If you’re comfortable saying so, which letter did you pick? Why?

1. How is the story of the prodigal son like a super-duper-cliff-notes for all of human history?
2. What will be the climax of human history (Rev. 19:9, Matt 8:11, Luke 13:29)?
3. Why were the chairs in a circle on Sunday? Discuss what that experience was like.  How was it different? Did you like it? Why or why not?
4. How are social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter a potential risk to real biblical community?
5. Do you ever feel tempted to “feast alone?”
6. Why do you suppose Jesus chose to turn water into wine for his first miracle?
7. Read Isaiah 25:6-8. What is “covering that cast over all people”(vs.7)? Where did to come from? Will it ever go away?
8. What are some of the things you’ve done in the past to try and lift that veil?
9. What is significant about communion happening around a table?