Bible Study – Fourth Sunday in Lent “Amazing Grace”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come, let us adore him. And what if, during this season of Lent, we sought a deeper understanding of this amazing gospel of grace? Will that image of grace energize us to do the spiritual housekeeping we need to be ready for the "new thing" God is doing in Easter?
Tax collectors, who are sinners, invited to the table? Shocking! So Jesus tells them a story: A son who blows an inheritance and a father who forgives before the son even has a chance to ask. What might we discover about the gospel of grace?
Opening Prayer: Dear God, thank you for this story Jesus told us that gives us yet another picture of your amazing love. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Luke 15:1-3,11b-32 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, 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 worthy 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 fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Reflection Questions:
- What seemed odd to you?
- Were there any surprises?
- Who, do you think was surprised in the story?
- Describe what happened to the younger son? What did he decide to do about it?
- Describe the father's response. (verses 20b and 22b)
- Describe the older son's reaction. (verses 29-30)
Videos (Click on the words or url)
The Parable of the Lost Son Bible Animation Luke 15:11-32 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJmPCz8wUeA
Gospel of Luke Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z_KhwNdD8
Song: Amazing Grace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlPDHvL0UA
Activities
Spring Training: Find the bag you made for Spring Training. You will need pieces of paper and a pencil. Open your bag and read what is in there. Now write what you noticed in this story about the father's forgiveness. Who do you think Jesus was describing with the father? Think about how God would react to dumb stuff we do. Make whatever notes you want and then seal your bag and then place it where it will be remained sealed.
(Remember three weeks ago you designed your own Spring Training kit — for your eyes only. At the end of this activity, you put what you have been writing inside your bags, put our names on the outside, seal the bags, and place it where it will remain sealed until next week. The purpose is to develop individual Spring Training disciplines. Some options: finding a time during the week to read from the Bible, finding time during the week to pray for help with dumping something that is getting between you and God, giving up something that is getting in the way, or that will get you in better shape, etc. Then, write something to put in the bag. When you are finished, you can seal your bag and then place it where it will be remained sealed.)
I Am Found Wall Hanging: Print out the words to the hymn, “Amazing Grace” click on https://michaelkravchuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Amazing-Grace-in-F-Major.pdf for a sheet of the hymn and fancy cut with scissors around the song. Highlight the words, “once I was lost, but now I am found” and decoupage the song sheet to a thin board or construction paper for a reminder of God’s love and forgiveness and how He “found us”. This activity will work well by brushing the picture with (Elmer’s) white crafts glue and let dry for a shiny, clear look.
The Parable of the Lost Son – Word Shape: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-son-4
The Parable of the Lost Son - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-son-3
The Parable of the Lost Son – Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-son
The Parable of the Lost Son – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-son-1
The Parable of the Lost Son – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-lost-son-2
Prayer: Thank you, God, for this story that helps us see how eager you are to forgive us when we come to you. Amen.
