Sunday 28th September, 2008

If you missed the talk from this Sunday, you can listen to it by clicking here. (26 minutes)
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THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON

• Read the passage in Luke 15:11-24. Put yourself in the position of the youngest son. Do you relate to any of his story – perhaps for your whole life or just an area of your life?

• Imagine you have a friend who says, “I don’t need God, I’m happy to be my own person.” How would you answer them in a way that would make sense to them?

• When we detach ourselves from God we attach ourselves to something else. Can you think of an example of this process in your own life? In the book ‘The Great Divorce’ by C.S. Lewis a woman is unable to enter heaven because she loves her child too much. Do you think this is possible? How do you feel about something that is normally good, actually becoming harmful?

• Read the two preceding parables in Luke 15. What other elements of forgiveness and God’s love do these illustrate?

• Do you ever come up with a scheme to earn forgiveness from God? Have you ever made any deals with God? Are these healthy promises to live in a better way, or are they because you don’t quite believe in God’s forgiveness, or is it a mix of both? Do you need to rethink this?

• How do God’s forgiveness and our repentance fit in together? Can you think of an analogy to help explain it? If possible, share it online by clicking on the comments link below.

RECEIVING GOD’S FORGIVENESS

• People often lean towards one of two extremes when it comes to God’s forgiveness. Either they find it really easy to believe God forgives them or they find it really hard to believe God forgives them.

• How do you lean? What are the dangers of that position? How does this affect your behaviour? What needs to change to get a more balanced and healthy view of forgiveness?

• With God being so radically forgiving do you think it is possible to take this for granted? How? Do you ever feel God shouldn’t be so forgiving? Does it feel too unfair sometimes? Read Luke 15:25-32.

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