Lost
Questions for Study 28

Luke 15:1-32
Memory Verse: 20b

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I. The Lost Sheep (1-17)

1. To whom did Jesus tell this parable, and what criticism was he answering?

2. In what respect is a sinner like the sheep who wandered away?

3. According to verse 4, what does one do when he discovers one of his sheep has wandered away? Describe the heart of a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that is lost.

4. What happened when he found his lost sheep? What does this response teach us about God? How does it explain Jesus' welcoming the tax collectors and sinners?

II. The Lost Coin (8-10)

5. In what respect is a sinner like the coin that rolled away? What does the woman who looses one of her ten coins do? What does this reveal about her character? What does she do when she finds her lost coin? How does this parable reinforce the other in its teaching about the heart of God?

III. The Lost Son (11-32)

6. Why do you think the younger son wanted to leave home? (11-12) What does his father's way of dealing with his son teach us about God?

7. What happened to the younger son? Why did he decide to go back home? Why is this a crucial and significant decision? With what kind of attitude did he return?

8. Describe the waiting father? What did he do when he saw his son coming? How did he reveal his unconditional love and forgiveness? What does this father teach about God and God's attitude toward sinners?

9. Why would the older son not understand his father's actions or his father's heart? In what respect was he a lost son too? What is Jesus' message to the critical Pharisees?

10. How did the father counsel the older son? What is Jesus primarily teaching in this parable about God?