Ready for Impact (10 minutes)
Catch up on how things have been since the last time your Impact Group met. Allow anyone new to introduce themselves. Then ask group members:
- Tell a story about a time you got lost, as a child or an adult.
Ask for a volunteer to read Luke 15:1-7 to the group, praying a short prayer that – however much they’ve come to know Jesus, they’d get to know him better as a result of your time together.
Watch
Impacted by the Word (15 minutes)
- Why do you think the Pharisees found it so offensive that Jesus was welcoming tax collectors and sinners (verses 1-2)?
- In the parable, would you have gone after the one lost sheep? Why or why not?
- Why do you think the shepherd wasn’t content having 99 sheep safe?
- Verse 7 gives us a glimpse into the priorities of heaven. To what extent do you think of God in this way?
- How do you think Jesus hoped the Pharisees listening in to his parable would respond?
- How do you think Jesus hoped the “tax collectors and sinners” listening in would respond?
- If this story is true, what might God be seeking to teach you?
The background to Jesus’ parable lies in Ezekiel 34. Ezekiel uses an image where God’s people are a flock, shepherded by kings, rulers and religious leaders. But rather than caring for the sheep, they have pretty much killed them. Harsh treatment and failure to teach God’s word have cut them off from any knowledge of God’s love. We see that, in Jesus’ time, not much had changed.
In Ezekiel 34, God himself promises to come and shepherd his people (see especially verses 11-14 and verse 16) through means of his chosen king (verses 23-24). Through his parable, Jesus is making an implicit claim to be this figure. It’s a claim he makes even more explicitly when he claims to be the Good Shepherd in John 10.
What should we make of the fact that Jesus says there are ninety-nine righteous people ‘who do not need to repent’ (verse 7)?
Elsewhere, the Bible teaches that none of us are righteous (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:10-12). So Jesus may be alluding here to those who think they don’t need to repent – like the Pharisees. Or he may be alluding to Christians who’ve already come to Jesus in repentance and faith.
Here’s the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon’s take on this verse:
“Suppose [Jesus is referring to] you and me who have long ago repented – who have, in a certain sense, now no need of repentance, because we are justified men and women – we do not give so much joy to the heart of God, for the time being, as a sinner does when he first returns to God…. You understand how that is: there are seven children in a family, and six of them are well; but one dear child is taken seriously ill, and is brought near to the gates of death. It has recovered, its life is spared, and do you wonder that for the time being it gives more joy to the household than all the healthy ones? There is more expressed delight about it a great deal than over all those who have not been ill at all…. There are special circumstances about repentance and conversion which produce joy over a restored wanderer.”
Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)
- What does it say to you about God that he is willing to leave the 99 to rescue the one?
- Have you ever been like the Pharisees in this parable? Who have you been unwilling to welcome or love others?
- What difference could it make in your life knowing how much God cares for those who are lost?
This might be a good time to share prayer points, and to have a few group members lead the rest of you in prayer.
If you’re able to sing in your group time, why not consider some of the following songs: The Lord’s my Shepherd, How Deep the Father’s Love, Only a Holy God
Impacting the University (15 minutes)
The Bible teaches that, left to ourselves, none of us seeks God (see Romans 3:11). But like a shepherd seeking lost sheep, God comes for us and pursues us.
Reflect on your own stories, in twos or threes:
- Can you recognise moments in the past where God might have been drawing you closer to him?
- Do you think God might be using certain people in your life to show his love to you at present?
Back together as a group:
- Have you ever shared a story of God’s love for you with other people? How did you find it?
Note: these questions are deliberately phrased that group members should be able to contribute, regardless of whether they are yet following Jesus.
Pray that you have opportunities to share your experiences of God’s love with those around you this week.
If some of your group want more help in sharing their stories, post this link in your group chat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfXnVkpmsyI
Wrap-up – TACOS 🌮
Thank You – Thank everyone for coming, and ask someone to thank God for your time together in prayer.
Ask – Ask those who are new to reading the Bible if they’d like to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in Mark’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life alongside one of you.
Church and CU – What does the CU have planned ahead? And what help would group members value in finding a local church?
Others – Who else could you invite to join your CU Impact Group next week? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
See You Soon – Tell the group where and when you’ll meet next week, and arrange who will bring snacks. (You might like to alternate healthy and less healthy weeks!). See if anyone would be up for sharing a meal or just hanging out in the meantime!