God's Grace Receives Repentant Sinners

Forgiven People Forgive

Week 4 — God's Grace Receives Repentant Sinners

1 All the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Lk 15:1–2)  

  1. Sin _________________ more than it __________________.

11 Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property [βίος (bee-ohs)] between them. (Lk 15:11–12)
17 He [the father] must acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of everything that is recognized as his. Because that son is the beginning of his father’s virility, the legal right of the firstborn belongs to him. (Dt 21:17)
13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted [διασκορπίζω (dē-a-skor-pē-zō)] his wealth with reckless [ἀσώτως (a-sō-tōs)] living. (Lk 15:13)

The Greek word translated reckless [άσωτος (a-sō-tōs)] paints the picture of someone living without _____________, ____________________, or _______________ for the future.

Sin is never ___________________ with receiving God's ___________. It seeks to ___________ God's blessings while ___________________ the God who gave them.

14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. (Lk 15:14)

Sin _____________ destroys a life all at _________. Its consequences often _____________ little by little.

15 He went and hired [κολλάω (kol-la-ō)] himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. (Lk 15:15)
7 Do not eat the pig, for although it has hoofs with splits in the hoofs, it does not rechew its food. It is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their meat or touch their carcasses. They are unclean for you. (Le 11:7–8)
16 He would have liked to fill his stomach with the carob (care-eb) pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Lk 15:16)

The far country _________ nothing even though it _________________ everything.

It is finished” (Jn 19:30)

Points to Ponder

  1. What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
  2. What did the younger son ask his father to do, and why was that request so shocking?
  3. What circumstances finally left the younger son completely helpless?
  4. Why does Jesus spend so much time describing the younger son's downward spiral?
  5. Why is Genesis 3 an important background for understanding this parable?
  6. Why do people continue believing sin's promises even though Scripture repeatedly shows where they lead?
  7. How does modern culture encourage people to seek God's gifts while rejecting God Himself?
  8. What "far country" most tempts you to believe life would be better apart from your heavenly Father?
  9. When you recognize how far you have wandered from God, what gives you confidence that He will receive you?

Homework: Luke 15