Luke 15: Celebration

Question 0

Incorporating the theme of “Celebration”, what are the three points of Luke 15?

Answer 0

1) The Parable of the Rejoicing Shepherd (v.1-7)
2) The Parable of the Jubilant Housewife (v.8-10)
3) The Parable of the Partying Father (v.11-32)

Question 1

The song “Celebration” is by who and in what year?

Answer 1

Kool and the Gang (1981)

Question 2

In Luke 14:35, the verse before this chapter, Jesus states, “He who has ears let him hear.” and then the chapter begins. Jesus was speaking to 2 audiences and only one was “hearing”. Who were the 2 audiences

Answer 2

1) “The tax collectors and sinners”
- “Gathering around” in the Greek is literally translated: drawing near
- So the tax collectors and sinners “draw near” to Jesus forming an “inner circle”
2) “The Pharisees and teachers of the law”
- they were in back (outer edge) muttering… talking!
- they were not listening to Jesus

Question 3

Two themes of Jesus are introduced in the first two verses of chapter 15 and are “seen” in all three parables. What are they?

Answer 3

Welcoming and Eating

Question 4

In Luke 15:3-7, the shepherd leaves “the 99” to go and find “the one”. What are the 5 things that we need to learn from this passage?

Answer 4

1) The shepherd is our Father in Heaven
2) We are to imitate His heart
3) The shepherd searches until he finds the sheep
4) The shepherd puts sheep “joyfully… on his shoulders.” This alludes to the tender and protective care by the shepherd
5) Issues of Welcoming and Eating: “calls friends and neighbors… to rejoice.”

Question 5

What was the conclusion to the point of The Parable of the Rejoicing Shepherd?

Answer 5

The message of this parable is: The value of a single soul

Question 6

How old was Kip when he was given a dog and 2 kittens and what was the name of the cat that contracted cancer?

Answer 6

5 years

Jinks

Question 7

Too many people care more about “soulless” animals more than human beings with souls! What is God’s heart toward a soul?

Answer 7

God’s heart was to leave the 99 to go to the one, because of the value of ONE soul.
The heart of God is to take accountability for His sheep- His people

Question 8

How are we to have the heart of God and take accountability with our sheep?

Answer 8

a. Every sunday the region leaders report “the names” (stats) on who missed church and why
b. By Sunday night we also know who missed contributions. We have to know this because if a disciples doesn’t give then something is usually wrong. Thus this is often the first signal that a disciple may fall away, as they are not “invested in God’s kingdom.

Question 9

Kip has seen many baptisms and never gets old because each miracle of a changed life- a baptism- is exciting!
What were the additions to the first 138 days of 2014?

Answer 9

152 baptisms
29 restorations
25 place memberships

Question 10

Why are numbers and accountability are important?

Answer 10

because each of these numbers exemplifies the value of a single soul!
If you have any bad attitudes about it then repent!

Question 11

What do we identify about what is happening Luke 15:8-10 about the lost coin?

Answer 11

1) The “coin” in Greek is the drachma: worth about a day’s wage
2) So this is a valuable coin to the housewife
3) She lost one coin and so she lights a lamp, searches the house until she finds it

Question 12

Describe what many of the homes had during these times in Galilee.

Answer 12

Many homes had “tiles” made from the flat basalt stones- usually grey or black- found around the Sea of Galilee. It was not carpet! So a coin could have easily fallen into a crevasse between the stones where it’s dark, where people may not notice… thus hidden from sight.

Question 13

What are the lessons from this often “overlooked parable”?

Answer 13

1) The Coin: represents a soul. It is an inanimate object… It suggests that it can’t find its way back to the woman by itself. Each person needs someone to bring them to Jesus.
2) The Woman: Represents God’s people. In the Old Testament, God’s people (Israel) are referred to a beautiful woman in Ezekiel 16. In the New Testament, God’s people (the church- Spiritual Israel) are referred to as the “bride of Christ” in the Revelation 21. In keeping the Welcoming and Eating themes, when the woman calls “her friends and neighbors”- remarkably both “friends” and “neighbors” are in the feminine gender, again representing God’s people.
3) The Lamp: That guides is the Holy Spirit

Question 14

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” How does this relate to us?

Answer 14

We are Jesus’ body, and as his body, we have the same purpose! People are in the dark crevasses and they need to be found with our light that is guided by the Holy Spirit

Question 15

What was the illustration used for the Parable of the Lost Coin?

Answer 15

Tyler & Shay Sears are ready to plant Dallas-Ft. Worth. There was also a time where before Shay was going to be sent to the São Paulo Mission Team, her sister Lori began to study the bible. She was known as the “intercontinental baptism” as disciples over Skype in North and South America celebrated as her sister asked her “the two questions” and was baptized. Now Lori, her husband and son are now going with Tyler and Shay to plant the Dallas-Fort Worth this summer! Lori repented and led her whole family to Christ!

Are you a jubilant house wife?

Question 16

The Parable of the Lost Son should actually be the Parable of the TWO Lost Sons! Jesus is again addressing two audiences:

Answer 16

1) The sinners and the tax collectors
2) The Pharisees and teachers of the law

Jesus always makes sure he hits everyone in the audience!

Question 17

What was significant about the word “estate” in verse 12 of the Parable of the Lost Son and what was it revealing?

Answer 17

“Estate” in Greek translates to: “The Life”. Meaning the son was treating his father as if he was dead, because that’s when one usually gains an inheritance.

Question 18

What was suggested about the prodigal son going off to a “distant country” in Luke 15:13?

Answer 18

It was implying not Israel, so not God’s people. He had completely fallen away from God.

Question 19

In Luke 15:14-16, the son going to a distant country was HIS CHOICE as well as his choice of what he wanted to spend his wealth but when a “severe famine” comes, it was NOT HIS CHOICE meaning that it was the hand of God. What does this say when people leave God?

Answer 19

God makes sure it will be worse than what you ever think: In this distant country, the prodigal son doesnt know anyone- no friends, no money and was starving and landed a job feeding pigs which was undesirable for a Jew as they were unclean animals.

Question 20

In v.17-20a, one needs to hit rock bottom before one comes to one’s senses. This will allow the person to do what?

Answer 20

Begin his long journey “home”.

A Chinese Proverb says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

Question 21

“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.” Luke 15:20b.
This passage is usually the first Scripture Kip uses for every restoration study. Why?

Answer 21

Because he focuses more on who God is before addressing the son, as people who have fallen away have “forgotten” the heart and goodness of God.
God watches from afar waiting for his son to return. He is “FILLED with compassion” implying there is no anger- only love! The father (God) sees his lost son and “RAN” to his son and “KISSED HIM.” God takes initiative to bring him back to His house! When we see the heart of God it moves us to love HIM!

Question 22

In Luke 15:21-24, the son could not even get through his whole apology before the father cuts him off and gives the son a few items. What are they and what do they mean?

Answer 22

Robe- symbolizing sonship
Ring- implying that the lost son is again his son
Sandels- representing wealth and being taken care of; grills steaks “Fattened Calf” for a feast- implying it is time to celebrate!

Again the two themes are here: welcoming and eating

Question 23

When you realize God has always been watching you, it takes away all your pride. Just like how Kip was watching his son the entire time at his tennis game.
What do we learn from this?

Answer 23

Sometimes we go through a difficult time and forget that God is there cheering us on the entire time!
In the younger son’s story, Jesus is “aiming” at the tax collector and sinners, while the account of the older son is “aimed” for the Pharisees and teachers of the law

Question 24

What does Luke 15:25-32 say about the older son?

Answer 24

He is OUTSIDE the house, implying he too is not in God’s house
He didn’t want to go into the party, so once more the Father initiates and comes to him.
He was equally lost

Question 25

“That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep”
1 Corinthians 11:30

Why is this important?

Answer 25

We need to take communion more seriously! Some in our congregation are weak, sick or asleep. Asleep: is to be fallen away. Yes, one can be a fall away inside God’s church!

Question 26

When Kip surveyed the City of Angels Church Bible Talk Leaders asking them what they considered the most frequent reasons why disciples fall away. The top 7 reasons were:

Answer 26

1) The World
- The church stopped being fun
- Don’t see a soul mate
- Drinking, drugs and sex began to look appealing again
2) Persecution
- read “spiritual pornography”- dark half truths about the movement and/or the movement’s leaders easily found on the internet- that darkens their minds
- begin to love men (family) outside the church more than they love God and His spiritual family
3) Greed
- Worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke them
- This is what causes them to miss church because of a job
4) Pride
- Usually happens to older Christians
- Think they are not appreciated of “listened to”
- Think they can do things better than the church leader
5) Sentimentality
- Not watching their life and doctrine
- Usually happens when an immediate family member dies
6) “Do” rather than “be”
- Christianity becomes a commitment rather than a relationship
- Often the future fall away looks “good” but their heart is not there
7) Do not understand the Grace of God
- People don’t give enough credence to this one…

Question 27

Why is 1 John 1:6-10 important?

Answer 27

When we don’t confess our sin, we will believe we don’t have sin, and then forget we need the grace of God. We need to confess and repent of our sin, no matter our position or age and realize we need the blood of Jesus every day!

Question 28

If someone is unhappy in the fellowship there is something wrong spiritually! What do we need to do?

Answer 28

We need to have compassion and go to this person to help and/or encourage them because we are made in God’s image to celebrate! Draw them out and help them remember the grace of God!