Easter: The Prodigal

The Prodigal - John Burke, March 23, 2008
Not your typical Easter message… but then Gateway isn’t your typical church. The service revolved around a contemporary, musical version of the Prodigal Son. But in this case it was the Prodigal Daughter and the music was all U2 (and the band and singers were GOOD!)

1. U2 has some pretty high message songs – and we hear a lot of their stuff around Gateway, so start with some U2 reminensing. Do you have a favorite U2 song? Any songs or key lines you want to share? (Or maybe you have one that you’ve thought, “Now what does THAT mean?!) Talk about that for a few minutes. Next, if you were at the service, what there a song you particularly liked or remember? If so, share that too – and talk about what you liked about it. (10 minutes)

2. The message of the Prodigal is about love, and forgiveness, and about getting a “pass” on bad choices: grace. Read the story from Luke 15 (below) and then talk about anything that is surprising in the events. (10 minutes)

3. Can you ever think about a time when you thought you were going to “get it” for something you did and then, instead got some “grace” in some form or another? What did that feel like? Did the “pass” change anything for you… your behavior? your feelings? your relationships? Spend some time sharing about both the events and your response. (10 - 15 minutes)

4. Now, what about the other side of the grace equation: Have you ever been in a position of authority with some who really made a bad choice, but you were able (and chose to) give them a “pass”. How did THAT feel? Did it change anything for you or the other person – or your relationship? Talk about those situations for awhile. (10 - 15 minutes)

5. Close by spending some time seeing whether any of this applies to your relationship with God. Can you identify a time or situation where God showed you grace? If not in any one situation, what about in your general life – have you gotten to come back after walking away from Him? John said the key lesson is the father (and THE Father) RUNS to His sons and daughters. Is that a real experience for you? Let any who would like to share about any general or specific situation where God ran to them with Grace. (10 minutes)

Close with some prayer to thank God for all He did … all that running… to get us back into a relationship with Him. Take a look at the Romans 5 and 8 passages below, and then thank Jesus that He was willing to die while running to us. (5 - 10 minutes)

Bible-verses from the message:

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the [religious leaders] complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” Luke 15: 1 – 3; 12 – 19

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Romans 5: 6 - 8

It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's! Romans 8: 10 – 11

When the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.' "But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet…We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to celebrate. Luke 15: 20 – 24

Get more background and information:

• This service is not available due to copyright limits on the musical presentation
• You can download or listen most messages at Gateway's Sunday Message Archive (and other messages too)
• For more information about Jesus and who He claimed to be you can read
  
• The Case for Christ by Lee Stroebels
• Letters from a Skeptic by Gregory A. Boyd
• Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell

Search for topics you want to know more about at the Gateway Bookstore

Suburban Legends: Why do I need Easter?

Series: Suburban Legends
Why do I need Easter?
by John Burke - April 8,2007

What could be a better question on the topic of legends than to ask whether the Christian message is a myth or THE Truth with a capital T... and what we might lose or gain to accept the story? (Note there is a “bonus” question at the end of this list that deals with the specific myths. You can either work this into your discussion, or you can jump into it at the end if you have time.)

1. John started the message by asking what’s the risk in giving Christian claims about Christ a try. So maybe a good place for us to start is to take a look at our “risk attitude”: Have you ever risked something important and “lost it all”? Or maybe you hit the jackpot – or something in between. Think of something you’ve risked before (usually it's money.. but it could certainly be something else…), and then identify of the outcome. Did the experience change your attitude toward taking risks? Pair off spend about 5 minutes talking about your “risk” experience. (If you think you’ve never really taken a big risk.. then talk about why instead.). (10 minutes)

2. Now, lets focus our “risk attitude” on the question of checking out Christ. What seems/seemed like the greatest risk to you about Christianity? Think about this for a minute or two and then write down the type of risks you see. (Note, even if you ARE a Christ-follower… you probably see some risks in going further in your walk with Jesus – so think about those). If you don’t have any ideas, maybe the list below can stimulate some thinking even if they don’t nail your risk.

- I could look stupid
- I’ll have to stop having fun and doing thing s I like
- I’d have to give up my control of my life
- I could fail at it – and I hate to start something I can’t finish
- God might want to send me to Africa… or want me to do something else I don’t want to do.
- My friends will think I’m a geek

With your discussion partner, take about 5 minutes more to talk about what you think the biggest risks of following Christ are. Now, in the larger group, try to come up with a list of as many risks as you can. (15 minutes)

3. We've talked about some common “risks” of following Jesus, but there are “possible” upsides too. Let’s identify some of the “rewards”. What would make someone WANT to believe Jesus is who Christians say He is: What’s the “payoff”? Take 5 – 10 minutes to brainstorm in the group and come up with as many upsides as you can – think in terms of both new things you gain and freedom from old things you can leave behind. You can use both personal experience, hopes, or promises from the Bible. Now, pause for a minutes and think about the list: Which of those are/would be the most important rewards for YOU? (10 minutes)

4. Now that we’ve covered both the risks and the rewards of following Christ, let’s compare the two. Take a minute to fix on the risks you noted before. Now look at the rewards. What do you think? Which is “bigger”? If the “rewards “ seem bigger… what does that mean for you? Now just take a minute to sit and pray/think about this right now. End up by doing two things: First, write down an appointment with yourself and God during the week when you will come back to YOUR risks and rewards to ask God what you should DO. Then, right now, write down one step. Maybe you need to take some specific action, maybe you need to commit to reading or learning more, maybe the most important thing is just to take the first, main risk and grab the reward of a new life for yourself: to put yourself in God’s care. Whatever it is, write down the appointment and the step. Consider sharing any major steps with others – just to help you commit to doing what you want to do. Be sure to take your paper with you. (5 minutes)

Bonus question: (If time permits for some more involved discussion)
Let’s switch gears a bit. We are focused on Suburban Legends, and John talked about how even in Jesus’ time, there were a lot of “Jerusalem Legends” about the Messiah. Let’s identify some of the current thoughts about Jesus, which could be myths of our own time. Look at the list below and check off any of the items that you think or have thought about Jesus at some point. Feel free to modify or add others to the list.

- Seems like a nice guy
- A fictitious person that was made up to keep people from thinking for themselves
- Probably a real guy that folks just “make out” to be God for their own purposes
- A great teacher – along the same vein Buddha or Mohammed
- God in the flesh
- Other ______________________________

John talked about the British lawyer Sir Lionel Luckhoo who investigated the claims of Christianity and changed his mind about Jesus. Now look at the items you checked: like Luckhoo – have you ever changed your think abut any of these items? If so, pick ONE and take about three minutes to write down what caused you to change your thinking about that. If not, write down why not? This next discussion could go quickly or could take some time if there is a lot to share. For those willing – go around and read what you wrote down about your change of thinking. After everyone who wants has read their comments, spend a few minutes talking about any questions that come up. (If there are some more involved questions try to just move on at the end of the time period and look to the “Next Steps” at the end of this blog for where to get more information.) (15 minutes)

Scripture verses from the message:

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 4:29

"Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? Here [Jesus] is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from."
John 7:25-27

“In the future [God] will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-The people walking in darkness have seen a great light… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne.”
Isaiah 9:1-7

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:5-6

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?...all my bones are out of joint…a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
Psalm 22:1, 14-18

“After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”
Isaiah 53:11

“You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”
Psalm 16:10

“God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:8-12

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all it’s fullness.”
John 10:10

“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
John 15:10-12

Related Next-Step Resources:

• Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Letter from a Skeptic by Gregory A. Boyd


• Also check out more information about Christianity at Knowing God available at Gateway's Way of Christ Next-Steps Website


• Prior Sunday message on date (audio available at Gateway's Sunday Message Archive) (the most recent Sunday message is usually available by the following Tuesday at this site)