Small Group Objective

Facilitate a conversation around going after the Lost and the fact that it is all of our jobs as Believers to do just that.

Key Verses

Matthew 4:18-19 18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

Intoduction

“Follow me” Jesus commanded the disciples to leave everything behind to follow Him, but where was He going? As we focus on following Jesus this semester, let’s discover where He was going! Jesus’ main focus is on that which is lost. That’s where he is going. Jesus is heading to find the lost sheep, coin, son/daughter, on the way looks at us over his shoulder, into our eyes and says ’Follow me’. This week, we are encouraging our students to follow God in this way. There are plenty of lost people around them, will they seek them out as they were sought out by God?

Key Points

1. To Find The Lost Sheep

Scripture: Luke 15:4-7

Wrong place: One sheep
God in the Parable: The shepherd
Right place: 99 Sheep

The shepherd’s focus was on the one sheep. Thankfully He is THE GOOD shepherd and goes back for what is lost. We think 99/100 is pretty good, yet God cares so much for all of us.

2. To Find The Lost Coin

Scripture: Luke 15:8-10

The women’s main focus is on that which is lost

Wrong place: One coin
God in the Parable: The woman
Right place: Nine coins

The woman’s attention was on what was lost. She turned on a lamp, swept the house until she found it.

3. To Find The Lost Son

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 (Summarize this one to make it shorter.)

The fathers main focus is on that which is lost

Wrong place: One son
God in the Parable: Father
Right place: One son

The Father’s attention was on the one he lost. While the son was still far away, the father saw him, ran up to him and embraced him.

The main attention of God is turned to what is lost. That is the way he is going, and as he is headed that he turns to us and tells us to “Follow him”.

4. Follow Him Closely

Scripture: Matthew 26:58

Peter is technically following Jesus but has allowed a distance between himself and Jesus
1. This distance can represent the illusion of comfortability and safety
2. Jesus is arrested and Peter denies Jesus

Peter creates a distance, follows Him at a distance. Because of this, his attitude towards people changes. People became a problem. He took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on his own self. There is always restoration. Peter preaches on the day of pentecost and 3,000 are saved.

Questions

What does Evangelism look like to you?
1. Who are some people in your life that are lost and how could you share the gospel with them?
Teach the students the 5 finger gospel and have them do it with each other. This is a quick way for students to be able to share the gospel in an easy to understand way.
1. Thumb finger = God created the world and said it was good
2. Index finger = We came into the world and said no and sinned
3. Middle finger = But we brought a curse upon ourselves because of the sin
4. Ring finger= But God loves us, sent His son to die for our sins so that once we repent of our sins we can have a relationship with Him
5. Pinky finger= And because of now having the relationship with Him we have the promise of Eternal life

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But, Where is He going?