I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do

---

September 17, 2017 Part 2: The Lost Soul

Dan McEvoy

Q—Ever been lost?

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, ... As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Romans 7:15–19a (NIV) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24–25a (NIV) "There was a man who had two sons." Luke 15:11b (NIV) Sermon in a Sentence: The remedy for the lost soul is receiving the enduring and extravagant love of the Father. “The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” Luke 15:12 (NIV)  Our Father’s love is

to let us go.

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." Luke 15:13 (NIV) Q—What’s your rock bottom? Luke 15:17, 18-20a (NIV)  Our Father’s love anticipates our return and is ready to us. Luke 15:20-21, 24 (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a (NIV)  Our Father’s love will never ever

on us.

Luke 15:25-32 (NIV) Q—What is the state of your soul?

ANSWER KEY: enough, embrace, give up

Doing Life Together Discussion - A Launching Point for Your Small Group Theme: A Father’s Invite Read Together: Luke 15:11-32 Warm Up: What was the most memorable time growing up that you felt like you were given more than you deserved, or a time you were treated unfairly? What happened and how have those experiences shaped you today? Dig:  What do you speculate was the motive of the younger son wanting to leave his father?  What was surprising and significant about the father’s response to the son’s request? Why do you think the father responded the way he did?  How did Jesus’ depiction of the father compare with our Heavenly Father?  After the father welcomed home the younger son whole-heartedly, why do you think the older son didn’t react to his return so positively?  How did Jesus’ description of the older son's attitude compare to the religious leaders in the audience? How would you consider the older son just as lost as the younger son? 

What is the challenge of being an “older son?” What are issues that can cause a person who is considered the “older son” not to fully celebrate with the Father?



How do you see Jesus as being the perfect “elder brother” of the story through dying on the cross for us?



Which son do you most relate with and why?



What is keeping you from finding your place at the Party?

Prayer: Take time to share the good things God is doing in your life and to pray for one another about the needs you have in your group/family.