BEGIN WITH PRAYER · 5 MINUTES
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of a living room, etc.). Have somebody lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS · 5 MINUTES
Take this time to go over any details pertaining to any gatherings of your groups that may be upcoming. Additionally, invite the participants of your group to take out their phones, open up the Missio Dei App, and navigate to the Events Tab on the App. Highlight a couple of events that are upcoming that you feel are pertinent to your group.
Group reflective reading of scripture · 5-10 MINUTES
Prepare
Slow down in preparation for your reading. Be silent in the presence of Jesus for a minimum of 2 minutes. Ask the Holy Spirit to shift you from control to receptivity, from information to formation, and from observation to obedience. In the silence release control of your reading to the Holy Spirit, and ready your soul to receive whatever it is the Spirit wants to do during your time of reading.
Read
Read the selected passage slowly. Consider reading multiple times and reading out loud. Select a portion, a smaller portion that really stands out or connects to things happening within your life or group. Reread it, pause, breathe, and relax for a few minutes to let these words really sink in.
Reflect
Place yourself in the story imaginatively, perhaps as an observer who is experiencing what is taking place. Consider the following questions as you use your imagination to participate in the story.
What do we imagine we would be experiencing through our body’s 5 senses?
What would we see, hear, touch (if applicable), smell (if applicable) and/or taste (if applicable)?
What do we feel as a result of imaginatively participating? (Anger, Fear, Loneliness, Hurt, Shame, Guilt, Sadness, Gladness) Why might we be feeling these things?
What are we thinking about as a result of imaginatively participating? Why?
What might the Holy Spirit be showing us as we participate in the passage through our thoughts, our emotions, and how we are experiencing it with our bodies through our imagination?
Rest
Breathe, perhaps express some affirmation of God’s love for you and presence with you. Know that He sees you, He knows you, He loves you and He is with you.
Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
reflect & DISCUSS · 10-15 MINUTES
This week we spent time looking generally at the behavior of the two sons in the parable of the “Prodigal Son.”
The younger son lives recklessly, losing himself and is left empty.
The older son conforms recklessly, also losing himself and is left entitled.
The parable teaches that there are two diverging ways of relating to God, ourselves, and one another.
Like younger sons, some of us are wandering in ways that are obvious because they are self-indulgent.
Like older sons, some of us are wandering in ways that are less obvious because they are self-righteous.
Which son in the story describes your current season of life?
In what ways are you experiencing and expressing restlessness and resentment in your search for fulfillment?
*There is no pressure to use any or all of these prompts, these are meant to serve as guides and resources for your use.
apply • 15-20 minutes
Because God in Christ receives back home those who have wandered, we were charged to confess the ways in which we have trusted broken things attempting to make our home in a broken world.
Pastor Kurt invited us to consider the questions God graciously asked our first parents in the Garden.
Where are you?
Are you empty in a far country or at home?
Who told you (To what are you listening)?
Who are the authoritative voices in your life?
Have you eaten (For what are you longing)?
Where are you taking your hunger?
CLOSE IN PRAYER · 15 MINUTES
Create a public forum space where people can pray and offer prayer for one another. Fight the urge to talk more about prayer than you do spend time praying. Invite someone to begin this time and someone to end this time together. Remember, silence is not the enemy of a time of prayer.