Ever felt frustrated because life - or even God - didn't meet your expectations? In a time that often feels like everything is getting worse, Jesus gives us powerful stories to show that His Kingdom is actively growing right in the midst of the brokenness. Discover how a delayed judgment is actually proof of God's radical patience and grace for your life. Let's realign our expectations and find unshakeable hope in the living Christ together.

Matthew 13:24-43

The Parable of the Weeds

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Prophecy and Parables

34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables;

    I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. Read Matthew 13:24-43 together.

2. When have your expectations of God clashed with reality? Share a time you did “all the right things” (prayed, read Scripture, attended church) but still faced a frustrating “weed” (lost job, a breakup, or a disappointing season).

3. Are you currently focusing more on the weeds or the wheat? Is it easier for you to spot where evil and chaos are growing, or where God is quietly moving?

4. How does God’s “delayed judgment” change your view of difficult people? Jesus allows the weeds and wheat to grow together to show patience. How can you extend that same radical grace to someone who opposes your faith or frustrates you?

5. Pray the Lord’s Prayer out loud with each other.

For Families with Kids

1. Read Matthew 13:24-43. What is something you expected to be super fun, but it ended up being a bummer? Think about a rainy beach trip or a toy that broke right away. Talk about how we handle it when things do not go our way.

2. If you look at the world, do you think it is getting better or getting worse? Talk about the good things God is doing (people helping each other) and the bad things we see (weeds in a garden). Why are both happening at the same time?

3. Why do you think God doesn’t just zap all the bad stuff away right now? Discuss how God is being super patient because He loves people and wants to give everyone time to turn to Him and join His family.

4. Pray together: “Dear Jesus, thank You for being alive and in control, even when the world feels messy. Help us to stop worrying about the bad things around us and trust that You are working. Give us patience like Yours so we can show Your love to others every day. Amen.”

What do you do when God seems silent? We all know what it's like to pray for healing, restoration, or justice and wonder if our prayers are making any difference. In Luke 18, Jesus tells a simple but powerful parable with one purpose: "Always pray and do not lose heart." Let’s explore what persistent prayer looks like in a broken world through Scripture, honest stories of both answered and unanswered prayer, and the hope we have in Christ, who entered our suffering and promises to make all things new. Whether you're celebrating God's faithfulness or struggling to keep praying, this message is for you.

Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. Read Luke 18:1-8.

2. What is one prayer God has answered in your life that you still remember and thank Him for?

3. How do disappointment or suffering tempt us to stop praying altogether?

4. The resurrection reminds us that Jesus didn’t come merely to explain suffering but to defeat it. How does the promise of the resurrection give you hope in the middle of present struggles?

5. Who in your life needs persistent prayer right now? Spend a few moments sharing those requests with one another.

For Families with Kids

1. Read Luke 18:1-8 together as a family.

2. Can you think of a time when God answered one of your prayers? How did it make you feel?

3. Sometimes we pray, but the answer doesn’t come right away. Have you ever had to wait for something? Was it hard? How can we keep trusting God while we wait?

4. Jesus died and came back to life so that one day sadness, sickness, and pain will be gone forever. How does that help you when you’re scared, sad, or having a hard day?

5. Who is someone you can pray for this week? Take turns sharing one person or one need, and then pray together.

All of us are plagued with an identity crisis from birth: an identity of sin. This identity crisis puts us at enmity with God. Jesus Christ, however, has freed us from this identity crisis and given us an irreplaceable identity: an identity in Christ. 

Luke 16:19-31

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house - 28 for I have five brothers - so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. What is the greatest gift you have received?

2. Read Romans 5:12-21. What is the result of this one man’s (Adam’s) sin? How does that compare to the free gift of Christ?

3. Now in our parable, Luke 16:19-31, compare the identities of the rich man and Lazarus. Where do you see the effects of Adam’s sin? And where do you see the effect of the new identity we have in Christ?

 4. What will you do with the gift of a new identity in Christ?

For Families with Kids

1. What is the best gift you have ever received? Why was it special? 

2. Read Romans 5:12-21 together. What happened when Adam disobeyed God? How did Adam’s sin affect all people?

3. What did Jesus do for us that Adam could not do? What gift does Jesus give to everyone who trusts in Him?

4. The Bible says God’s grace is a free gift. What does it mean that we cannot earn God’s forgiveness, but Jesus gives it to us anyway?

5. When you remember that Jesus has forgiven you and loves you, how can you share His love with your family, friends, or classmates this week?

Today we continue our Upside Down Kingdom series with one of Jesus' most familiar parables - the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this story to answer a much deeper question than, "Who is my neighbor?” Let's discover how this parable exposes our tendency to justify ourselves, reveals the surprising mercy of Christ, and invites us to see and love the neighbors God has already placed along our path.

Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. Reread Luke 10:25-37. Who is someone God has placed in your life that is difficult or different for you to love, and why do you think that is?

2. How does the lawyer’s desire to justify himself reveal our own tendency to limit who we consider our neighbor?

3. How does this parable point us to Jesus as the One who fulfilled the Law and came near to us in our helplessness?

4. What is one practical way you can make room this week to love the neighbor God has already placed along your path?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Luke 10:25-37 as a family. Is there someone it is hard to be kind to at school, on your team, or in your neighborhood? Why?

2. How has Jesus been like the Good Samaritan by loving and helping us when we needed Him?

3. Who is one person you can show kindness to this week? What could you do for them?

4. Why do you think God wants us to love everyone, even people who are different from us?

5. How would you want someone to treat you if you were the hurt man on the side of the road?

6. What are some simple ways you can be a good neighbor at home, at school, or at church this week?

Every one of us has been entrusted with something. Time. Gifts. Abilities. Opportunities. Relationships. Faith itself. The question isn't whether you've been given enough. The question is what you'll do with what God has already placed in your hands. In Jesus' Parable of the Talents, one servant invests what he has been given. Another buries it out of fear. The difference isn't how much each received - it is how each responded. This week, we'll discover that God isn't asking us to compare what we've been given with someone else. He's inviting us to faithfully invest what He has entrusted to us for the sake of His Kingdom. Because the greatest tragedy isn't having too little. It's burying what God intended to use to bring life to the world around you.

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Romans 12:4-8

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

1 Peter 4:10-11

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 10:14-15

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

For Adult Homes and Groups

Before next Sunday, reread Matthew 25:14–30 and reflect on these questions:

1. What gifts, abilities, relationships, or opportunities has God entrusted to you that you sometimes overlook or take for granted?

2. What fears or excuses are most likely to keep you from using those gifts to serve God and others?

3. In what ways can comparison distract us from faithfully using what God has uniquely entrusted to us?

4. What is one specific way you can invest one of God’s gifts this week to bless someone else and advance His Kingdom?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Matthew 25:14-30 together. In this story, who does the master represent, and who are the servants?

2. How did the first two servants use their talents, and what did the master say when he returned? What did the third servant do with his single talent, and why?

3. What are some gifts, talents, or abilities that God has given you? 

4. Have you ever felt like what you have isn’t as much as what someone else has? How does this parable teach us to be happy with what we’ve been given?

5. Take turns writing down two or three unique things you are good at or blessings your family enjoys. Choose one of those to actively use to bless a neighbor or serve your community this week.

True spiritual treasure is rarely found on the surface. Diving into Matthew 13, God's Kingdom isn’t meant to be a supplement to our routines; it completely transforms our entire existence. Jesus invites us to look past life's competing distractions, rediscover the "pearl of great price", and find the lasting joy that only comes from trusting Him above all else.

Matthew 13:44-52

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

New and Old Treasures

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. Read Matthew 13:44-52 together.

2. Jesus is not a “supplement” or a “life coach” to add to an already smooth

life; He is our Savior who demands complete transformation. Honestly evaluate your current relationship with Him: Are you treating Him as a helpful add-on, or are you allowing His Kingdom to remake and rule over every area of your life?

3. Both men in the parables sacrificed everything they had to obtain the treasure, driven by joy rather than guilt or obligation. When you think about your spiritual disciplines, obedience, and service to God, are you driven to “try harder” out of duty, or “trust deeper” because of who Jesus is?

4. What competing “pearls” (success, relationships, financial security, or comfort) are currently vying for the top spot in your heart, and how can you refocus your allegiance onto Jesus this week?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Matthew 13:44-52 together as a family.

2. Read v44 again together. Why do you think Jesus says His love and His Kingdom are like a hidden treasure? How can we “look beneath the surface” to find joy in Jesus even on normal, boring days?

3. The men in Jesus’ stories gladly sold everything they owned because they found something way better. Following Jesus sometimes means giving up things like selfishness, bad attitudes, or our own way. Why does finding Jesus make those sacrifices feel easy and full of joy?

4. What are some good things in our lives (like sports, screens, or hobbies) that try to take up all of our time and attention? How can we work together as a family to keep Jesus as our number one prize? Write or plan a goal list for the next month to make Jesus the priority?

Even if you've never opened a Bible, you've probably heard the word prodigal. Most people think this story is about a son who wandered far from home. But what if that's not the real focus? What if this parable is really about a father pursuing both of his sons - the one who ran away and the one who stayed? What if it's about a Father's love that reaches farther than either of them could imagine?

Today, we explore one of Jesus' most famous parables and discover how it can transform the way we see God's love. Whether you feel far from God or you've been in church for years, this story has the power to challenge, encourage, and change the way you see yourself - and Jesus.

For Adult Homes and Groups

Reread Luke 15:11–32 and reflect on these questions:

1. Which character do you most identify with right now - the younger son, the older son, or the father? Why?

2. What does the father’s response to both sons reveal about the heart of God?

3. Where do you see yourself trying to earn God’s love, approval, or acceptance rather than simply receiving it?

4. How is Jesus inviting you to respond to the Father’s love this week?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Luke 15 together.

2. If you left home and spent all your money, how would you feel about coming back to ask for help? 

3. The older brother was angry (v.28). Have you ever felt jealous or resentful when someone else received grace or a reward you felt you deserved?

4. Which character do you relate to more right now - the one who messes up and needs grace, or the one who struggles to extend grace to others?

5. The older brother had lived with his father all along, but he didn’t know his father’s heart (v.31). How can our family live with more joy and celebration instead of keeping score?

Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

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.’ ” 

Proverbs 14:12

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, 

but its end is the way to death. 

Isaiah 64:6-7

6 We have all become like one who is unclean, 

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. 

We all fade like a leaf, 

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 

7 There is no one who calls upon your name, 

who rouses himself to take hold of you; 

for you have hidden your face from us, 

and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.

Ephesians 2:1-10

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Have you ever lost something valuable in your own house? Not somewhere far away, but right under your nose? This Sunday we'll explore Jesus' Parable of the Lost Coin from Luke 15:8-10. While it may sound like a simple story, it raises some surprisingly deep questions. What does it mean that the coin was lost in the house? Is it possible to drift from God without even realizing it? And what does God's relentless search for the lost reveal about His heart for us? Whether you've walked closely with Christ for years, feel spiritually distant, or know someone who seems to have drifted away, I think you'll find both challenge and encouragement in this text. Most importantly, we'll see a God who notices when one is missing, searches until He finds, and rejoices whenever sinners are brought home. I hope you'll join us this Sunday.

Text: Luke 15:8-10 

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Discipleship Questions

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. What is something valuable you have lost and spent a long time searching for?

2. Have there been seasons in your life where you have felt yourself becoming spiritually distracted, complacent, or further from God than you wanted to be?

3. Why is it important to distinguish between feeling lost versus being abandoned by God?

4. How can our church become more intentional about noticing and caring for people before they drift away?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Luke 15 together.

2. Have you ever lost something that was really important to you, like a favorite toy? How did you feel when you finally found it?

3. Why do you think Jesus compares us to a lost coin instead of something else? Hint: Does a dirty coin lose its value? No! It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, our worth to God never changes.

4. God loves to seek out and rescue people. What is one way we can show that same love to someone at school or in our neighborhood who might be feeling left out or “lost”?

5. Activity: Hide a specific number of coins (or small objects) around your living room. Give the kids a time limit to find them. When time is up, celebrate finding them together as a family. Remind your kids that God searches just as carefully and rejoices even more when

He finds us!

We kick off a series within a series with the "Lost Trilogy" in Luke 15. No other parables fully display God's heart like these three. We're starting with the Parable of the Lost Sheep: a committed Shepherd refusing to give up on just one missing sheep. It's a beautiful picture of God's grace and a wake-up call to anyone who resents His mercy toward outsiders.

Luke 15: 1-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. Read Luke 15:1-7. In verses 1-2, the religious leaders are angry that Jesus is eating with “sinners”. Who are the people today that the modern church might be tempted to keep at arm’s length?

2. How does the shepherd physically rescue the sheep in Luke 15:5? How does this illustrate the way Jesus steps into your life to carry you through difficult seasons or rescue you from sin?

3. Jesus states in Luke 15:7 that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people. Does this surprise you?

4. Do you naturally identify more with the wandering sheep, the seeking shepherd, or the grumbling Pharisees who struggle to accept that “undeserving” people are receiving grace?

5. Who is one person that you desperately hope will find or return to their faith? Take a moment to write down their name and pray for them.

For Families with Kids

1. Read Luke 15:1-7. If you wandered off and got lost, who would come looking for you? 

2. Does leaving the 99 sheep behind mean the shepherd didn’t care about them? Why or why not? Who are the “lost sheep” in our world today? How can we show them God’s love?

3. Who does the shepherd call together to celebrate when he gets home? What does this story tell us about how valuable each individual person is to God?

4. Who is one specific person you know who needs to experience God’s love this week? How can you pray for or encourage them? Write the name(s) down and write out a prayer to pray every day this week for that person(s).

Our world celebrates bigger, faster, and more visible. But Jesus says God's Kingdom often begins small, hidden, and easy to miss. If you've ever wondered whether your faithfulness matters or if God is really at work, Jesus' parables remind us that growth is God's responsibility, not ours. We plant. We water. We trust. What seems insignificant today may be the very thing God uses to build something extraordinary tomorrow. In the Upside Down Kingdom, small beginnings are never small to God.

Mark 4:21-33

A Lamp Under a Basket

21 And He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

The Parable of the Seed Growing

26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 And He said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables He spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

For Adult Homes and Groups

Before answering these questions, take a few moments to reread Mark 4:21-33, and reflect on what Jesus teaches about the growth of God’s Kingdom.

1. Where have you been tempted to measure success by visible results instead of faithfulness?

2. What “small seed” of obedience, ministry, or discipleship has God called you to plant or continue nurturing?

3. How does Jesus’ teaching challenge your assumptions about how God works and grows His Kingdom?

4. What is one area of your life where you need to stop striving for results and trust God to do what only He can do?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Mark 4:21-33 together. 

2. Sometimes we want to see immediate results in our spiritual growth or when we share our faith with friends. How does this teach us to trust God’s timing?

3. How does the mustard seed remind us not to underestimate the value of small, quiet acts of obedience or faithfulness to God?

4. Verse 28 describes growth in steps (stalk, head, grain). What “spiritual stage” are you in right now? What is one small step you can take to keep growing?

5. Grab a clear jar or Ziploc bag, a damp paper towel, and a raw bean (like a lima bean). Wrap the bean in the damp paper towel and place it against the side of the jar or bag. Leave it in a sunny spot. In a few days, your family can watch the roots break through the shell. How is God doing the exact same thing in our hearts - breaking through the hard parts to grow something beautiful