"Who's Eating at Your Table?" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time of feasting and spending time with family and friends. Jesus told a parable about a man who hosted a magnificent feast. This banquet reveals God’s great love for us! We are all invited to experience God’s love through Christ. Yet, some of the people in the story refused the invitation and made excuses. In context, their excuses would have been understood as materialistic, the result of poor planning, or a simple unwillingness to come. Our hearts can be shallow. But God’s heart isn’t shallow! He relentlessly seeks to show kindness. When we are moved by God’s heart, we are also moved to show kindness.

Main Passages

16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” 
- Luke 14:16-24

6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 
- 2 Samuel 9:6-7

Discussion Questions

1. God invites us to experience His love. What keeps you from experiencing God’s love?

2. How does kindness help us experience God’s love?

3. What can you do to be kind to someone near you this holiday season? How can you help them experience God’s love through that?

Family Questions

1. Were you kind to anyone this past week? What did you do?

2. How can you be kind to someone this week?

"The Parable of the Mustard Seed" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

We often come to God with something in mind. We might want answered prayer, a good feeling, or validation. But we’ll miss the main point if we only think about ourselves. Our personal agendas have an expiration date, but God’s Kingdom doesn’t. God’s Kingdom should be our focus because it will never fall. Ironically, when we focus on God, we often find some of our deepest needs are met - like the need for personal purpose. A “calling.” We’re all called to help grow God’s Kingdom. We can grow God’s Kingdom when we grow closer to God, grow our character, and go to make disciples. We might not start out looking for God’s Kingdom, but when we embrace our place in it, then we’ll find something even greater.

Main Passages

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. 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.”
- Matthew 13:31-32

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- Matthew 6:33

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:5

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever discovered something great or unexpected after deciding to serve God? What happened?

2. Do you see any alignment between your greatest personal priorities and God’s Kingdom in this season of your life? Why or why not?

3. Most of us are challenged in at least one way when it comes to growing closer to God, growing in character, or going to make disciples. Which one of those three things are most difficult for you? How can you grow in this area?

Family Question

1. How can you help solve a problem around you?

"How to change the World" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

The condition of our world is alarming. We’re searching for answers to some of the greatest problems we have ever faced. Does God have a plan to change things? The answer is yes! God’s plan to change the world starts when God changes us. Then, He can use an upgraded version of us to change the world around us. Change happens over time when we love people and endure evil. Positive change might feel like it takes a long time, but this kind of change is long-lasting.

Main Passages

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty fold!
- Matthew 13:23

24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
- 2 Timothy 2:24-26

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
- Matthew 13:24-30

Discussion Questions

1. What’s one thing in the world or personal life that’s alarming you right now? 

2. What can you learn in this situation? Is there a way for you to grow or improve through this situation?

3. Is there someone (or a group of people) you can love, or a way in which you can endure evil in order to create change?

Family Question

1. How can you help solve a problem around you?

"The Parable of the Sower" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

Jesus told The Parable of the Sower to describe the condition of our hearts and four potential responses to God’s Word. Three of those responses are problematic. The Enemy might blind us to God’s Word, we can forget the Word when life gets hard, or we might get distracted from God’s Word by life’s problems and pursuits. Sometimes, our hearts prove to be “good soil” and the Word bears fruit in our lives. But is there anything we can do to be “good soil?” How do we prevent the problems described by this parable?

Our hearts become “good soil” when we hear and understand God’s Word. These things don’t happen naturally - they take effort. We truly hear God’s Word when we consciously choose to listen and turn down distractions. We work to understand the Word by reviewing it, digging deeper into the text, and processing it with others. These two habits transform our hearts into good soil! They even prevent the three bad responses described by this parable. We choose to become good soil when we make an effort to hear and understand the Word.

Main Passages

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

- Matthew 13:18-23

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

- Romans 10:17

Discussion Questions

1. Have you experienced any of the three negative outcomes described by this parable? Do you think you might be experiencing any of them in this season of your life?

2. Describe a time in which God;s Word bore fruit - or made a genuine change - in your life.

3. What’s one thing you can do to hear or understand God’s Word a little better?

Family Questions

1. What’s one thing you learned about God over the last month? How did you learn that about Him?

"Fix Your Focus" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

Every family has its challenges. Many times, children aren’t fully aware of those challenges. That’s because their parents do their best to cover them. That’s one of the benefits of being a child! Children trust that they will be taken care of. As a child of God, we benefit in a similar way. We can begin to experience these benefits when we focus on our spiritual “home.” The right home for our hearts is not in our success or the approval of others, but in the approval of our Heavenly Father. His love is unlimited and unconditional. He has never lost his focus on us.

Main Passages

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.
- Luke 15:18-20 

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
- Luke 15:20b 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
- John 1:12

Discussion Questions

1. When you lose focus on God, where does your mind typically go? Why?

2. Would you say that you’re generally focused on God in this season of your life, or on something else?

3. What’s one thing you can do practically to fix your focus on God?

Family Question

1. What’s one thing your Mom, Dad, or another loved one does for you? What do you think God does for us?

"All in a Day's Work" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

Have you ever felt like God was good to you, but even better to others? Sometimes that can be discouraging or even frustrating. Why does God seem more generous towards others? If you’ve ever felt this way, then you’re not alone. But we need to focus on God’s Kingdom rather than our ideas of “fairness.” God’s glory and God’s mission must be the priority! (Ironically, we’re most likely to experience purpose and satisfaction when we’re putting God’s glory ahead of our own.) We can’t let comparison kill our contentment either. God sees our sacrifice and our service to Him. Our rewards are coming! Even if we don’t get them on earth, we’re sure to be rewarded and recognized in eternity. This unchanging fact helps us live with confidence on earth, and frees us to embrace God’s generosity toward us with gratitude.

Main Passage

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw OTHERS standing idle in the marketplace, And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, the master did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour (only one hour left in the day) he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.” 

- Matthew 20:1-16

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

-  1 Timothy 6:6-8

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

- Hebrews 11:6 

Discussion Questions

1. Has comparison ever killed your contentment? If so, what kind of impact did that have on your emotions, your relationship with God, or your relationship with others?

2. What’s one thing you can be grateful to God for in your life right now?

3. Jesus promises that our Father, who sees in secret, will reward us for honoring Him. How should that impact the way we live and serve God on a daily basis?

Family Question

1. What does “gratitude” mean to you? Name at least one thing you’re grateful for!

"The Pharisee and the Tax Collector" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

The Pharisees might be the most disliked group of people we meet in the Bible! They tried to  discredit Jesus, and eventually helped crucify Him. One thing Jesus condemned the Pharisees for was their pride, which he focused on in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Pride crosses the line and becomes sinful when we develop “haughty eyes.” Haughty eyes cause us to look down on others. Yet when we read this parable, we may realize that we’re proud of the same things that made the Pharisees haughty! (Things like our accomplishments, reputation, groups or opinions.) 

We need to adopt the approach of the Tax Collector in Jesus’s story. The Tax Collector looked at his own flaws, judged himself against God’s standard, and sought to be made right with God. Our souls are shaped, strengthened, and prepared to serve God when we do this consistently.

Main Passages

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
- Luke 18:9

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes...”
- Proverbs 6:16-17

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:13-14

Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you from the Main Thought and Passages above?

2. Have you ever looked at others with “haughty eyes”?

3. Haughtiness is rarely intentional. It’s more likely to creep in slowly. Could there be an area in your life in which you might have become proud, or haughty, unintentionally? How do you think God wants you to move forward in this area?

Family Question

1. What are you proud of? Have you ever been mean to someone because you were good at something?

"A Pretty Penny" Discussion Guide

MAIN THOUGHT

They say that you can’t judge a book by its cover. By the same “token,” you can’t judge a coin by its printed value! This is especially true of coins with “imperfections,” like typos or misprinted images. One might think that imperfections make a coin worthless. Instead, these imperfections can make a coin highly desirable to a collector! In a similar way, we all have our own imperfections - but God assigns great value to us. He seeks after us. He doesn’t give up on us, and there is great joy in Heaven when we’re “found.” We should live knowing we’re valued, and see others in that same light.

MAIN PASSAGES

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,….  if she loses one coin, does she 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.”  - Luke 15:8-10

1 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.”  - Luke 15:1-2

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever felt like you weren’t valued, or that you were unwanted or unloved? How did that mindset affect your life?

2. Value is ultimately determined by the price someone is willing to pay to obtain something. In order to redeem us, Jesus paid with His life. How should this affect the way we see ourselves? How does this affect the way we view and treat others?

3. We invest in things, or treat them well, when we know they’re valuable. How can you “invest in yourself” in response to the value God sees in you?

FAMILY DISCUSSION

1. What is the most important thing to you? Did you know that God thinks of you as even more important than that? How does that make you feel?