Overview Series Discussion Guide Archived Discussion Guides

Is the Gospel Actually Good News? Series Guide

Week Six:

  1. This is the last week we are in Luke 15 together. Read the whole chapter together. As you reflect on the past six weeks, what are some things that you have discovered about Luke 15? What has Luke 15 helped you to see about the heart of God?
  2. On Sunday we considered how the renewed life and renewed relationships the younger son received point to the Tree of Life in Revelation 22, Renewal, and the resurrection of Jesus. What stood out to you? What kind of things do you long to see renewed?
  3. Read 1 Peter 1.3. What do we learn about people and what do we learn about God from this verse? It has been said that "the resurrection of Jesus means hope for every circumstance and hope for every person." Do you think this is true? How so?
  4. Do you think people in the Comox Valley also long for things to be made new? What might be some things your neighbours/co-workers/classmates, etc (local mission field) may be longing to see renewed? How is the gospel of Jesus good news to them?
  5. Christmas Outreach Planning: This is the last week to finalize your plans together! Take whatever time you need to make sure things are ready to go. Have you let the church office know of your plans yet? Please send a brief description of what you're going to do together to office@cpclife.com. We will be praying for you!
Prayer Time:         
    • Get into 2s & 3s (men with men, women with women)
    • Pray for each other 
    • Pray for 3 people each by name who don’t know Jesus yet

Week Five:

  1. Work as a group to retell the story of the lost sons by memory. Afterward, refer to Luke 15.11-31 to see if you missed any important details. We’re now five weeks into letting this text speak to us. What are the main themes from Luke 15 that are speaking to your heart?
  2. On Sunday we considered the Father’s forgiveness in Luke 15 and also the forgiving work of God through Jesus upon the cross. How did Jesus speak to your heart through Sunday’s message?
  3. What is it about forgiveness that makes it a challenging subject for people? How does the issue of “deserving” (or undeserving) and when others have hurt us play into this? How does the story of Luke 15 and God’s act of forgiveness upon the cross empower followers of Jesus to be forgiving toward others?
  4. Is God’s forgiveness good news for the people of the Comox Valley who don’t know Jesus yet? How so? What would you say are some ineffective ways of trying to help people see their need of forgiveness from God? What might some effective ways be?  
  5. Christmas Outreach Planning: Take some time to finish up your group’s plans. We’d love to hear about what you’re planning to do! 1) Appoint someone to send a brief summary of your group’s Christmas Outreach Plan to the church office. 2) Send it to office@cpclife.com
Prayer Time:         
    • Get into 2s & 3s (men with men, women with women)
    • Pray for each other 
    • Pray for 3 people each by name who don’t know Jesus yet

Week Four:

  1. Reflect on Sunday’s message. What stands out to you? How did Jesus speak to your heart?
  2. Read Luke 15.25-32 together. Let’s focus on the elder brother’s reaction and the father’s response. In what ways can you relate to the elder brother? What can this reveal about our own hearts? If you were the father how might you be tempted to respond to these two sons? How does the father’s tender and beckoning response speak good news?
  3. On Sunday we considered how the father’s response points toward the Tree of Faithfulness. In Genesis 12-18 we find God forming a covenant family with Abraham (near a tree in Mamre!). What are some examples you can think of from the rest of the Old Testament where we observe God’s faithfulness to His covenant and His people? What is a story from your own life of a way in which you have experienced God’s great faithfulness?
  4. Is God’s faithfulness good news to people in the Comox Valley who don’t know Jesus yet? How so? Give some examples of things people in the Comox Valley may be facing and how the faithfulness of God speaks good news to that.
  5. Christmas Outreach: By now your group should have decided on a Christmas Outreach that you will participate in together. If not, make that decision today. What are the next steps? What do you need to do to plan and be well-prepared for this Christmas Outreach?
Prayer Time: 
    • Get into 2s & 3s (men with men, women with women) 
    • Pray for each other
    • Pray for 3 people by name who don't know Jesus yet 

Week Three:

  1. Read Luke 15.11-24 together.  Let’s focus on the younger son’s request.  What thoughts and feelings may he have had in making this request?  What might this experience have been like for the father?
  2. Early in Genesis we see God introduces humanity to two trees.  Life & Freedom, whereby people can choose dependence or independence.  On Sunday we considered the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil and how it points to God’s purpose for freedom for people.  What stood out to you?  How does this tree uniquely point to God’s love and His desire for relationship?
  3. What kids of thoughts and ideas do you think the people of the Comox Valley have about God?   What misunderstandings about God may people have that would cause them to prefer independence?
  4. Theologian Dustin Benge said, “Unbeliever’s recognize their sin as their freedom.  Believers recognize their sin as their bondage.  Jesus Christ changes everything!”  How does Jesus change everything? (Optional for deeper discussion: How does Galatians 5.1 & 5.13-17 fit into all of this?)
  5. Christmas Outreach Brainstorm:  Last week your group brainstormed ideas of things you could do to help someone who doesn’t know Jesus yet Feel the good news this Christmas.  Narrow your ideas down to one you could work on together.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to really meet someone’s needs or to bless them?  What are the next steps?

Prayer Time:

    • Get into 2s & 3s (men with men, women with women)
    • Pray for each other
    • Pray for 3 people each by name who don’t know Jesus yet

Week Two:

  1. Read Luke 15.11-31 together. What stands out to you from reading this story today? In what way did Jesus speak to your heart through this Sunday's message?
  2. The definition of "life"  has been debated for years. How would you define "life"? Feel free to compare definitions online and then try writing your own definition together as a gorup.
  3. In what ways might our Genesis origin story offer a more hopeful and purposeful message to people in the Comox Valley, many of whom may think life is either accidental or a faceless, impersonal entity or force? Is this part of the "Good News", how so?
  4. On Sunday it was said that the Tree of Life is a Tree of Dependence. How might people of the Comox Valley struggle with this? How might Christians today struggle with dependence?
  5. Christmas Outreach Brainstorm:
    • Step 1) Take turns telling each other about your local mission field (people that you know here who don't know Jesus yet) -name names!
    • Step 2) As a group list 4-5 ideas of something your group could do to practically meet the need of someone who doesn't know Jesus yet. Pray and ask God to lead your group.

Week One:

  1. Read Luke 15.1-10, then see if your group can recall the 3rd story together without reading it. What stood out to you from Sunday's message? How did you feel God speaking to you?
  2. In what ways might you and I relate with the Pharisees & Scribes? In what ways might you and I relate with the Tax Collectors & Sinners?
  3. How does Luke 15 confront attitudes or perspectives we might have about others?
  4. What are you beholding about the heart of God from Luke 15 so far? Would this be good news to someone who doesn't follow Jesus yet?
  5. See if your group can recall together what the 5 Trees are. As you think about Luke 15, are there any ways you can potentially see the 5 Trees in it?

Prayer Time:

    • Get into 2s and 3s (men with men, women with women)
    • Pray for each other
    • Pray for 3 people each by name who don't know Jesus yet