Reel Luke

Jesus Teaches About Lost Things

Luke 15:1-10

Helpful Stuff to Know

People in Jesus’ world disliked tax collectors because they collected money from neighbors, family, and friends on behalf of the occupying Roman government. People often referred to tax collectors (and other people) as “notorious sinners.”

Pharisees were committed to keeping all of God’s laws and ensuring that “pure” things and people didn’t mix with “impure” things and people. They often complained about Jesus spending time with the wrong kind of people.

The image of a shepherd and sheep was very familiar to Jewish people. It was common in the Hebrew scriptures (our Old Testament) in places like Psalm 23. Shepherds often represented God, and sometimes represented religious leaders and teachers.

Be Sure Not to Miss

Jesus told these stories so that both groups of people would hear them — the “notorious sinners” and the Pharisees. Everyone had something to learn.

Jesus taught the same message in several different stories. He was intentional and careful to make sure everyone could relate and understand.

Both parables mentioned repentance, which means turning away from something (living for self) and turning toward something else (God and his ways).

Be Careful About

When the shepherd left the 99 sheep to find the one lost sheep, he wasn’t abandoning the 99. He still loved and cared for them. Not every detail of a parable is a one-for-one symbol.

Losing one of 10 coins is not a hidden message about what percentage of money people should give to the Lord.

Reel Questions

❮

Reel Setting (place)

Where did this story happen? (Describe the setting — in a house, on a road, by a lake, in a city, etc.)
What do you think that place looked like? smelled like? sounded like?
Do you think it matters that this story happened in that specific place? Why?
What about the place in this story feels familiar? What feels strange?

Reel People (characters)

Make a list of all the people in this story and give a one-word description of each (include “crowd” if there is one). Why did you choose that word?
What does Jesus say and do in this story? List all the things. Does anything surprise you? Why?
Which person (besides Jesus) is most interesting to you? Why?
What details about the characters do you wish were included or explained in the story? Why?
Why do you think [choose a specific character or the crowd] spoke or acted the way they did?
What are some different things that [the person from previous question] could have said or done? How would that have changed the story?
What do you think the onlookers were thinking and feeling as things were happening in this story? Why?
How do you think the main characters might have changed after this story? Why? (Sometimes it tells us, like with Zacchaeus, but other times it doesn’t.)
How do you think the crowd or onlookers might have changed after this story? Why?
If you’d been there, where would you have been standing or sitting? What would you have been thinking or feeling? Why?

Reel Events (plot)

List all the events in the story.
List some details that aren't included but are assumed in the story.
What do you think are the two or three most important moments in this story? Why?
If this story were a film, when would the music be scary or tense? When would it be joyful or upbeat? Why?
What do you think maybe happened right before this story? What do you think maybe happened right after this story?
Does the biblical story before or after this one matter to this story? How? Why do you think that?
What are some different ways things could have happened or ended in this story?
If this story were happening today in your school or town, what are ways Jesus might have acted or explained things for your context?
What would you call this story if it were a full-length book or movie? Why?

Real Faith

What’s a way people could misunderstand or misuse this story?
Why do you think this story is in the Bible? Why would God want us to read and learn from it?
What are you learning about Jesus (or his Father or the Spirit) from this story?
What are you learning about following Jesus (living for Jesus and living like Jesus) from this story?
After reading this story, what are some questions you have about Jesus and following him?

Story-Specific Questions

Why do you think Jesus told stories to teach the Pharisees and the “notorious sinners” about his love rather than just saying, “I love everyone very much and invite everyone to follow me”?

Why do you think Jesus told the same kind of story twice with different characters and setting?

How do you think the “notorious sinners” felt after hearing these stories? How do you think the Pharisees felt? Why?