We are in the third week of our summer series on Parables, and this week we will spend some time with a familiar parable found in Luke 15 describing a lost sheep and a shepherd who notices, cares and takes action for the sake of the sheep. As we consider the values that Jesus is inviting us to ponder within this story, in what ways might this communal listening and conversation inspire us towards even greater inclusion and belonging as a community?

Luke 15:1-7 (First Nations Version)

The Worth of the Lost Ones

Tribal tax collectors and other outcasts would often gather around Creator Sets Free (Jesus) to listen to him tell his stories. But the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and the scroll keepers would complain about this. They would say things like, “This man welcomes outcasts to join him at the table and eat with him.” On one of those occasions Creator Sets Free (Jesus) answered them with a story.

“Who among you, if you were caring for one hundred sheep and one of the lambs wandered away, would not leave the ninety-nine and search for that lost lamb until you found it?

Would you not put that lamb on your shoulders, hurry home, and invite your friends to a celebration, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost lamb!’?

In the same way, the spirit-world above will celebrate even more over one outcast who finds the way back home than for ninety-nine who are already safely there.

Discussion Questions:

1. In reading this scripture above, what words or phrases stand out to you? Is there language used in this version that causes you to pause, think or wonder? Where do you most naturally see yourself in the story (the shepherd, the flock of sheep, the outcast or lost sheep, an observer/listener)?
2. We talked about a few Kin-dom principles or values that might be expressed through this parable. Do you resonate with any of those? Do you see any other Kin-dom values shown through this story?
3. When you hear the phrase “Jesus takes a side” what thoughts or feelings rise up for you? In what ways might that idea be comforting? Challenging? Dangerous?
4. If we lived out some of these values as a community, what might that look like? (where and how we go, our pace, how we spend our resources, our policies/practices.