August 25th-August 30th Life Group Notes

August 21st, 2025
by Nancy Wiltshire

The Parables of Jesus- The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:10-14

LEADERS - Take attendance in the TLC app. Read group guidlines.

Open in Prayer

Welcome/Introductions/Cast Vision - Remind the Life Group of the Guidelines- See bottom of page.

Doing the Mission: Did anyone share Jesus or last week's passage?

Does anyone have a God story? An undeniable encounter or experience with God that creates an impact or breakthrough in your day-to-day life. These moments can be extraordinary or very humble, but always personally powerful.

Opening Question: Do you ever think about your guardian angels? Have you ever been thankful for them?
Share background for the passage: Jesus teaches the crowds by speaking in parables.
Thought/Focus: In this parable, Jesus is pointing us to look at the value of a person, “sheep” who has wandered away from the truth and the importance of rescuing them.
Have someone read or tell this week's passage/story: Matthew 18:10-14

Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.

Have you ever found yourself pretty far away from where you should be in your Christian life?
If the answer to #1 is yes, was your life full of peace or turmoil? Did you feel the need to be rescued?
If there has been a time when you wandered away from God, how did He get you back?
What is the correct attitude we should have about those in our families or in our church who “wanders away”?
Look at verse 10. Explain what you think this is talking about.
As you have read verses 10-14, does is seem that God is more concerned about the ones who are living right, or the one who wanders away and does wrong?
Does this passage make you think differently about the strays? How does it change the way you view a stray? What will you do about the strays in your life, or in your church?
Does it make a difference to you that the “stray” has angels that report to God about what is going on?

Next week's passage/story: Matthew 20:1-16
Select someone to tell next week's story
Dismiss in Prayer

Life Group Guidelines

This needs to be a place where people feel comfortable opening up and sharing with one another. Below are some group guidelines that will help create a safe environment.

CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.

LISTEN: Let's value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or what you are going to say next.

PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing a chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding.

NO "CROSS TALK": Be considerate of others as they are sharing- no side conversations.

NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Speak truth is love, give
encouragement, empathize, point to Jesus. You may share solutions God has led you through. The other person should never feel shame or failure, but rather connection & hope.

NO HIJACKING of shared stories.

NO RESCUING: When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people.

SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time you share.

SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone else to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered.

BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are personally affecting the environment through your words, actions, and non-verbal communication.

"I"STATEMENTS: It's easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use "I" statements rather than "them', "they", "you", "the church", "us", "we", etc.

FIGHT FOR RELATIONSHIP: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues arise between group members, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues. We will fight for relationship. I will discuss the struggle with the person I am in conflict with first, & if not resolved, seek wise advice. The following are a few key Scriptures in this regard (there are many others.)