TURN AND RUN

LEADER’S GUIDE

– The Live Free Series –
BIG CROSS . DON’T GROW UP . TURN AND RUN . HEART IDOLATRY

The BIG IDEA

The Christian life is about running away from sin and running to Jesus (repentance) and believing he is more satisfying than anything else (faith).

The PROBLEM
We seek life outside of Jesus because we think other things are more satisfying.

Our RESPONSE
Because Jesus is the best source of life and satisfaction, make a habit of running to him.

Why THIS MATTERS
Repentance and faith are actually key to the Christian life for as long as we live, not just when we first trust Christ.

I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:

KNOW: God calls us to live a life of repentance and faith — turning away from less satisfying things and choosing life in Christ.
EXPERIENCE: Confidence in knowing that we’ll always be satisfied in Christ.
DO: Turn away from less satisfying things and run to Jesus.

The idea box is a place where you can find some creative ideas for leading this study. You might find videos, activities, or great illustrations that really bring the main point home. The ideas come from small group leaders like you, so if you have an idea that isn’t in there, click below to share it with the community!

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*WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Imagine you’re driving a car and you accidentally turn the wrong way onto a one-way street.

What’s the quickest way to solve your problem?
What could happen if you keep driving the wrong way down this street?

Allow the group to discuss. Help your group see that the quickest way to solve the problem is by turning around and going in the right direction. If this doesn’t happen, the risk of an accident increases greatly. In the same way, we often find ourselves going the wrong way in life. We need to learn how to turn around quickly to reduce harm and danger to ourselves and others. This study points the way.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?

1. Read Mark 1:14–15. What do you think Jesus meant when he said to “repent” and “believe the good news” when he walked the earth?
Allow the group to discuss. “Repent” means to stop running away from God and start running to him. “Believe the good news” means people should put their faith in the fact that Jesus came to give life to those who trust in him (see also John 10:10).

*2. Jesus gives a picture of what it looks like to repent and believe the good news in Luke 15:11–24. Read these verses. Based on verse 13, why do you think the son ran off with the inheritance he got from his father?
Allow the group to discuss. It seems that he thought there was more fun and excitement in wild living than in being a part of his father’s family.

*3. What happened to the son in verses 14–16?
A famine came to the land, he became poor, and he needed to find a job so he ended up feeding pigs.

*4. Based on verse 17, what was the turning point for the son?
He came to his senses. He realized that life was much better with his father than on his own.

*5. What does the son do once he comes to his senses, and how does his father respond (verses 17-24)?
He returns to his father, and his father lavishes his son with kindness, acceptance, and grace.

HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?

6. How does the picture at the top of the top of the page represent how the young man was feeling when he was feeding the pigs?
He realized that he was going in the wrong direction and that he needed to turn around and run back to his father.

7. How do you think this story is a picture of the way God wants us to relate to him?
Allow the group to discuss. God wants us to “come to our senses,” realize the ways we think life is better without him, and run back to him. He wants us to realize he’s a good Father who longs to lavish love upon us. He wants us to see that his love is what we’ve really been longing for all along.

8. What are some ways you find yourself thinking or acting like life is better outside of Jesus than with him?
Allow the group to discuss. Help your group think about things that relate to…

Power or Control (e.g., managing weight, getting good grades, or excelling in athletics),
Acceptance (e.g., putting too much weight on getting approval from friends, parents, or teachers), and
Comfort (e.g., feeling good through food, exercise, watching favorite shows or movies, or sexual and romantic relationships).

9. How do these things end up being like “feeding pigs in a field” (verse 15)?
Allow the group to discuss. Even though these things may initially seem life-giving and satisfying, they eventually lose their appeal.

*10. Turning away from our sin can be hard. God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us turn from sin and turn to God. What does the Holy Spirit do to help with that?

Allow the group to discuss. We can’t overcome sin on our own power. The Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us…

The power to turn away from our sin,
The desire to follow Jesus,
The comfort from our pain,
The humility to apologize for your sin,
The ability to have long-term freedom from your sin.

*11. What are some things in your life that you need to “turn and run” from?

Turn to one other person in the group, share those things, and pray for each other.

Have your students pair up or break into small groups that they’re comfortable with. Encourage them to share honestly and zero in on one or two issues in their life that they want to invite the group to pray for them about.

Our review cards are an excellent way to review your past lessons with your students before each study. Not every lesson has one yet but if we have them, you can find them on the PRINT page. Check them out and use them each week to help your students grab hold of the truths in these studies.

What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.

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