a lil Church (nobody’s too lost)

Objective
Students will learn that while we may make mistakes and experience distance from God and community, forgiveness and reconciliation are always possible through God’s love. The church plays a vital role in helping believers find restoration and support in their faith journey.

Warm Up
Bird Box – This game is like musical chairs. Four students are blindfolded and must dance while the music is playing. When the music stops, they must find one of three exercise balls rolling around them and sit on it.

Three students will find a ball, and the one who doesn’t is eliminated. The game continues until only one student remains as the winner.

As time allows, continue play with four new volunteers. Consider giving each winner a small prize.

• How did it feel to search for the ball while blindfolded?
• Did the voices around you help or distract you?
• What influenced your decision on where to move to find the ball?

The Video
Play the music video for “A Lil Church” by TobyMac.

• How does this song reflect the importance of community in our spiritual lives?
• How can we support each other in our faith journeys when we experience struggles and setbacks?
• What role does church play in offering forgiveness, healing, and community for believers?

Transition
TobyMac’s song talks about how life can be difficult when we experience the consequences of bad choices, but God’s love is always there, just like a church community, offering the support we need. Like the prodigal son, we may wander away from community and God, but we can always return to His love and the supportive community of believers.

Bible Study
Read Luke 15:1-10
Jesus tells two stories about lost things—one about a lost sheep, and another about a lost coin. These stories set up the importance of seeking and restoring what was lost. Just as the lost sheep and coin matter to God, so does every person. The church is called to seek out and restore the lost.

• Why does Jesus tell these parables?
• How do these stories relate to the idea of community in the church?
• Why is it so important for believers to feel like they belong to a community?

Read Luke 15:11-17
The prodigal son’s story highlights the importance of community. He leaves, thinking he can manage without his father and family, but returns realizing how empty he felt without them. His return shows how we need others to support us, especially in tough times.

• Why did the prodigal son leave his home, and how did that decision affect him?
• When do you think the prodigal son realized the value of the community he left behind?
• How do we sometimes neglect our community when facing difficulties?
• What can we learn from the prodigal’s story about the importance of staying connected?

Read Luke 15:18-31
The father welcomes his son back with a celebration, but the older son, who stayed, is upset. He doesn’t understand why the father rejoices over the son who rejected him. The father explains that community is about celebrating when the lost are found.

• Why do you think the father welcomed the son back so joyfully, despite his mistakes?
• How did the community play a role in the prodigal’s return? How does the church function in a similar way in the lives of believers?
• Why did the older son feel anger and jealousy, and how does that challenge us to look at our attitudes toward others who return to the community?
• What can we learn about the importance of church community from the father’s response to his son’s return?

Wrap Up
The prodigal son shows us the importance of community in our faith journey. After leaving his father’s home, he realized he was lost without it. When he returned, his father forgave him and the entire household celebrated. Similarly, the church community helps us stay connected to God and each other, offering love, support, and forgiveness. Just as the father welcomed his son back, the church is called to embrace all who return. We are never meant to walk this journey alone.

Playlist
This song is featured on “The Linc: The Church” Spotify playlist – which is the perfect way to remind your students what you’ve taught them in this session. To share it with them, click the live link on the web version of this study.