Story #2: Our Heavenly Father’s Love

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

One day, Jesus told a story to teach people about God’s love for us. He said: There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want my part of the inheritance right now.’ So, the father gave him the inheritance, and it was a lot of money. Then immediately, he left for a distant place, spending all his money on stuff and parties. Very quickly, he wasted everything he had. After that, there was a bad famine in that whole area. Since he had no money and no income, he was in a very bad situation. Then someone offered him a job to look after pigs. And he was very hungry to the point that he wanted to eat the pigs’ food. But when the employer found out, he said to him “you can’t eat the pigs’ food because I have already paid you for your work.” One day he was reflecting on everything that he had done in the past. Then he said to himself, ‘My father has so many workers working for him. All of them are fed three meals a day. But here I am, starving to death. I really want to go back to my father, but I know I have been a really bad son. I need to apologize to my father and say to him, “Father, I’ve sinned against God, and I’ve also sinned against you. I know I don’t deserve to be your son again. Please just take me back as a worker.”’ So, he got up and went home. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. Immediately, his father was so excited that he ran to his son and he embraced him and started kissing him. The son then said, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned against you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’ But the father interrupted him and called one of his servants over and said, “Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. We’re going to celebrate tonight because my son is back!! My son was dead, but now he’s alive! He was lost, but now

he is found!” (Luke 15:11-24 paraphrased).

4. What does this story tell us about Jesus?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Heavenly Father’s Love Story

Story #3: Jesus Healed a Woman

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

There was a woman who had suffered a bleeding problem for twelve years. She had seen a lot of doctors and had spent every penny she had but no doctor had been able to help her. One day she heard that Jesus was coming to her village, and she had heard a lot of amazing stories about Jesus, so she went out to see Jesus.

However, since her problem was very personal and embarrassing, especially in her culture, people with such a problem were not allowed to touch other people, so she had to quietly and cautiously go to see Jesus. But the problem was that there was a big crowd surrounding Jesus. So, she was looking for a way to slip in from behind and she thought that if she could only touch Jesus’ robe, she would be healed. And that was what she did. She moved through the crowd, slipped in from behind, and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that very moment, her bleeding problem stopped. And suddenly, Jesus stopped and said, “Who touched me?” But no one came forward. Then one of Jesus’ disciples Peter said, “But Master, we’ve got a big crowd of people around us. Many have touched you. Why do you ask, ‘who touched me?’” Jesus insisted, “I know someone has touched me because I felt power discharging from me.” When the woman realized that she couldn’t hide anymore, she knelt trembling before him. In front of all the people, she blurted out her story—why she touched him and how at that same moment she was healed. Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Go in peace!” (Luke 8:43-48 paraphrased)

4. What does this story tell us about Jesus?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

A Woman's Healing Story

Story #4: Jesus Set a Demonized Person Free

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

One day Jesus took a boat to an area called the Gerasenes. The moment that he stepped out of the boat, a madman ran up to him. The madman has been tortured by demons for a long time. No one wanted to be close to him, so he lived in the cemetery all by himself. Time after time the demons would throw him to the ground, and he would have convulsions like seizures. Even though people tied his hands and feet with chains and shackles, he could just shatter the chains and shackles with tremendous power. And when he saw Jesus, he started screaming and falling on his face before Jesus. He shouted out to Jesus and said “Why do you come and destroy us? You’re Jesus, Son of the High God, please don’t give me a hard time!” (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the demons to get out of him.) Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” The demons inside of the man said “Mob. My name is Mob.” Many demons actually lived inside of him. And they begged Jesus desperately

not to order them to go to the bottomless pit. There were 2000 pigs on a nearby hill, so the demons begged Jesus to let them get into the pigs. And Jesus said to them “Go”. So, the demons all went to the pigs and all of the pigs ran off a cliff into the lake and drowned. There were people tending the pigs, and they were scared to death. So, they ran into the village and told everyone what they saw. And all the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the madman now sitting there at Jesus’ feet, completely different. For a short moment they were amazed because they realized that Jesus had the power to save the madman from the power of demons. However, later at night a large group of people from the area came to Jesus and asked him to leave them because it was too much for them to have 2000 pigs die in one day and they were scared. So, Jesus was ready to get back to the boat and leave. But the man came to Jesus and said, “I want to go with you.” And Jesus said to him “I want you to go back to your own people and tell them everything God has done for you.” So, he went back to his people and shared his story of how his life had been radically

transformed. (Luke 8:26-39 paraphrased)

4. What does this story tell us about Jesus?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Freedom Story

Story #5: Jesus & the Woman at the Well

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

One day, when Jesus was traveling through an area, he came into a village after walking for quite a distance. It was now around noon time, and he was tired and thirsty. In that village, he found a well. So, he sat down right next to the well. Then there came a woman. She came to draw water from the well. Jesus said to her, “Would you give

me a drink of water?” The woman was quite surprised that she said to Jesus, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Because back in their time, these two kinds of people would not talk to each other. They were like enemies and on top of that, it was culturally inappropriate for a man to talk to a woman whom he was not related to). Then Jesus answered her, “If you knew the love of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you living water.” The woman said to Jesus, “How are you going to get this ‘living water’? Who are you? Are you some miracle worker?” Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. But anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst again. The water I give will be like an overflowing fountain inside of you, giving you life every day.” The woman said, “Sir, please give me this water so that I won’t be thirsty again, and I won’t need to come back to this well to draw water every day!” Jesus said, “Well, go get your husband and then come back.” The woman said, “I have no husband.” Then Jesus said to her, “You are correct in saying that you have no husband. Because you’ve had five marriages before, and the man you’re living with right now doesn’t want to marry you. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.” The woman was shocked and said, “Wow, I can see that you’re a prophet! Well, then please tell me: Our ancestors worshiped God on this mountain, but your people insist that the only place for worship is at the Temple in Jerusalem. So, who is right?” “Believe me,” Jesus said, “I’m sharing God’s truth with you right now. Worshiping God is not about a location or a building, it’s not about here on this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. Because God is a Spirit, He wants you to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for.” The woman said, “I don’t really understand how to worship in Spirit and in Truth. But I do know that God would send the Messiah, the greatest messenger, to teach us the truth about Him. I believe that when he comes, we’ll get the whole thing straight.” Jesus looked at her and said “I am that messenger! You don’t have to look any further. You can worship God by knowing me and by the Spirit I give you.” The woman was so excited that she ran into the village immediately. Back in the village she told the people, “Come, and see a man who knew everything about me. I think he might be the Messiah whom we have been waiting for!” Many people from that village were very interested in Jesus after hearing the woman’s story that Jesus knew everything about her. So, they all went out to see Jesus for themselves. Then they asked him to stay in their village for two more days. In those two days, a lot more people came and wanted to follow Jesus. They all said to the woman, “It was because of your story that we came to see Jesus. But now since we’ve met and heard him in person, we now realize that He is truly the Savior of the world!”

(John 4:1-26, 28-30, 39- 42 paraphrased)

4. What does this story tell us about Jesus?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Woman at the Well Story

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3.How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

On the night that Jesus knew he was about to die and go back to the Father, he wanted to show his disciples how much He loved them. During dinner time, the Devil by now had Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, firmly in his grip, and Judas was ready to betray Jesus for money. However, Jesus knew that the Father had completely entrusted him with the situation and that he was willing to give his life to save the world. Jesus got up from the dining table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then, he poured water into a basin and started washing his disciples’ feet, drying them with his apron. When he got to one of his disciples, Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Master, why are you washing my feet? You shouldn’t wash my feet; I should wash yours!” Jesus answered, “Even though now you don’t understand why I’m doing this, you will understand it later.” But Peter insisted, “You are not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you will have no relationship with me.” Then Peter said, “Master! Please wash me!” So Jesus washed him, but he also said, “One of you is going to betray me.” After he had finished washing all of his disciples’ feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and you are right. I am your Teacher and Master. But if I as your Master would wash your feet, you must also do the same to each other. I’ve laid down an example for you. You must love one another the same way as how I love you. If you understand and do what I’m telling you, you will truly be my disciple, and you will be very blessed.”

(John 13:1-17 paraphrased)

Story #6: Jesus washed his disciples’ feet

Jesus Washes Feet Story

Story #7: Jesus Sacrificed Himself for Others

After Jesus was arrested and condemned to die, the soldiers led him off to the execution site. At that time, Jesus was already very weak because of the beatings he suffered. He wasn’t able to carry the heavy cross himself. There, the soldiers found a bystander and they made him carry the cross for Jesus. A huge crowd of people followed them and many women were weeping for Jesus. At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. A terrible time is coming and there will be many disasters and great suffering in your generation.”

There were two other criminals, murderers and thieves, who were taken along with Jesus for execution. When they got to the execution site, the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, along with the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. While they were crucifying him, Jesus prayed and said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” Many people were there watching Jesus, and some of the religious leaders mocked Jesus and said, “Well, he said that he can save others. Let’s see if he can save himself now! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen One—haha!” The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save yourself!” Printed over him was a sign that said, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Then, one of the criminals started mocking him too. The guy said, “So you are the Messiah, right? Save yourself! Save us!” But the other criminal immediately said to that guy, “Have you no fear of God? We deserve this, but not him—he is a good man and he did nothing to deserve this.” Then he said to Jesus, “Jesus, please remember me when you go to heaven.” Jesus said to him, “Don’t worry, I will remember you. Very soon today you will join me in paradise.” By now it was noon. Suddenly the whole earth became dark, completely dark. And the darkness lasted for three hours. Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last and died. Immediately, there was a strong earthquake. When the captain of the soldiers there saw what happened, he realized who Jesus truly was and said, “This man was innocent! He was a good and holy man!” Many people who were there were overcome with grief, and they headed home after seeing what happened. But for those men and women who knew and followed Jesus, they all stood there with him. Then three days later very early in the morning, a group of women went to the tomb carrying spices prepared for Jesus’ body. But when they got there, they discovered that the entrance stone had moved and Jesus’ body was no longer there. They were very puzzled and were wondering what had happened. Then, out of nowhere, two men with bright light shining out of their bodies appeared and stood there in front of them. The women were dumbfounded and realized that they were angels. The angels said to them, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but he is now alive. Remember how he told you this before that he would be killed on a cross and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ The women left the tomb and went to Jesus’ disciples to tell them about all this, but his disciples didn’t believe a word of it. They thought they were either mistaken or just making things up. While they were speaking, Jesus suddenly appeared and said, “Peace be with you.” They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid and have faith in me. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it’s me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn’t have muscle and bone like this.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true. He even took a piece of fish and ate it right before their eyes.

He then said, “Now you understand why I told you that I must die and rise from the dead on the third day so that I can offer the forgiveness of sins and new life to the whole world. And you’re the first to hear and see it. You’re my witnesses and your mission is to share my love and my message starting from here to all nations! What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, which is the Holy Spirit so that you will be equipped with God’s power to spread my message.

He then led them out of the city. He blessed them, and while blessing them, he was carried up to heaven. And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy, praising God, and then spreading Jesus’ love and message everywhere.

(Luke 23:26-56, 24:1-12, 36-53 paraphrased)

Questions to ask:

4. What have you learned about Jesus from the story?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you bless, show Jesus’ love or share this story within the next 7 days?

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

Jesus Sacrifices Story