Last week, as we took a look at the parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and Lost Son, we saw the value that God places on us. He will leave the 99 to find the one. He will rejoice over one who is repentant and the angels join Him. This week, we will be challenged to ask the question, “What is the value of the Kingdom of God and what cost would I be willng to pay for it?”

Read Matthew 13:44-46. It’s short and easy to skip right over, but I believe that this Scripture challenges us deeply to think through how seriously or how lightly we pursue God’s heart.

Throughout Scripture, we are told that salvation is a free gift of God that comes only through grace. It cannot be bought. This is not what Jesus is speaking of in these parables. Let’s start the discussion here as you share your thoughts as you read Jesus’ words.

* If salvation cannot be bought or earned, what is Jesus talking about here?
* Can something be free and yet cost you everything?
* When we consider the Story of God, told throughout Scripture, how would you place a value on that?

These are just some questions to get the ball rolling. Join in the rhythm and let your thoughts be heard.

If you know my television viewing habits, you know that I am somewhat enthralled with the show LOST. The premise of the show surrounds a group of survivors of an airline crash on an unknown island. Much of last season’s tension revolved around a man who had lost his son on the island and the lengths he would go to get his son back. I think that relates quite well to our parables this week.

What lengths would you go to find something that you had lost? I imagine that it would differ based upon the value you placed on the lost item. A lost contact lens and a lost child are two completely different conversations. This week, Jesus gives us a “Picture of Reality” as to how much God loves His kids. If we unwrap these three stories of things lost, it will give us much clarity about who God is and how God sees us. It may be time for us to throw out some of our misunderstandings about our Creator and embrace some new truths.

Read through Luke 15:1-31.

• What similarity or differences do you find in each of these three stories?
• What is the picture this paints of God’s view toward that which is lost?
• Does God view that which is lost differently than that which is not?
• How does God feel about you? What effect does that have on your attitude/actions toward that which is lost?

P.S. Since we have not been in Home Groups this summer, our blog responses have been down, but I want to encourage each of you to re-engage as I believe that your voice encourages and challenges others who may not respond, but simply read and ponder quietly.

First, let me tell you how good it is to be back in the saddle. (That’s my new ranch terminology creeping up on me there.) It was so good to hear from George Johnson last week and for you to have an opportunity to get to know him and His heart for Pathways and church planting. It was also great to allow John to have a couple of weeks to share with you. He is an incredibly insightful teacher and I’m sure that you understand why it is that we will be sending him out to plant a church within the next two years - Pathways’ first baby!

We are jumping into a new series this week that we will call Pictures of Reality. Jesus is constantly bringing truth to people he comes into contact with through different means. His miracles speak of truth and His sermons are a direct communication of truth. Jesus also uses story to paint a picture of that which is true. Theses stories, or parables, are able to be mined in the depths for meaning or skimmed from the surface for practical wisdom. Our goal is to find both as we study “Stories from within The Story”.

This week we turn to Matthew 13:1-23 for the Parable of the Sower. There is much more to this parable than what you probably remember if you are already familiar with this one. You will especially find great stuff to chew on in Jesus’ interaction with his disciples following the parable and His explanation of it.

A couple of questions to get us kicked off this week:

How have you always heard this parable applied?
What are your thoughts about Jesus’ explanation of His use of parables?
Have you ever identified with the “sower” in this parable?

We are happy to have George Johnson coming to teach at Pathways this weekend. George is the Executive Director of the Christian Evagelistic Association. George and the CEA played a lead role in helping to start Pathways.

George will be teaching on Matthew 9:35-38. Spend some time with those verses this week and feel free to share any thoughts or questions you have.

Can I just take a moment and tell you how STINKING (old high school word that felt appropriate here) proud I am of our community? Wow! I was moved by Jared and the need his community in Africa has for water in their orphanage housing 250 kids. I was absolutely confident in Pathways ability to meet the $2500 it would take to pipe the water into their orphanage, but I must admit to being blown away by the way we all stepped up to this one. Without even knowing that an extra offering would be taken, having just met Jared and heard of his need, you stepped up in total faith and more than doubled the need they had to get the water to their building.

I just want to tell you over and over again how proud I am. You get it! I love being a part of a community that gets it!

Hold steady…we’re almost there. This week, we finish our study of the Sermon on the Mount, but hopefully it has shaped all of us in a way that will continue on. Take a few moments to reflect on Jesus final words from Matthew 7:13-27.

Jesus’ teaching is closed out with a challenge in a series of metaphors. After pointing out how life lived within the kingdom looks, he points out that it must begin with a true a genuine foundation as he issues a subtle challenge calling them to that way of living. And the same call is before us… Consider the questions below as we process through this together:

As you read over the metaphors, which one is the most striking impact on you? Why?
If living in the way of Jesus is the way that God himself intended us to live, why is it a path that “only a few” seem to find?
What is it that prevents you from fulling living in the way of Jesus?