“God Is Planning Your Comeback”

Luke 15:20

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

Shoes On His Feet

Slaves Did Not Use Shoes

Robe On His Body

Robe: Represents A Covering

Ring On His Hand

Restores His Gift - “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” — Romans 11:29

BIG IDEA #1

If you move in His direction, Favor is going to greet you, Grace is going to kiss you, the love of God is going to embrace you.

Samson: A Comeback Story

Judges 16:19, 21
“Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him… The the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.”

They First Took Out His Eyes
Anytime You Start To Compromise Your Standards, You Lose Your Vision

Secondly, He Lost His Freedom
Because They Put Him In Chains, He Could Not Move His Hands.

He Became A Grinder (In The Mill) In The Prison
Samson Is Now Feeding What He Should Have Been Fighting

Judges 16:22
“However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.”

BIG IDEA #2

We might have made a mistake, but we are not one.
We may have failed but we are not failures.
We may be down but down is not our destiny.

Discussion Questions:

Getting to Know Me

1. What is your all-time favorite comeback story? Why do you think we all love a great comeback story?
2. Do you think your character is shown more in victory or in defeat? Explain your answer.
3. What does it mean to be courageous? Who is a good example of a courageous person?

Into the Bible

Read Luke 14:25-35.

1. What is something new or unexpected you learned about this passage from the sermon?
2. Why is the father able to see his son coming from a long way off? What does it indicate about the father?
3. What is the prodigal son’s posture of heart when he first returns and sees his father?
4. How do you think you would respond to a prodigal child returning like the son in the story? Why do you think the father responded in the way that he did?
5. What does this parable teach us about the character of God?

Application

1. What was your main takeaway from Pastor Hank’s sermon? How were you impacted/ encouraged? Did you have an “ah-ha” moment or realize something for the first time?
2. What is an area of your life that you need to believe that God will orchestrate a comeback in?
3. In his sermon, Pastor Hank said, “Anytime you start to compromise your standards, you lose your vision.” What is one standard you believe the Holy Spirit is highlighting that you must not compromise on any longer in order to maintain a clear vision for your life?
4. What is one thing you need to start doing in order for you to walk more fully in the freedom God has given you in Jesus? What is one thing you need to stop doing in order to walk more fully in freedom?