NOTE: Stephen Grant, a Camp Alumnus and intern working with me this summer, is the main author of the following material. I provided direction and editing.
Day 1- Riches & Poverty: Ephesians 5:8-10 & Luke 15:11-32
Main Idea: When we wake up to the light of Christ our priorities are altered.
Introduction: Luke 15:11-32 is one of the most well-known parables of Jesus, The Parable of the Lost Son. In this parable, the lost son wants his share of the estate and receives that share. He has all this money from his father’s estate and decides to waste that money on wild living and soon becomes poor and ends up living with pigs. At some point, the son decides to go back home to his father and older brother. The father is filled with compassion when he sees his lost son and decides to make a huge celebration, because what was once lost is now found. The lost son went from riches to poverty and back to riches.
- What is the one thing that you value the most?
- What would your reaction be if you lost it? If you found it?
- If someone gave you 1 million dollars what would you do with it?
- Who’s the main character in the parable: the prodigal son, the older brother, or the father?
- Why are the reactions of the father and the older brother quite different?
- Why are we told nothing about what happened to the older brother?
- Why do you think Jesus finished this parable without telling us the end?
- What is the point that Jesus is making in telling this parable?
- How would you react if your father or mother showed compassion towards you after you turned your back against them?
- How is the story of the Prodigal an illustration of moving from darkness into the light of the Lord? (Ephesians 5:8)
Day 2- Bondage & Freedom: Ephesians 5:11-12 & Acts 16:16-40
Main Idea: Becoming children of the Light means we leave behind the “deeds of darkness” by exposing them to light.
Introduction: In Acts 16:16-40 Paul and Silas are sent to prison for their faith. While in prison, both Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God. An earthquake took place that destroyed the doors and the chains of the prison, but all of the prisoners stayed. The account ends with Paul and Silas being released from prison; Paul and Silas went from bondage to freedom.
Morning Questions
- What’s the worst place you’ve visited or have been to?
- What made that place so terrible?
- What did you do while at that place?
- What would you do if you were thrown into prison?
- How were Paul and Silas able to leave from prison?
- Why is this story important?
- What actions, words, and attitudes do you need to expose to light?
Evening Questions
Read Ephesians 5:11-13
- What comes to your mind when you hear or see the word prison?
- If you had to pick one city in America to never visit, what would the city be?
- Why were Paul and Silas sent to prison?
- Why did none of the prisoners, including Paul and Silas, escape when the earthquake destroyed the prison doors and chains?
- What’s the significance of Paul informing the jailer that none of the prisoners escaped?
- What did they do in prison and why is it significant?
- How is what we do in the dark different from what we do in the light?
Day 3- Wisdom & Foolishness: Ephesians 5: 15-16 & Proverbs 10:1-12
Main Idea: Wisdom and foolishness are both powerful forces in our lives. We need to learn to walk in wisdom.
Introduction: In Proverbs 10:1-12, we see Solomon giving advice to his son. He’s encouraging his son not to make the foolish choices that he made in his life. One of the foolish things Solomon did in his life was having 700 wives and 300 concubines, while he served as king of Israel. In this passage, you’ll discover the contrast between wisdom and foolishness as Solomon is sharing wisdom with his son.
Morning Questions
- What’s the smartest thing you ever did?
- What’s the dumbest thing you ever did?
- What’s the smartest thing you’ve seen someone do?
- Why is it so significant about Solomon sharing wisdom with his son?
- What’s your definition of wisdom?
- What steps will you take in your everyday life to live a life filled with wisdom?
Evening Questions
Read Ephesians 5:15-17
- What’s the dumbest thing you’ve seen someone do?
- What annoys you the most about people who are foolish or make bad decisions?
- What’s your definition of foolishness?
- What do you like most about people who are wise?
- Why is it that sometimes we do smart things and other times we do dumb things?
- What steps will you take in your everyday life to live a life filled with wisdom?
Day 4- Death & Life: Ephesians 5:18-20 & John 11:17-44
Main Idea: The contrast between trying to live a good life without the power of the Holy Spirit is like the difference between death and life.
Introduction: In John 11:17-44, Jesus is going to Judea to wake up his friend, Lazarus who’s been dead for 4 days. Martha and Mary confront Jesus about being absent when Lazarus dies and Jesus’ response is that He’s the resurrection and the life. Before, he raises up Lazarus, Jesus wept. Jesus calls Lazarus to come out of the tomb and he came out. Lazarus went from death to life.
Morning Questions
- If you would see someone being raised from the dead, how would you respond?
- Are you surprised by Jesus’ response of crying?
- What’s the significance of Jesus’ weeping?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
- Did this event help people believe that God sent Jesus to earth? Why or why not?
Evening Questions
Read Ephesians 5:15-20
- What terrifies you most about death?
- Describe a time in your life when you lost a loved one.
- Who’s the closest friend you’ve ever had? Describe that relationship.
- Why do you think the disciples misunderstood Jesus when He said that He’ll wake Lazarus up?
- Thinking about Lazarus’ perspective, what was the best thing about him coming back to life? What was the worst thing?
- What steps do you need to take to practice daily being filled with the Holy Spirit?