Message Details

• Series Name: Pass It On
• Message Title: Coaching Through the Losses
• Short Summary: This message explores the challenges of parenting and guiding children through their mistakes, using the Parable of the Lost Son as a framework. It emphasizes the importance of allowing children to experience the consequences of their actions, trusting God’s work in their lives, and loving them unconditionally.

Icebreaker Question

• If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Review of the Previous Week’s "I Will" Statement

• Reflect on last week’s commitment: I will team up with a child in my life and find a way we can serve together. What challenges did you face in implementing it? Did you notice any changes in their attitude or behavior as a result of this shared experience?

Five Discussion Questions (Core Focus)

1. Reflecting on the Message:
   • How did the message on the Parable of the Lost Son resonate with you personally?
   • Context: The message highlighted the father’s response to his son’s return.
   • Life Application: Consider how you can emulate the father’s unconditional love in your relationships.
2. Personal Experience with Mistakes:
   • Share a time when you or someone you know made a significant mistake. How did you or they learn from it?
   • Context: The message emphasized learning through natural consequences.
   • Life Application: How can you allow others to learn from their mistakes while still offering support?
3. Trusting God’s Work:
   • Describe a situation where you had to trust God’s work in someone else’s life. What was challenging about stepping back?
   • Context: The message encouraged recognizing God at work and backing off.
   • Life Application: How can you practice trusting God more in your relationships this week?
4. Unconditional Love:
   • How do you show unconditional love to those who have hurt or disappointed you?
   • Context: The father in the parable ran to his son and embraced him despite his past actions.
   • Life Application: What steps can you take to demonstrate unconditional love in a current relationship?
5. Guiding Through Questions:
   • How can asking open-ended questions help guide someone in their faith journey?
   • Context: The message suggested using questions to help children reflect on their actions.
   • Life Application: Identify a situation where you can use this approach to support someone’s growth.

This Week’s "I Will" Statement

• I will ask one open-ended question with a kid in my life, especially when they've made a mistake. 
  It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does matter. One thoughtful question can open the door to a meaningful conversation and remind a kid that they are seen, loved, and not alone. To help you with that, we’ve created a list of simple, open-ended conversation starters you can use with the kids and students in your life. You can find them in the Pathway app or at pathwaychurch.com/parentresources

Prayer Prompts

1. Prayer Requests: Invite participants to share any personal prayer requests.
2. Trust in God’s Work: Pray for the strength to trust God’s work in the lives of those we care about, even when it’s difficult to step back.
3. Unconditional Love: Pray for the ability to love others unconditionally, reflecting the love of Christ in all our relationships.

Rewatch the Message

• For further reflection, you can rewatch the message at www.pathwaychurch.com/messages.