1.  Christ’s Method Alone. Were you touched by the story of the dying man who grasped the hand of a Christian, convinced it was the hand of Jesus? What can you and I do to reach out to people so effectively that they will see Jesus in us? What did Jesus do before inviting people to follow Him? Is it easy for you to reach out to those who are obviously discouraged, sick at heart, and ravaged by sin? What would you do if people reeking of tobacco and alcohol or illicit drugs stumbled into your church? Does the idea of mingling with humanity at all levels appeal to you? Can it?
2. Lost and Found. Have you ever encouraged a person to worship with you even though you knew full well that your fellow church members would would be critical of you for bringing such a person into your congregation? How can we have rules and regulations for our members and show an open heart toward people with no intention of following them? What characteristics of Jesus’ methods of healing can you locate–and pray to follow–in the three parables in Monday’s lesson—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son?

3. Eating with Sinners. Should we hesitate to share a meal with others even if we know they are sinners worse than we are? Or maybe not sinners as such but just not members with our social standing? Can you think of an example of self-justifying prayer? Do you think Jesus wants us to spend all of our free time with sinners? How can we love sinners as Jesus did without being caught up in sin as they are? Does our church need to provide more support for members who want to reach out to sinners but don’t know how? 

4. Mingling Wisely. If there are youngsters in your family, do you try to prevent them from playing or associating with children in the neighborhood whose families are not Christian? How can we teach our children to “witness” of God’s love to their friends? How can we be friends with worldly people without being impressed by them or following their habits? How can we show love to others even as we reject many of their lifestyle habits? Should we accept a few customs painted with sin just to get along and not risk alienating them?

5. Where do we place our emphasis? If you were go to through the minutes of your church board, how many issues relate to community outreach and how many focus exclusively on the needs of the church property or our members? What can we do to obtain a greater emphasis on our mission in our city, community, or neighborhood? How often do you hear a member criticize someone else in the church for following a lifestyle practice they believe is wrong just because they believe it is wrong? 

6. In the Midst of a Crooked Generation. I’d like to suggest spending at least half of the study and discussion portion of the Sabbath school class on Thursday’s lesson. What can you do in your church to understand the needs of your community? Don’t be a member who would like to toss these lessons in the trash heap! Why shouldn’t we care and care deeply for those around us? These are issues that need to be discussed and acted on now, don’t you agree?