August 23 2026
The heart of a Rust City Group is to care for people and carry the culture of Rust City Church.
You don’t have to follow this guide like a script! Use discernment from the Holy Spirit as you lead your group discussion.
If you notice that someone in your group needs additional care or support that’s beyond your capacity, please let a pastor know.
ICEBREAKER QUESTION OPTION:
What’s your best comeback story?
Lost & Found
SPEAKER: Jed Hill
Scriptures—
Luke 15: 1-7, 8-10, 11-24; Joel 2:12; I Peter: 5:7
Key Takeaways—
Core Theme - God’s Relentless Pursuit of Us
God Pursues the Lost: Through the parables of the sheep, the coin, and the son, we see that God actively seeks out those who are lost. He doesn't wait for us to be perfect; He meets us in our mess.
Identity & Value: We are often like the lost coin—we don't realize our own worth until we are returned to the one who made us. We are created in God's image, and that is where our value comes from.
Honesty in Prayer: The most godly prayer is the most honest prayer. We are encouraged to cast our cares on Him and be transparent about our struggles and pain rather than hiding them.
The Church's Mission: The church is not a building we go to, but a people we are. We are called to be the salt and light of the world, intentionally reaching the broken and those who need an invitation, pursuing them, just as God has pursued us.
Discussion Questions—
Jed mentioned that we as believers sometimes act as though we are in the "witness protection program" after getting saved, hiding our past from others. Why do you think it is difficult to share our testimonies of brokenness, and how does hiding them affect our witness?
The sermon suggests that sheep are "distracted" and coins are "unaware of their value." Which of the three "lost" states (sheep, coin, or prodigal) can you relate to most, and why?
How does understanding that you were created in the image of God change the way you view your own value when you feel "spent" or "broken"?
Jed shared a powerful story about praying a prayer of total honesty while in a prison cell. Have you ever felt like you couldn't be truly honest with God in prayer? What was holding you back?
The father in the story of the prodigal son allowed his son to leave to discover his own path. Have you ever had to experience the consequences of "your way" to fully appreciate "God's way"?
Practical application—
Consider implementing one of the following this week:
Option 1: the testimony audit:
Identify one area of your past or a struggle you’ve overcome. Share this testimony with one person this week who is currently facing that same challenge, showing them how God brought you through it.
Option 2: Casting Daily
Start every morning this week by physically or mentally "casting" your top anxiety onto God. Remind yourself that you cannot cast it and keep it at the same time.
option 3: Making the Invitation
Invite one person who does not attend church to join you for an upcoming service or a group gathering like Revive Night. Sometimes all people need is a simple, non-threatening invitation.
Closing Prayer—
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being like the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. We confess that we often wander, we often forget our value, and we often try to do things our own way.
Help us to be honest with You about our pain and our struggles. Use us as instruments of Your love to reach those who are still lost. May our lives be a reflection of Your redeeming grace, and may we never be ashamed of the gospel, which is the power of salvation.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.