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A Prodigal in the Family Bible Study. Luke 15:11-32. A Prodigal in the Family Luke 15:11-32. We Pray. . . Holy Spirit, open our hearts to the wonderful messages of God our Father’s love as we study the Word!. A Prodigal in the Family Luke 15:11-32.
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A Prodigal in the Family Bible Study Luke 15:11-32
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • We Pray. . . Holy Spirit, open our hearts to the wonderful messages of God our Father’s love as we study the Word!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Move us, as well, to live in our families with the foundation of mercy and grace and love which You have shown us in Jesus! In His Name I pray. Amen!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • Read Luke 15:11-32 . . . To which family member in this parable can you best relate …and why?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • For Starters . . . Discuss your understanding of the word prodigal.
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • For Starters . . . Think of a time, and some circumstance when YOU or another member of your family have been “prodigal”
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 A Selfish Son . . . (11-13) • Couldn’t wait until his father was dead • Robbed his father • Showed no concern for his older brother • Had total disregard for his family
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 A Sinful Son . . . (13) • Lived in riotous living • Went to a far country… to hide his sin
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 A Starving Son(14) • Spent his all • There was a mighty famine (The order here DOES make a difference!)
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 A Smelly Son(15-16) • With the pigs • Gets what he deserves • (Is it only a detail that he ended up in a pig-pen?)
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 A Sorry Son(17) • Knows who he is • Knows what he has done • Also knows his father • Heads home!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 A Son with a Speech (18-20) • “I have sinned!” • “I am not worthy to be your son!” • “Make me a servant!” • Had his dad at “hello!”
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The Younger Son… • Wasteful • Woman-chasing • Pleasure-seeking • Death-deserving • Wanderer • Rebellious • Wine-drinking • Pig-feeding • Cursed • A ne’er-do-well • ???
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 But . . . What if prodigal means… • “extravagant… to a degree bordering on recklessness”? • “extravagant, very generous, lavish and unrestrained, bountiful, excessive, profuse in giving”?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Read again Luke 15:20b-24… The FATHER… • Divided the property • Waited for the son’s return • Had compassion on him • Shamed himself (to the extreme)… by running!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Read again Luke 15:20b-24… The FATHER… • Embraced him • Kissed him • Put the best robe on him (covering his sin)
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Read again Luke 15:20b-24… The FATHER… • Gave him the family signet ring (restoring him to the family) • Gave him shoes (worn by sons, not slaves)
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Read again Luke 15:20b-24… The FATHER… • Killed THE fattened calf (saved for SPECIAL occasions!) • Ate and Celebrated! (Did they sing “Amazing Grace?”)
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Read again Luke 15:20b-24… The FATHER… • Declared him “home free!” • Welcomed him as he always was… his son!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The father… IS prodigal!!! • “extravagant… to a degree bordering on recklessness” • “extravagant, very generous, lavish and unrestrained, bountiful, excessive, profuse in giving”
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The father… IS prodigal!!! He extravagantly gives … • His Mercy … • His Grace … • His Love … to this unlovely son!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The older son … (25-32) • Was angry • Was envious • Was jealous • Refused to go in • Dissed (disrespected) his father • Scorned his brother • Was as lost as his wandering brother was.
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The Father…(25-32) IS prodigal also with the older son!!! • Came out and entreated him to come in • Reasoned with him, reached out to him • Was as patient with the older as he had been with the other
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The FATHER… • Declared him “home free!” • Reminded him of what he always was… his son!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 The father… IS prodigal!!! He extravagantly gives … • His Mercy … • His Grace … • His Love … to this unlovely son!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • God is prodigal to us… • Psalm 33:6,9; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16 • He made all things! • Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13-14; Isaiah 43:1 • He made us wonderful, His own!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • God is prodigal to us… • Psalm 145:15-16; 31:15; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 121:7-8; John 6:13 • He takes care of us! • Galatians 4:4-5; John 8:36; Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 5:8 • He sent Jesus to redeem us!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • God is prodigal to us… • John 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:15; John 3:16 • He gives us life… to the full! • Psalm 130:3-4; 32:5; 1 John 2:2 • He welcomes us home, forgiving our sins!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • God is prodigal to us… • Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 3:1; Psalm 103:13 • He loves us prodigiously! • Psalm 23:6; 106:1 • His mercy, grace, love endures forever!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 For Discussion… • Is it possible that God was being • prodigal toward the younger son • already when he was in the pigpen • and his belly was aching • with every rumble?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 For Discussion… • When has God, our Father, been prodigal for you during difficult situations?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 For Discussion… • Is there a prodigal in your family?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 What are some basic things today’s families need that the prodigal father expressed toward both of his children? • Mercy • Grace • Love
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • For Discussion… • What are some basic things • today’s families need • that God, our Prodigal Father, • expresses toward us, • His dear children?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • For Discussion… • How may I be prodigal to my family in the days to come?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • For Discussion… • What difference would it make if we were all prodigal with one another?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 • For Discussion… • What kind of party • could you “throw” • to celebrate • God’s prodigal love • in your home?
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 We pray … Prodigal God, You have extravagantly loved us and poured out Your mercy on us in Jesus, even when we have gone astray and lost our way!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 We pray … Fill us with Your prodigious love, that we may in turn extravagantly, generously, lavishly …
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 We pray … pour out Your unrestrained, bountiful, excessive, profuse love in Jesus to others, until we celebrate with You at home in glory. In His wondrous Name I pray. Amen!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Let’s sing together … Amazing grace! how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see!
A Prodigal in the FamilyLuke 15:11-32 Let’s sing together … The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.
A Prodigal in the Family Bible Study Luke 15:11-32 Prepared for Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly By Rev. Larry A. Miller