Part 1

The Prodigal Son is a wonderful parable where Jesus tells of God’s freely offered love. The story may be better described as ‘The Loving Father’. The father’s unconditional love is central to the parable: despite all that the son has done, the father welcomes him home, embraces him, and re-instates him to the family with honour. The loving embrace of our heavenly Father will completely cover the stench of our own sin and wrongdoing, with a love that we can all know no matter where we have been or what we have done.

Read 15:11-32

Discuss

1. 1. When you read this parable, what elements of the story most stand out to you?
   2. What does the story reveal to you about your own journey? Which brother do you best relate to?
   3. What does the story reveal to you about your own journey? Which brother do you best relate to?
   4. In first century culture, the pig pen was a worst-case scenario for a Jewish boy. What might be a comparable place in our society today?
   5. Read Luke 15:20-24. How might the younger son have felt at this time? What emotions do you think would be present in him?
   6. Read Luke 15:25-31. The older brother raises some valid points with his father. What do you see in the father’s response to him? Can you relate to the older son? To the loving father?

Respond

The father in the story offers unconditional love and acceptance and is representative of God our heavenly Father. Whether we are far from Him, at this time, or simply need to grow in our intimacy with Him, we can all experience the true love that God offers us. What is one step that you can take this week to move closer to God?

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