Bible Reading
Luke 15:11-32 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father.
“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
[01:47]2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
[31:15]Romans 2:4 “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
[15:07]Acts 17:28 “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”
[14:11]Observation questions
- What details in Luke 15 show that the younger son wanted his father’s possessions but did not want a relationship with his father? [12:42]
- What changes in the younger son’s words and actions after he “came to himself” in the pigpen?
- What actions does the father take before the younger son can finish his planned speech, and what gifts does the father give him?
- What words reveal the elder brother’s anger, comparison, and belief that he had earned something from his father? [47:34]
Interpretation questions
- The younger son planned to return as a hired servant, but the father restored him as a son. What does this reveal about the difference between trying to earn acceptance and receiving grace? [34:34]
- According to 2 Corinthians 7:10 and the younger son’s confession, how is godly sorrow different from simply being upset about the consequences of sin? [31:15]
- Why is the father’s running, embracing, and restoring of the younger son such a powerful picture of God’s response to genuine repentance? [39:00]
- The elder brother stayed close to the house but refused to join the celebration. In what ways can outward obedience hide a heart that is still far from the Father? [52:30]
Application questions
- Is there an area where God has become more like an emergency number or a spare tire than the Father you live with every day? What would it look like this week to seek relationship with Him, not just help from Him? [14:11]
- When you think about a current struggle, are you mainly asking God to remove painful consequences, or are you allowing Him to show you what needs to change in your heart? [32:28]
- Is there a “pigpen” area of your life—a habit, relationship, attitude, or hidden choice—where you need to raise the white flag and turn back toward God? What is one honest step of repentance you can take?
- The Father runs toward those who turn homeward. Where do shame, fear, or the belief that you have gone too far make it difficult for you to receive God’s forgiveness? [37:39]
- Have you ever looked at someone else’s restoration, blessing, or second chance and felt resentment rather than joy? What might that response reveal about comparison or self-righteousness in your heart? [47:11]
- The Father pleads with both the rebellious younger brother and the resentful elder brother. Which temptation is more familiar for you right now: running away from God or trying to earn from God? How can you surrender that pattern to Him? [54:31]
