Bible ReadingLuke 15:11-32 “And he said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate.
Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.” But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, “Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!” And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”’”
[03:23]Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
[51:57]Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”
[59:17]Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
[32:59]Observation questions- In Luke 15, what three people stand out in the story, and how does each one act when the younger son returns? [07:17]
- What details show that the younger son came back in sincere humility rather than coming back to demand his place again? [18:41]
- When the father received the younger son, what specific things did he order the servants to bring, and what kind of celebration followed? [37:14]
- What words and actions show that the elder son reacted with anger instead of responding with mercy? [12:05]
Interpretation questions- The younger son had courage to ask for inheritance, but not the character to handle it. What does that reveal about the danger of receiving something valuable before a person is mature enough to carry it? [08:05]
- The younger son “came to himself” in the pigsty and remembered the father’s house. Why does hardship sometimes become the place where a person finally recognizes where real safety and hope are found? [17:15]
- The father did not rebuild the relationship around the son’s failure, while the elder brother could only see the younger brother through his past. What does that contrast reveal about grace and about the way people often judge one another? [38:29]
- The father restored the son with a robe, sandals, and a ring instead of merely letting him stay as a servant. What does that suggest about the difference between barely being accepted and fully being restored? [36:49]
Application questions- Courage can open a door, but character keeps a person there. In what area of life does there need to be more prayer for character so that what God has given is handled well? [08:49]
- The kingdom of God is the safe heaven, not a job, not money, not family, not a country, and not a career. When trouble comes, where does the heart usually run first for safety, and what would it look like to run to God first? [17:15]
- Sincere humility admits sin, accepts responsibility, and stops blaming other people. Is there any area where excuses have been easier than honesty before God? What would sincere humility sound like in prayer there? [19:11]
- Spiritual hunger should drive a believer back to the Father’s house and to the Word. What has been feeding spiritual hunger lately, and where has neglect of the Word left the soul weak or distracted? [20:51]
- Recognizing where one came from helps protect against pride and bad decisions. What has God already brought this group member out of, and how can that memory help guard against drifting now? [25:25]
- A child of God does not need to hide, but can come boldly to the throne of grace. When failure or shame shows up, is the habit to draw near to God or to pull away from Him? What would drawing near look like this week? [51:57]
- God’s work can go beyond restoration into restitution, where He gives more than expected so that the result clearly points to His hand. Where is there a need to trust God not only to repair what was lost, but to do something greater than imagined? [55:51]
