A story about a father and two sons. In one sense, the story seems all too common – family tension, bad decisions, hard feelings – all the elements we so often see in our own families and relationships. If we look hard, we can see parts of the younger son in ourselves, longing to break free from our shackles, believing that others are holding us back. We can also see our own “elder brother,” trying hard to do the right things and measure up, only to be disappointed when we do not get our “due.” Perhaps it is even possible to see in ourselves a father who has been wronged and feels the pain of disappointment in his children. But we must remember that Jesus tells us this famous parable not that we might be moved by its drama, nor that we might be comforted for how badly we have been treated. Jesus is responding to the accusation that he “receives sinners” by showing us how good a thing that is for us. There is an important reality of grace that we need in the story of the “The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32).

I. The Younger Son
A. Lost and Broken
B. Lost and Hopeless
C. Lost and Aware

II. The Father
A. The Cost of Love
B. The Cost of Reconciliation
C. The Joy of the Father

III. The Elder Son
A. Lost and Unaware
B. Lost and Joyless
C. Will You be Found?

Questions for consideration: (1) What can the miserable condition of the younger son tell us about the grace of God? (2) Why would the father be reconciled with the younger son? What does that tell us about the character of God? (3) What does this parable tell us about our own hearts, in both the younger and elder brothers’ reactions? What does it tell us about or hope?