a prodigal in the family bible study luke 15:11-32

A A ProdigalProdigal in the in the FamilyFamily

Bible StudyBible Study

Luke 15:11-32Luke 15:11-32

LAM / LWML 040106LAM / LWML 040106

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A A Prodigal Prodigal in the Familyin the FamilyLuke 15:11-32Luke 15:11-32

We Pray. . . We Pray. . .

Holy Spirit, open our heartsHoly Spirit, open our hearts

to the wonderful messagesto the wonderful messages

of God our Father’s loveof God our Father’s love

as we study the Word!as we study the Word!


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Move us, as well, to live in ourMove us, as well, to live in our

families with the foundation offamilies with the foundation of

mercy and grace and lovemercy and grace and love

which You have shown us in Jesus!which You have shown us in Jesus!

In His Name I pray. Amen!In His Name I pray. Amen!


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Read Luke 15:11-32 . . . Read Luke 15:11-32 . . .

To which family memberTo which family member in this parable in this parable

can you best can you best relate relate ……and why?and why?


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For Starters . . . For Starters . . .

Discuss your understanding Discuss your understanding of the word of the word prodigal.prodigal.


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For Starters . . . For Starters . . .

Think of a time, Think of a time, and some circumstanceand some circumstancewhen YOU or another when YOU or another

membermemberof your family of your family

have been “prodigal”have been “prodigal”


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A Selfish SonA Selfish Son . . . . . . (11-13)(11-13)

• Couldn’t wait until his father was Couldn’t wait until his father was deaddead

• Robbed his fatherRobbed his father• Showed no concern for his older Showed no concern for his older

brotherbrother• Had total disregard for his familyHad total disregard for his family


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A Sinful SonA Sinful Son . . . . . . (13)(13)

• Lived in riotous livingLived in riotous living• Went to a far country…Went to a far country…

to hide his sinto hide his sin


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A Starving SonA Starving Son (14)(14)

• Spent his allSpent his all• There was a mighty famineThere was a mighty famine

(The order here (The order here DOES make a DOES make a

difference!)difference!)


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A Smelly SonA Smelly Son (15-16)(15-16)

• With the pigsWith the pigs• Gets what he deservesGets what he deserves

• (Is it only a detail(Is it only a detailthat he ended up that he ended up

in a pig-pen?)in a pig-pen?)


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A Sorry SonA Sorry Son (17)(17)

• Knows who he isKnows who he is• Knows what he has doneKnows what he has done• Also knows his fatherAlso knows his father• Heads home!Heads home!


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A Son with a Speech A Son with a Speech (18-20)(18-20)

• ““I have sinned!”I have sinned!”• ““I am not worthy to be your son!”I am not worthy to be your son!”• ““Make me a servant!”Make me a servant!”• Had his dad at “hello!”Had his dad at “hello!”


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WastefulWasteful Woman-chasingWoman-chasing Pleasure-seekingPleasure-seeking Death-deservingDeath-deserving WandererWanderer

RebelliousRebellious Wine-drinkingWine-drinking Pig-feedingPig-feeding CursedCursed A ne’er-do-wellA ne’er-do-well

??? ???

The Younger Son…


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But . . . What if But . . . What if prodigalprodigal means… means…

– ““extravagant…extravagant…

to a degree bordering on to a degree bordering on recklessness”?recklessness”?

– ““extravagant, very generous, extravagant, very generous,

lavish and unrestrained, bountiful, lavish and unrestrained, bountiful,

excessive, profuse in giving”?excessive, profuse in giving”?


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Read again Luke 15:20b-24…Read again Luke 15:20b-24…

The FATHER…The FATHER…• Divided the propertyDivided the property• Waited for the son’s returnWaited for the son’s return• Had compassion on himHad compassion on him• Shamed himself (to the extreme)…Shamed himself (to the extreme)…

by by running!running!


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The FATHER…The FATHER…• Embraced himEmbraced him• Kissed himKissed him• Put the best robe on himPut the best robe on him

(covering his (covering his sin)sin)


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The FATHER…The FATHER…• Gave him the family signet ring Gave him the family signet ring

(restoring him to the (restoring him to the family)family)

• Gave him shoesGave him shoes

(worn by sons, not slaves)(worn by sons, not slaves)


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The FATHER…The FATHER…• Killed THE fattened calf Killed THE fattened calf

(saved for SPECIAL (saved for SPECIAL occasions!)occasions!)

• Ate and Celebrated!Ate and Celebrated!

(Did they sing “Amazing (Did they sing “Amazing Grace?”)Grace?”)


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The FATHER…The FATHER…• Declared him “home free!”Declared him “home free!”

• Welcomed him as he always Welcomed him as he always was…was…

his son!his son!


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The father…The father…IS IS prodigalprodigal!!!!!!

– ““extravagant… to a degree extravagant… to a degree bordering on recklessness”bordering on recklessness”

– ““extravagant, very generous, extravagant, very generous, lavish and unrestrained, lavish and unrestrained, bountiful, bountiful, excessive, profuse in giving”excessive, profuse in giving”


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The father…The father…

IS IS prodigal!!!prodigal!!!

He extravagantly gives …He extravagantly gives …

•His Mercy …His Mercy …•His Grace …His Grace …•His Love … His Love … to this unlovely to this unlovely

son!son!


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The older son … The older son … (25-32)(25-32)

Was angryWas angry Was enviousWas envious Was jealousWas jealous Refused to go in Refused to go in Dissed (disrespected) his fatherDissed (disrespected) his father Scorned his brotherScorned his brother Was as lost as his wandering brother Was as lost as his wandering brother

was. was.


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The Father…The Father…(25-32)(25-32)

IS IS prodigal prodigal also with the older son!!!also with the older son!!!

•Came out Came out and entreated him to come inand entreated him to come in

•Reasoned with him, Reasoned with him, reached reached out to himout to him

•Was as patient with the older Was as patient with the older as he had been with the as he had been with the

otherother


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The FATHER…The FATHER…

• Declared him “home free!”Declared him “home free!”

• Reminded him Reminded him of what he always was…of what he always was…

his son!his son!


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The father…The father…

IS IS prodigal!!!prodigal!!!

He extravagantly gives …He extravagantly gives …

•His Mercy …His Mercy …•His Grace …His Grace …•His Love … His Love … to this unlovely to this unlovely

son!son!


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God is God is prodigalprodigal to us… to us…

– Psalm 33:6,9; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians Psalm 33:6,9; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:161:16 He made all things!He made all things!

– Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13-14; Isaiah 43:1Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13-14; Isaiah 43:1 He made us wonderful, His own!He made us wonderful, His own!


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– Psalm 145:15-16; 31:15; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 145:15-16; 31:15; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 121:7-8; John 6:13Psalm 121:7-8; John 6:13

He takes care of us!He takes care of us!

– Galatians 4:4-5; John 8:36; Galatians 4:4-5; John 8:36; Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 5:8Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 5:8

He sent Jesus to redeem us!He sent Jesus to redeem us!


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– John 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:15; John 3:16John 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:15; John 3:16 He gives us life… to the full!He gives us life… to the full!

– Psalm 130:3-4; 32:5; 1 John 2:2Psalm 130:3-4; 32:5; 1 John 2:2 He welcomes us home, He welcomes us home,

forgiving our sins!forgiving our sins!


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– Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 3:1; Psalm 103:13Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 3:1; Psalm 103:13 He loves us prodigiously!He loves us prodigiously!

– Psalm 23:6; 106:1Psalm 23:6; 106:1 His mercy, grace, love His mercy, grace, love

endures endures forever!forever!


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For Discussion…For Discussion…

• Is it possible that God was beingIs it possible that God was being• prodigal toward the younger sonprodigal toward the younger son• already when he was in the already when he was in the

pigpenpigpen• and his belly was aching and his belly was aching • with every rumble?with every rumble?


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• When has God, our Father, When has God, our Father,

been prodigal for you been prodigal for you

during difficult situations?during difficult situations?


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•Is there a Is there a prodigalprodigal in your in your

family?family?


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What What are some basic things are some basic things today’s families need today’s families need that the that the prodigalprodigal father father

expressed expressed toward both of his children?toward both of his children?

• MercyMercy• GraceGrace• LoveLove


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• For Discussion…For Discussion…

What are some basic things What are some basic things today’s families need today’s families need that God, our that God, our ProdigalProdigal Father, Father, expresses toward expresses toward

us, us, His dear children? His dear children?


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How may I be How may I be prodigalprodigal to my family to my family

in the in the days to come?days to come?


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What difference would it What difference would it makemake if we were all if we were all prodigalprodigal

with one with one another?another?


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What kind of party What kind of party could you “throw”could you “throw” to celebrateto celebrate God’s God’s prodigalprodigal love love in your in your

home?home?


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We pray …We pray …

Prodigal God, Prodigal God,

You have extravagantly loved us You have extravagantly loved us

and poured out Your mercy on us and poured out Your mercy on us

in Jesus, in Jesus,

even when we have gone astray even when we have gone astray

and lost our way!and lost our way!


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Fill us with Your prodigious love,Fill us with Your prodigious love,that we may in turnthat we may in turn

extravagantly,extravagantly,generously, generously,

lavishly …lavishly …


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pour out Your unrestrained,pour out Your unrestrained, bountiful, excessive, profuse love bountiful, excessive, profuse love

in Jesus to others, in Jesus to others, until we celebrate with Youuntil we celebrate with You

at home in glory. at home in glory. In His wondrous Name I pray. In His wondrous Name I pray.

Amen!Amen!


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Let’s sing together …Let’s sing together …

Amazing grace! how sweet the Amazing grace! how sweet the soundsound

That saved a wretch like me!That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found,I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind but now I see!Was blind but now I see!


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Let’s sing together …Let’s sing together …

The Lord has promised good to me,The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;His Word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion beHe will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.As long as life endures.

A A ProdigalProdigal in the in the FamilyFamily

Bible StudyBible Study

Luke 15:11-32Luke 15:11-32

Prepared for Lutheran Woman’s QuarterlyPrepared for Lutheran Woman’s QuarterlyBy Rev. Larry A. MillerBy Rev. Larry A. Miller

a prodigal in the family bible study luke 15:11-32

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fatheris prodigal

sinlam lwml

familylam lwml

prodigallam lwml

slaveslam lwml

younger sonlam lwml

washis son