The Parable of the LOST SON - the Prodigal the Parable of the LOST SON - the Prodigal Table of Contents Leader Preparation

Home , For His Son, Parable of the Lost Coin

The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal Table of Contents Leader Preparation...... 1 Lesson Overview...... 1 Lesson Objectives...... 1 Primary Scripture - Luke 15: 11-32...... 1 Secondary Scriptures...... 2 Teaching Prep...... 2 Jewish Culture and Background...... 4 Who Does the Youngest Son Represent?...... 4 Who Does the Father Represent?...... 4 Who Does the Eldest Son Represent?...... 4 Harmony in the Gospel...... 5 Conclusion...... 5

The Before & After (optional)...... 6 Text Message Questions...... 6 Parent Email...... 6

Lesson Guide...... 7 Getting Things Started (optional)...... 7 Teaching Points - The Parable of the Lost Son or Prodigal Son...... 7 Summary...... 9 Application...... 10 Annoucnements...... 11 Shared Prayer and Sign Of Peace...... 11

i Leader Preparation Lesson Overview

The parable of the Prodigal Son is well known. It comes from Luke 15:12-32. Here we read about a son who decides to leave his father's house demanding his inheritance. He then leaves and lives a life of pleasure and whim. He eventually falls on bad times and squanders all of his money. He then decides to return to his father's home to ask forgivness and beg mercy.

In this lesson we will look at each person in the story. We will explore the Father - the prodigal or lost son - and the faithful son. We will examine how the son was lost - then seeks the father's mercy - and the response of the father. Lesson Objectives

Lesson Objectives for the parable of the lost son or prodigal son

Here we will learn how we can return to the loving embrace of our God. Most of us will go through a time when we feel lost. A time when we might even cause our lostness - our distance from God.

The youth will learn that when we reject God's commands - the teachings of Jesus - and the tenants of our faith we will become LOST and DISTANT from the love and joy of our God's house. This is the consequence of sin and rejecting God's ways. It is physical emptiness and spiritual lostness.

We will learn that we must return to our creator and loving God to receive a joyous welcome and embrace. God seeks us and when we choose to receive that love and grace there will be great celebration. Primary Scripture - Luke 15: 11-32

Luke 15: 11-32

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinnedagainst heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

1 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your propertywith prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Secondary Scriptures to be added later Teaching Prep

The Story of the Lost Son or Prodigal Son

Read Luke 15: 11-32

You will read here a familiar story - but for our continued look at Luke 15 we must look at it as we ponder Luke 15:1-3.

Jesus is teaching the sinners, tax collectors and outcasts when the religious leaders of the day (Pharisees) approach him and condemned him "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Jesus then decides to tell the three parables in succession. The parable of the lost sheep - lost coin and the lost son or prodigal son.

The first two stories clearly tell of how God seeks out the lost sinners or forgotten or outcast and reclaim them and then celebrate when he find the lost again. There is great seeking and radical celebration in finding them.

Here is a quick summary:

The Prodigal Son - Story Summary:

The story of the Prodigal Son, also known as the Parable of the Lost Son, follows the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. Jesus is responding to the Pharisees' complaint: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Jesus tells the story of a man who has two sons. The younger son asks his father to give him his portion of the family estate as an early inheritance. Once received, the son promptly sets off on a long journey to a distant land and begins to waste his fortune on wild living. When the money runs out, a severe famine hits the

2 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal country and the son finds himself in dire circumstances. He takes a job feeding pigs. Eventually, he grows so destitute that he even longs to eat the food assigned to the pigs.

The young man finally comes to his senses, remembering his father. In humility, he recognizes his foolishness, decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness and mercy.

The father who had been watching and waiting, receives his son back with open arms of compassion. He is overjoyed by the return of his lost son. Immediately the father turns to his servants and asks them to prepare a giant feast in celebration.

Meanwhile, the older son becomes enraged when he comes in from working the fields and discovers a party with music and dancing being celebrated for his younger brother's return. The father tries to dissuade the older brother from his jealous rage explaining, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours."

Points of Interest from the Prodigal Son Story:

· Typically, a son would receive his inheritance at the time of his father's death. The fact that the younger brother instigated the early division of the family estate showed a rebellious and proud disregard for his father's authority, not to mention a selfish and immature attitude.

· Pigs were unclean animals. Jews were not even allowed to touch pigs. When the son took a job feeding pigs, even longing for their food to fill his belly, it reveals that he had fallen as low as he could possibly go. This son represents a person living in rebellion to God. Sometimes we have to hit rock-bottom before we come to our senses and recognize our sin.

· The father is a picture of the Heavenly Father. God waits patiently, with loving compassion to restore us when we return to him with humble hearts. He offers us everything in his kingdom, restoring full relationship with joyful celebration. He doesn't even dwell on our past waywardness.

· Reading from the beginning of chapter 15, we see that the older son is clearly a picture of the pharisees. In their self-righteousness, they have forgotten to rejoice when a sinner returns to God.Bitterness and resentment keep the older son from forgiving his younger brother. It blinds him to the treasure he freely enjoys through constant relationship with the father.

And the lost & prodigal son is a picture of any of us who are sinners, willfull, neglectful, indifferent to the teachings of Jesus and the love of God. Those of us who seek pleasure now and refuse the discipline of the Gospels.

Questions for Reflection:

Who are you in this story?

• Are you a prodigal, a pharisee or a servant? • Are you the rebellious son, lost and far from God - willful, proud, and rebellious? • Are you the self-righteous son like a pharisee, no longer capable of rejoicing when a sinner returns to God? • Are you the one who has hit rock-bottom, come to your senses and decided to run to God's open arms of compassion and mercy? The one who was lost now broken and seeking forgiveness & mercy. • Or are you one of the servants in the household, rejoicing with the father when a lost son finds his way home? Recognizing that we people of God should celebrate when one of us is reconciled, brought back with and to God.

3 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal MORE BACKGROUND TO CONSIDER

Jewish Culture and Background

When the young son came to his father to ask for his inheritance, in the Jewish culture of that day, it was like he was saying, “I wish you were dead!” This was highly unconventional and was insulting of the father. This is what the Jewish leaders understood and in their minds, they would not have received the young son back into the family. In fact he would have been disinherited or even stoned as was done in the ancient Jewish culture in the Old Testament. He would have been disowned and he would not have been allowed to return at part of the father’s family.

Who Does the Youngest Son Represent?

The youngest son represents all of those who have been called by God and for whatever reason; they have placed one foot in the world and one foot in the church. When God chastises those Who He has redeemed, as any loving father would, He brings them to their knees and they see their need for repentance and return to God and ask for His forgiveness. This can not be a picture of the lost because they would never have been a child of the father in the first place. Unbelievers are children of the devil as Jesus said in John 8:42-44, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. “To the Father’s own, does He give “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Who Does the Father Represent?

The father represents God the Father for He gladly receives His son as part of His family. The young son returning is a good picture of what repentance is. He made a change of direction, which is the root meaning of the word repentance. He returned to the father begging for his forgiveness and acknowledging his sin. He comes back with nothing to offer, yet the father receives him with joy and celebration. The son felt unworthy and was remorseful. The son had come to the end of himself and was in desperate need.

The father, as God the Father does, shows His love is unconditional He accepts him back into the family. In fact the father had been watching and waiting for his son to return. When the father sees the son approaching, indicating that he had been watching for him, he runs to him and embraces him with open arms. The Jews considered this highly undignified in their culture. The patriarch never ran or never made the first move in such a situation. Yet this shows that God the Father sought us and called us and that we never initiate our own calling into the Kingdom of Heaven (John 6:44).

Here the Father gives the son what he does not deserve (called grace) and withholds what he actually did deserve (called mercy). The Father celebrates as he tells the eldest son, “…this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32). The older brother is filled with anger saying in Luke 15:29-30, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Who Does the Eldest Son Represent?

The eldest son represents the Jewish leaders. The religious leaders saw their rewards due for their works. They didn’t understand that they can bring nothing to the plan of salvation and if they try to earn it, they do not understand how God saves and that it is Jesus’ righteousness alone that accounts them worthy. No human

4 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal works can ever earn salvation. The youngest son had nothing to bring, no good works, and came back with barely the shabby cloths on his back. This may be why the father provided a robe for him and sandals for his feet.

In Luke 15:31-32, the father tells the oldest son why he is rejoicing: “’My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Harmony in the Gospel

The Parable of the Lost Coin in the same chapter, Luke 15:8-10, is similar in nature in how the Father seeks those who are lost: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:8-10).

The pursuit is relentless, it is effectual, and it is with great intensity that God the Father seeks those to whom will be His children for now and for eternity. And God never gives up this pursuit. The Bible emphasizes:

• ♦ there is no one who seeks God (Romans 3:11); ♦ that our “Salvation does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Romans 9:16); ♦ that Jesus tells them plainly that, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” (John 10:29); and ♦ as stated by Paul that, “… he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:4-6)

Perhaps He is pursing you now. If you are reading this, He has either sought you and bought you or He is seeking you now, you who are lost. It is time to come to the Father through Jesus Christ today as John 14:6 says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Will you come today? Let us know that you came to Jesus on our contact page here: Contact Us. We will rejoice at the news! Conclusion

Jesus told this parable to the religious and the Jewish crowd there to help them understand that salvation does not come by works, but by the grace of God. The reaction of the crowd was most likely extreme upset and outrage, similar to that of the eldest son. Jesus was teaching against their tradition and for that they would have been offended and astounded. As stated in the opening of this commentary, the Jewish people would have disinherited the son or even stoned him to death. The son’s behavior was highly insulting to the father, as a matter of tradition. Jesus needed to tell this parable to the Jewish leaders because Jesus came to fulfill the law, thereby making Jewish tradition of a works-based salvation unnecessary(Matthew 5:15-18).

Resources

The Holy Bible, New International Version

Youtube “Prodigal” by Casting Crowns

5 The Before & After (optional) Text Message Questions

Hey our Ignite small group is meeting again this Sunday! We are all making this a priority so please join us as we talk about the LOST and FOUND. Bring something sweet to share!

Ignite is meeting this Sunday at this place - and this time --- Come join us and set this as part of your Faith Journey this semester! See you Sunday! Parent Email

We are working hard to create a strong community within our Ignite Small Group. But we need you to encourage your youth to attend every Ignite session. Please take the time to also read our Lesson bible verse.

This week we are looking at the LOST & FOUND as revealed in the Parable of the Lost Son or Lost Prodigal told by Jesus. We will discover ways to return to God when we get lost or distracted from God's path. Please read Luke 15:11-32 and then talk with your youth when they get home from Ignite.

6 Lesson Guide Getting Things Started (optional)

WELCOME - greet and welcome your students as they arrive. Think about asking questions about their week - school, home, activities. Connect with them at every opportunity.

Getting Started - HIGHS & LOWS - go around the room and ask each person to introduce themselves and share HIGHS & LOWS of the week.

Activity -

Say Something Like: Last week we talked about the two parables - the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. In these two parables we heard Jesus confront the Pharisees and their disbelief and stubbornness. He illustrated in these stories how diligently and doggedly God will seek and search for those who are lost - God will seek each of us who are distant or lost in sin or apathy. And when we are found - God rejoices as the Shepherd did and the WIdow did.

This week we will look at another of the LOST parables. This one is so much closer to home. Because this time the item that is lost - went LOST intentionally. That sounds much more like our story. Our sin is not accidental or coincental. We leave God's path imore often ntentionally and willfully. We are sinful because we seek pleasure or the easy path. (Matthew 7:13) Teaching Points - The Parable of the Lost Son or Prodigal Son

ASK:

• Have you ever ran away from home? • Have you ever wanted to just get away and leave behind everything and everyone you know? To be on your own and not have anyone telling you what to do or who to be?

READ: Luke 15:11-32 - the Parable of the Lost Son or Prodigal Son (Have each person read a verse)

EXPLORE IT - Say Something Like: In this parable we have three main characters; the lost or prodigal son - the older brother and the father. Think of which of these characters do you relate to most...

ASK:

In the first part of the parable the son goes to the father and asks for what? (His share of the inheritance).

In what way does this inquiry show disrespect to the father? (Generally a son does not receive his inheritance until the father dies. In this story, the son insults his father as if to wish him dead. I want your money - not a relationship with you.)

What does the son do when he gets his share of the inheritance?

7 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal What happens to the son? (he becomes hungry due to a famine in the country and he hires himself out to farm and he is forced to work with pigs to survive. He is starving and becomes regretful for his decision to leave his father.)

What does the son think to himself in verses 17-19?

What is the descritpion of how the father first sees his son in verse 20 and what does that suggest that the father is doing? (He sees his son coming from far off - and he is looking for him still.)

What does the father do when he finally is reconciled with his son? (he celebrates and rejoices and decides to throw a party)

What does the son do when told that his brother has returned? (He complains and does not rejoice)

How do you think the son feels when the father goes overboard in celebrating the return of his rebellious brother? (resentful - angry - cheated - betrayed)

Say Something Like: The story of the lost son or the prodigal son tells a story of most of us. The son gets impatient and chooses to live the EASY LIFE and not the life that God commands of us. God loves us and has given us his son to teach us how to live and how to stay close to his love. But we are impatient - selfish - willfull.

So let's look at each character in the parable.

ASK -

Who sees themself in the story as the youngest son? In what way does this character speak to you?

What characteristics does the son portray in this story? (restless - greed - impatience - anger - debauchery - living for the now with no thought of tomorrow - sorrow - shame - humility - joy)

In what way does the younger son - the lost son - the prodigal son - remind you of some friends that you know?

Say something like: The youngest son represents all of those who have been called by God and for whatever reason; they have placed one foot in the world and one foot in the church. We know the call and love of God but we still succumb to the lure of the world. We cannot live in both worlds and truly calls oursleves sons or daughters of God. Those of us living this way resemble the lost son and we, like him, will be brought to our knees and we will see our need for repentance and return to God and ask for His forgiveness. Yet we have the promise of this parable - that our Father will welcome us home with arms wide open and with a great party!

ASK:

Which ones of us are like the OLDER SON? And in what way do we resemble the older son?

What are some of the characteristics that the older son displays in this story? (pride - haughty - stiff necked - proud and judgmental - anger at father - entitled)

Do you know of anyone - youth or adult - that resembles the older son?

8 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal Say Something Like: The self-righteousness was pouring out of the older brother when he scolded his father with these words: "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!" (Luke 15:29,30)

No love. No compassion. No thanksgiving. Just anger and selfishness.

Such is the nature of our heart when it is flowing in pride rather than flowing in gratitude and grace. Each one of us is prone to behaving in a similar way toward those who have strayed from the path and then returned home. If we are not careful, we will respond much more like the older brother and much less like the father.

ASK:

Which one of us connect with or relate to the Father in our story? In what way does this character speak to you?

What are the characteristics of the Father? (patience - forebearance - gracious - forgiving - understanding - compassionate - loving - loving - loving)

Who do you know in your life that is like the Father in this story?

Say Something Like: Now let us turn to the father - the father who is patient, compassionate, forgiving and full of mercy. This is the point in the story where the love of the Father explodes onto the scene.

The son headed home, "but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20)

No condemnation. No guilt-trips. No waving of the finger while saying, "I told you so." Nothing but love, pure and unconditional.

"God is love." (1 John 4:8)

And the love of the father in this parable points to the amazing grace and endless love of our great and mighty God.

VIDEO: The Prodigal by the Skit Guys

Say Something Like: Which one of these three characters best describes your life today? Are you chasing sinful fantasies? Or perhaps stewing in self-righteous snootiness? If so, just remember: It's not just a matter of coming home. It's a matter of loving each one of those who are in the home, whether we feel like they deserve it or not. Summary

If you are at a very low point in your life today, don't despair. Jesus told this parable to encourage you to "come home" and find relief and forgiveness from the God who loves you, and the Father who sent His only son to die on the cross for all of your sins. You really can come home, and you really will be accepted by the Father through faith in the Son.

9 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal If you have been chasing the pleasures of the world in an effort to find satisfaction, just remember this: Real peace is not found in possessions, wild living, or money. It is found in meaningful relationships with our Creator and with our loved ones. So why chase after the counterfeit when the real thing is right in front of you?

This is our challenge, whether we are tempted to pursue sin in the world like the prodigal son, or sin while at home like the older brother. If I am running from God, then I can learn much from the prodigal son. If someone needs my forgiveness and acceptance, I can learn much from the father. And if I feel like I am not getting my fair share and that a "big sinner" is being shown too much mercy, I can learn a lot by studying the angry response of the older brother.

This parable speaks to all of us. We all have issues that require attention. We all have sins that need to be brought to the Lord. And we all can learn how to love like the father in this parable, especially when someone needs to hear the message that it's not too late to change and start over with God's help.

Which one of these three characters best describes your life today? Are you chasing sinful fantasies? Or perhaps stewing in self-righteous snootiness? If so, just remember: It's not just a matter of coming home. It's a matter of loving each one of those who are in the home, whether we feel like they deserve it or not.

The fact of the matter is that you and I do not deserve God's grace and mercy. And yet that is exactly what we have been given through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's only when we immerse ourselves in the immensity of God's ultimate sacrifice that we begin to experience the compassion and the wisdom of the father in this parable.

Jesus knew just how to address the needs of everyone, and God meets each one of us at our point of need so that we will recognize our need for Him. Application

Say Something Like: After each session we will give you a way in which to apply what we have discussed at IGNITE. This will include a bible verse to read - a task to do during the week - and a challenge,

Bible Verse:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Reflect on this as you consider turning back to God in Jesus and ask forgiveness for your sins - your obstinacy - your stubbornness - your impatience - your apathy. When we are in Christ - returned to the disciplines of faith - we leave the old behind and become NEW.

TASK: Do one of the following things each day before our next Ignite small group.

1. Go to worship 2. Go To CHAOS on Wednesday from 6:45 to 8:15 at St. John's 3. Pray for a friend of yours who needs to seek God and forgiveness. Someone who has chosen the wrong path. 4. Read from these verses every day:

10 The Parable of the LOST SON - The Prodigal

• Daniel 9:9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; • Micah 7:18-19 18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. • Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. • Acts 3:19 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, • Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.(attitude: loving and forgiving just like God forgave you)

Challenge: Discipline yourself this week to become closer to God by doing the following:

1. Read from the bible every day --- go online and google bible reading plans and choose one you like 2. Pray every morning as soon as you wake up or at least before going to school. Take 5 minutes to sit quietly and just pray - talk to God. Your day will be transformed. 3. Go to WORSHIP this weekend! Annoucnements

Weekly Announcements:

Go to Church this weekend. We go to worship not to get something out of it - but to first be thankful for all of our many blessings - and to just simply give praise and honor to our God and our savior Jesus Christ. If we like the songs and get something out of the sermon - then GREAT - YAY! But go to worship because it is right and just to do so.

Put our next IGNITE MEETING date and time on your calendar! Prioritize this people. We will have a great year when we are meeting together regularly. Shared Prayer and Sign Of Peace

Take the last 10-15 minutes to pray together.

Do this is shared prayer style with a cross and candle.

Or offer your prayers in a popcorn style - with a leader with begins and lets people jump in when they want to. Wait patiently for all to pray and then when no one is praying aloud then close it in prayer.

Then offer a SIGN OF PEACE - peace be with you - and now show a sign of peace to each other.