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

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