269.The Parable of the Lost Son

Open It

1. *In what way did you and your siblings compete with each other?

2. How do you feel when other people get rewards greater than they deserve?

3. How do you normally react when you feel you have been treated unfairly?

Explore It

1. What did the younger son ask his father to do? (15:12–13)

2. What did the younger son do after arriving in the distant country? (15:13)

3. How did the younger son live once he was out on his own? (15:13–20)

4. Why did the younger son have to hire himself out for work? (15:14–15)

5. What made the younger son decide to return home? (15:17–19)

6. *How did the father respond to the younger son’s return home? (15:20)

7. *Why did the father call for a celebration? (15:22–24)

8. What was wrong with the older brother’s reaction to his brother’s return? (15:25–32)

9. How did the older son respond to his brother’s return and the celebration afterward? (15:28)

10. *What complaints did the older brother bring to his father? (15:29–30)

11. Why did the father want the older brother to be happy? (15:31–32)

Get It

1. What does the forgiving love of the father in this story represent?

2. How have you been like the prodigal son in this story?

3. When have you been like the older brother?

4. From whom do we tend to withhold mercy?

5. What people do you tend to think don’t deserve God’s mercy?

6. How have you personally experienced the forgiving love of the Father?

7. *What causes us to harbor resentment when mercy is shown to someone else?

8. What should we do when a vile person wants to be forgiven?

9. How should we react when a person comes to know Christ?

10. *How can you show compassion for those who have not believed in Christ?

11. What could you do to thank God for His amazing love for you?

12. What responsibility do you have to your unbelieving friends?

13. What does this parable reveal to you about the Lord’s love?

Apply It

1. How can you guard yourself against feeling resentment when God shows mercy to people you think don’t deserve it?

2. How can you show acceptance to someone who doesn’t seem to deserve it? When?

3. *To what “undeserving” person can you extend God’s love and forgiveness this week? How?