INTRODUCTION
This weekend Pastor Cory kicked off our new series titled, “Book Club,” where he featured the book, “Prodigal God” by Tim Keller. Based off the parable, The Prodigal Son, Keller unpacks several different aspects and angles of this story. Found in Luke chapter 15, this is actually the third of three parables where something is lost and then retrieved or found. In this story the two brothers represent different mindsets or people groups:
Younger brother…sinners and tax collectors; rebel; free spirit; prefers the company and admiration of peers; wanted what he thought he deserved
Older brother…Pharisees and teachers of the Law; parent pleaser; responsible; wanted what he thought he deserved
Both sons had equal access to their Father and His “kingdom” yet they both responded to Him and that in different ways.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.) Who do you relate to in the the parable of The Prodigal Son? The father…younger son…older son? How so?

2.) What is your biggest take way from this story?

3.) How do you see your Heavenly Father in the father in the parable?

4.) If Jesus is our true Older Brother, how or where do you see Him calling you home?

MOVING FORWARD
This parable is one of the few that ends unfinished, with the father pleading the older brother to come in to the party, but he refused. Our relationship with the Father affects every other relationship in our lives. If we can grasp God’s great love and grace that He extends to us every day, it should become easier to pass that on to others. Just like the parable, we need to make sure that we are pursuing our relationship with the Father for who He is and not just what He can do for us (Matthew 6:33). And, God’s love and forgiveness can pardon and restore any and every kind of sin and wrongdoing!

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