Read: Luke 15:1-32
Pray: Each day give thanks to God for one thing that you’ve found that reflects his love and grace to you.
Do: Go on a “spiritual” scavenger hunt in your home to find: a cross, a Bible bookmark, a plaque or other decoration with a meaningful Scripture verse, a Christian symbol, a devotion book, a prayer book, and a Bible. How long did it take you to find all these items? What was the easiest item? What was the hardest item? Were there any you couldn’t find? How does God use certain items and people in our lives to seek us out? How can we use these gifts to seek out others in need?
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Can you identify with either of the brothers in the story of the prodigal son? If so, how did your experience effect your relationship with family, friends, and others around you? How did you feel? What was the end result?
Why do you think “finding the lost” is so important to God?
Who are “the lost” in our world? What can we do to help God “find the lost”?
How do you “celebrate” God’s grace in your life?
Big Idea: God cares about every one of us.
Historical Background
Although Shepherds were viewed positively in Old Testament times (cf. Psalm 23), in first century Palestine this was a despised career. Shepherds belonged to the lowest class and were often viewed as irresponsible thieves who grazed their sheep on other people’s land. The mere use of shepherds in his story would have been a signaling out of the “sinners” and “outcast” as valued in God’s kingdom. The silver coin was a drachma, which represented about one day’s wage. Thus, it wasn’t a large amount, but was still significant to the woman.
In the first two parables, the shepherd and the woman do what the crowds would have expected. In the final parable, the father takes an unexpected role. In addition, a third character, the older brother, is added (representing the scribes and Pharisees). The father’s action of “running” to meet his son (15:20) was considered extremely undignified; thus, the father in his exuberance behaves in an unseemly way in the eyes of the community, much like Jesus eating with sinners.
The word prodigal means “recklessly wasteful”. According to Deut. 21:17 the younger son would inherit one-third of his father’s estate, the older son two-thirds; however, it was cold and unheard of to ask for this inheritance while the father was still living. Such an act was as though the boy considered his father already dead (cf. 15:32).
Application
Many of us are already familiar with the “labels” for these parables. What does the bold heading in your Bible say? How might you label each parable? Can you think of an alternate title? (Note that the act of labeling a parable already begins its interpretation…)
The prodigal son confesses a sin against “heaven” and his father. How is his sin a sin against heaven (or God)? When in our relationships do we also sin against God? (cf. Psalm 51:4)
The final parable is open-ended (15:32). Will the older son join the celebration?
How is God calling us to join the heavenly celebration?
How has God already included us in the celebration (cf. Ephesians 2)?
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