LEADER GUIDE The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller This study is designed to be a 5 week study that aligns with Pastor Steve s teaching and builds and expands upon the themes of our current 4 week series, The Road Home. Each lesson supplements the series teaching for that week (with the exception of lesson 5 which is intended to summarize and wrap up the study/series). Therefore, these lessons should be taught weekly and in the sequence presented. Class members are encouraged to read Tim Keller s, The Prodigal God; however, these lessons have been designed in a manner such that much of the book material has been incorporated into these lessons. Purchase and/or prior reading of this book is not necessary or required to gain an understanding of the material.
The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller Leader Guide Week One Icebreaker (Optional) 5 min: Talk about a vacation or trip you took this summer. If not, describe the best vacation/trip you ever had. What made the trip/vacation so special? Open With Prayer Read the Following Scripture Verses: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (New Revised Standard Version) Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. 11Then Jesus said, There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me. So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, How many of my father s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands. 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22But the father said to his slaves, Quickly, bring out a robe the best one and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate. 25 Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He 2
replied, Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound. 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him! 31Then the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found. Study Questions 1. This parable is widely noted as the most famous of all of Jesus s parables. Why do you think this story is so revered? 2. The word prodigal can mean extravagant, reckless, uncontrolled, and having spent everything. With these synonyms in mind, why do you think Tim Keller titled his book, The Prodigal God instead of The Prodigal Son? 3. Who was Jesus audience for this parable? What would be the modern day equivalent for each? Who in Jesus audience corresponds to the younger brother? The elder brother? 4. How have you seen both religious and worldly lifestyles lead to spiritual emptiness? Share some examples. 5. Can you think of other incidents in Jesus life where he comes into conflict with the Pharisees and the teachers of the law? Why do you think they were opposed to Jesus and his teaching? 6. The main barrier between Pharisees and God is not their sins, but their damnable good works. (The Prodigal God, p. 77). 3
How do we use our good deed to put God and others in our debt? The Bible teaches that we were created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). But how can our good works be a barrier in our relationship with God? 7. In The Prodigal God, Tim Keller comments on the younger son s request of his father in v.12: In those days when a father died the oldest son received a double portion of what the other children inherited. If a father had two heirs, the oldest would have gotten two-thirds of the estate and the younger would have received one-third. However, this division of the estate only occurred when the father died. Here the younger son asks for his inheritance now, which was a sign of deep disrespect. To ask this while the father still lived was the same as to wish him dead. The younger son was saying, essentially, that he wants his father s things, but not his father. His relationship to the father has been a means to the end of enjoying his wealth... The father s response is even more startling than the request. This was an intensely patriarchal society, in which lavish expressions of deference and respect for elders and particularly for one s parents were of supreme importance. A traditional Middle Eastern father would be expected to respond to such a request by driving the son out of the family with nothing except physical blows.... Most of Jesus s listeners would have never seen a Middle Eastern patriarch respond like this. The father patiently endures a tremendous loss of honor as well as the pain of rejected love.... this father maintains his affection for his son and bears the agony. (pgs.20, 21,22 and 23) What do these insights add to your understanding of the parable? 4
What are the lessons here about our God and his love for us? 8. Notice the language the younger son uses to address his father. Then look at the way the elder son addresses his father. What differences do you see? 9. As some have observed, perhaps the best title for this parable would be, The Two Lost Sons. The lost-ness of the younger son is fairly obvious. How is the older son lost? Resources for Furthering Your Study: Read the two pieces below that were formative for Keller as he wrestled with the meaning of the parable and its pastoral application: Without a Middle Eastern perspective, we miss Jesus message by Kenneth Bailey. http://www.eprodigals.com/ Sharing the Father s Welcome by Edmund P. Clowney. http://www.crossway.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/preachingchrist4452sch3.pdf Prayer Requests: Class News/Church News: 5
The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller Leader Guide Week Two Icebreaker (Optional) 5 min: What is your favorite family tradition? Open With Prayer Read the Following Scripture Verses: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (New Living Translation) Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people even eating with them! 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, I want my share of your estate now before you die. So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant. 20 So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. [a] 22 But his father said to the servants, Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began. 25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 Your brother is back, he was told, and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return. 28 The older brother was angry and wouldn t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, All these years I ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me
even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf! 31 His father said to him, Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found! Study Questions 1. There is no evil that the Father s love cannot pardon and cover; there is no sin that is a match for his grace. (The Prodigal God, p. 24) How can this be seen in the parable? In other Bible stories or in your own experience? 2. The younger brother believes that he is no longer worthy to be called his father s son. What does that tell us about his view of what it takes to be loved and accepted? Is this view prevalent today? 3. In Jesus s day, it was considered improper and humiliating for a man of mature age and stature to run because it meant lifting one s robe and exposing bare legs. So what does the picture of the father running to his son in v.20 tell you about this father? 4. Again, looking at v.20, it is striking to note that the father runs, embraces and kisses his wayward son even before he has heard his son s rehearsed confession speech. What does this teach us about our God? 5. If God s grace is absolutely free and we cannot earn it or merit it in any way, what motivation is there to live an obedient life? 6. You can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules or by keeping all of them diligently. (The Prodigal God, pgs. 36-37) Explain this statement and cite examples if possible. 7
7. How do people seek to control God through their obedience? 8. How are the younger and elder brother different? How are they alike? List the characteristics of each brother. Younger brother Elder brother 9. Do you agree that being an elder brother is a more spiritually desperate condition than being a younger brother? Why or why not? 10. If you asked the average person on the street to define the word sin, what would they say? How does Jesus challenge this definition in the parable? Resources for Furthering Your Study: On interpreting parables Interpreting the Parables by Craig L. Blomberg Tell it Slant by Eugene Peterson Stories with Intent by Klyne Snodgrass 8
Prayer Requests: Class News/Church News: 9
The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller Leader Guide Week Three Icebreaker (Optional) 5 min: What do you like best and least about your current occupation (or former occupation)? Open With Prayer Read the Following Scripture Verses: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (New International Version) Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. 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 sinned against 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. 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. 10
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 property with 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. Study Questions 1. Frequently the older sibling in a family is the parent-pleaser, the responsible one who obeys the parental standards. The younger sibling tends to be the rebel, a free spirit who prefers the company and admiration of peers. The first child grows up, takes a conventional job, and settles down near Mom and Dad, while the younger sibling goes off to live in the hip-shabby neighborhoods of New York and Los Angeles. (The Prodigal God, p. 11). How have you observed this dynamic in your own or other families? 2. Fill out the following table to help you think about the relationships between the people in the parable. How does the elder brother view himself his brother his father 11
At the start of the parable, how does the younger brother view himself his brother his father 3. The first sign you have an elder-brother spirit is that when your life doesn t go as you want, you aren t just sorrowful but deeply angry and bitter. (The Prodigal God, p. 49) What thoughts, feelings, and assumptions lead to such anger and bitterness? 4. If your motivation to do good is to earn God s favor, how does this affect the goodness of the action? 5. How would the attitude of the elder brother make it harder for the younger brother to come home? How can you prevent this from happening in your own life and in your church? 6. Some characteristics of the younger brother are: lives a self indulgent life, tries to get father s things by being bad; tries to get control by disobeying; breaks the rules; self-discovery Some characteristics of the elder brother are: lives a fastidiously obedient life, tries to get father s things by being good; tries to get control by obeying; keeps the rules; moral conformity. Looking at these lists of characteristics and your answers to question 1, do you tend to behave more like a younger brother or more like an elder 12
brother? Were there times in your past when you behaved more like one than the other? Resources for Furthering Your Study: On appreciating the Gospel of Luke and the Lost Son in its socio-cultural setting NICNT: The Gospel of Luke by Joel Green Finding the Lost Cultural Keys to Luke 15 by Kenneth E. Bailey Prayer Requests: Class News/Church News: 13
The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller Leader Guide Week Four Icebreaker (Optional) 5 min: What is your favorite South Florida restaurant? Open With Prayer Read the Following Scripture Verses: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (New Living Translation) Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people even eating with them! 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, I want my share of your estate now before you die. So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant. 20 So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. [a] 22 But his father said to the servants, Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began. 14
25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 Your brother is back, he was told, and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return. 28 The older brother was angry and wouldn t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, All these years I ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf! 31 His father said to him, Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found! Study Questions 1. To truly become Christians we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right. Pharisees only repent of their sins, but Christians repent for the very root of their righteousness, too. (The Prodigal God, p. 78). How is this explanation different from the way most people understand repentance? How does this change the way you repent? 2. Religion operates on the principle of I obey therefore I am accepted by God. The basic operating principle of the gospel is I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ therefore I obey. What is the danger of forgetting this basic operating principle of the gospel? 3. Forgiveness always comes at a cost. (The Prodigal God, p. 83). How can this truth be seen in the parable? In your own experience? 4. What did it cost the father to bring his younger son home? What did it cost the elder-brother? What did it cost to bring us home? 15
5. If Jesus is our true elder-brother, how does this change our relationship with him? Our worship? Our service? Our obedience? Our view of the future? Prayer Requests: Class News/Church News: 16
The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller Leader Guide Week Five Icebreaker (Optional) 5 min: What is your favorite activity/hobby and how often do you engage in it? Open With Prayer Read the Following Scripture Verses: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (New Living Translation) Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people even eating with them! 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, I want my share of your estate now before you die. So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant. 20 So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. [a] 22 But his father said to the servants, Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began. 17
25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 Your brother is back, he was told, and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return. 28 The older brother was angry and wouldn t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, All these years I ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf! 31 His father said to him, Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found! Study Questions 1. What positive images come to mind when you hear the word home? 2. How is our longing for home explained by the biblical narrative of creation fall redemption restoration? 3. The ultimate purpose of Jesus life and death is not only individual salvation and pardon for sins but also the renewal of this world, the end of disease, poverty, injustice, violence, suffering, and death. (The Prodigal God, p. 110). In what ways can you be a part of God s plan to renew all of creation? 4. Do you agree with Martin Luther that religion is the default mode of the human heart? Why or why not? In what ways can religion be an obstacle for us as we seek to obey Christ? 5. Faith in the gospel restructures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, and our view of the world. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting. (The Prodigal God, p. 119). 18
How have you found this to be true in your own experience? How then is real, lasting change possible? 6. You must be deeply involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love an accountability. There is no way you will be able to grow spiritually apart from a deep involvement in a community of other believers. You can t lead the Christian life without a band of Christian friends, without a family of believers in which you find a place. Only if you are a part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness. (The Prodigal God, p. 143). Explain the truth of this statement using personal examples from your own experiences. 7. How was Christian community modeled in the life of Jesus? In the early church? Prayer Requests: Class News/Church News: 19
The Prodigal God Finding Your Place at the Table Readings from The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller Leader Guide Discussion Question Answers (Week 1) 2. This is more than just a story about a father and his youngest son. This is just as much a story about an elder son. Keller is using prodigal to describe the father (God s) extravagant mercy and grace that he extended to his son(s). God spent everything by giving us his only son to pay the price for our sin. The elder brother is offended by the father s extravagant, and seemingly irresponsible, welcome of his younger brother. The father, of course, represents God, and legalists are always offended by the gospel of free grace. 3. The audience was tax collectors and other sinners as well as the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law. However, this parable was directed primarily to the Pharisees and teachers of religious law. Tax collectors = IRS, big government; Other sinners = all sinners; Pharisees and teachers of the law could be anyone in the church (elder, deacon, pastor, member). Might also extend to law enforcement, etc. Younger brother = tax collectors and other sinners Elder brother = Pharisees and teachers of religious law 5. About 1 year into his public ministry, Jesus started to clash with the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. This conflict continued over the next 2 years until it led finally to Jesus arrest, illegal trial, and execution. Some examples include: Religious authority questioned Jesus claim to be able to forgive sin at the healing of the paralytic man. See Luke 5:17-26; Matt 9:9-13; <ark 2:13-17. The fact that Jesus included the tax collector Levi as one of his disciples, and that he included many of Levi s friends as his followers, was utterly scandalous to the Pharisees. See Luke 5:27-31; Matt 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17. There are many incidents where the religious authorities publicly and directly questioned Jesus and his teachings. They questioned him about: 20
- His authority. Luke 20:1-8 - Paying taxes to Caesar. Luke 20:20-26 - The resurrection of the dead. Luke 20:27-38; Matt 22:23-32 - Washing of hands. Matt 15:1-12; Mark 7:1-8 - Divorce. Matt 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-9 - His identity. John 10:22-32. Jesus clashed with authorities at the temple when he called it a den of robbers. See Luke 19:45-48; Matt 21:12-17; Mark 11:12-18 6. Our good deeds can establish an attitude of blessing entitlement rom God. There are strings attached to our deeds. We expect God to give us our desires as payment for our deeds. We perform these deeds to get things from God. We do not perform these deeds to get God himself in order to resemble him, love him, know him, and delight in him. Sin is not just breaking the rules. It is also putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge. We need to be seeking God, not just seeking stuff from God in payment for our deeds. Our deeds do not entitle us to a good and easy life where everything will go our way! 9. The lost-ness of the older brother is more subtle, but just as devastating. They believe that if you lead a good life, you should get a good life. God owes them a smooth road if they try very hard to live up to standards. When things go wrong, they are bitter, resentful, and angry. The good life is lived not for delight in good deeds themselves, but as a calculated way to control God and their environment. They may develop feelings of superiority and feel less compassionate about others. Discussion Question Answers (Week 2) 1. Saul was persecuting Christians when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba then ordered the murder of her husband to cover his sin. Jonah was told by God to go to Nineveh, but Jonah went in the opposite direction. 6. Like a taxpayer who feels he has the right to goods and services because he has paid his taxes, people by being obedient feel that God is obligated to reward them. There are a lot of people, there are a lot of Christians, with an elder brother type of heart. If in your heart of hearts you say, I try very hard. I try to be obedient. I go to church. I pray. I try to serve Jesus. Therefore, God, you owe me to answer my prayers, to give me a relatively good life, and to take me to heaven when I die. If that s the language of your heart, then Jesus is you model, Jesus is your example, Jesus is your boss, but he s not your Savior. You re seeking to be your own savior. All your morality and all your religion, it s all just a way to get God to give you the things you really want, and they are not God himself. 21
9. The elder-brother is more spiritually desperate for he often does not realize that he is lost. He has more pride in his good deeds than remorse for his bad deeds. The difference between a Pharisee and a Jesus believer is an inner-heart motivation. The elder-brother is self-deceived and his motivation for being good is a self-salvation project. The younger brother knew he was alienated from the father, but the elder brother did not. Discussion Question Answers (Week 3) 2. Elder brother views himself as superior; his brother as less than him and not worthy of mercy; His father as good as long as he complies with the elder brother s plans. He sees the father as a means to giving the elder brother what he wants. Younger brother sees himself as the center of everything and most important (to the exclusion of everyone else); his brother- he doesn t really care about anyone else; his father as a means to money, status, etc. Important historical note: This parable was one of 3 parables told to the same audience (lost coin parable and lost sheep parable). In both of the other two parables, someone when looking for the lost item. In this parable, no one went looking for the lost younger son. This is startling, and Jesus meant it to be. By placing the three parables close together, he is inviting the listeners to ask, Well, who should have gone out and searched for the lost son? The answer: the elder brother. He should have said, Father, my younger brother has been a fool, and now his life is in ruins. But I will go look for him and bring him home. And if his inheritance is gone, as I expect it is, I ll bring him home at my expense. It is only at the elder brother s expense that the younger brother CAN be brought back because the father already divided up all his property between the two sons. Discussion Question Answers (Week 4) 4. The younger brother initially disgraced the father. The elder brother later disgraced the father by refusing to join in the community feast/celebration. He remains outside casting a vote of no-confidence in his father. This forces the father to leave his guests to seek out his older son (something that is socially unacceptable and embarrassing). Elder son is furious at the cost of the celebration. Technically, since the father already divided everything up between the two sons, what was left belonged to the elder son. By bringing the younger son back into the family, the father has made him an heir again, with a claim to one-third of their (now very diminished) family wealth. The father could have disowned the younger son at the beginning of the story, but he did not. He could have disowned the elder son as the end of the story for his open rebellion, but he did not, despite the public humiliation. There is no way for the younger brother to return to the family unless the older brother bore the cost himself. Our true elder brother paid our debt, on the cross, in our place. 22