Central Thought: Be God’s instrument to restore the lost.
Hymn: “Amazing Grace”
Text: Luke 15:11-32; Matthew 18:12-14
The parable of Jesus regarding the prodigal son could be likened to a Christian who yielded to the attractions of pleasures of the world. The young many took his share of inheritance prematurely and bolted out: to be seen or heard from no more! He then lived riotously until he came to himself, and decided to return home. The Father received him joyfully and used very strong language, as in Luke 15:24, “…for this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found…” Satan is a killer and those under his strong grip are actually “dead”. The redeemed of the Lord should therefore see the unbeliever and the backslidden as “dead” that need to be brought back to life. When we, Christians, see the unsaved or those wanting to return to the carnal world from this perspective, we would have love and compassion for them. Even when they snob us let us embrace them, minister to their needs and bring them back to the sheepfold.
This illustrates the depravity and depth of misery which sinners and backsliders slump into through disobedience. It also portrays slump into through disobedience. It also portrays God’s love for those who are lost in trespasses and sins. As His children, we should receive instruction and be guided.
Lesson Objectives:
- To explain the behavior of the prodigal son.
- To explain how we can combine the love of God with circumstances of life to win souls to God.
- To discuss the attitude of the Father to the prodigal son.
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What category of people can be likened to the prodigal son in our contemporary world?
From the text read, we can easily point out two groups of individuals that belong to the same class as the prodigal son in our contemporary world. These are the unbelievers who are yet to know Christ, and those Christians in backslidden state. The spectrum of this group of people spreads from those that Satan has stolen to the ones he has killed including the ones ready for final destruction. We must not allow them to perish. We must strive to win them back.
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What could have made the young man to abandon his rich home and country for a strange land? Luke 15:13
Probable reasons include:
-Adventurous Spirit
-Immaturity and youthful exuberance
-Family disunity
-Lack of parental control
-Deep inner dissatisfaction
The class should mention and discuss others.
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What are some steps taken by the prodigal son in his efforts to return to his father? Luke 15:17-21
The first thing that strikes one in this passage is that the prodigal son ‘came to himself’. In other words, all the time he was doing all that he did, he was out of his senses.
He realized that he was perishing with hunger while his father’s hired servants had enough to eat and spare. He was empty and could not find satisfaction in the things around him, so he decided to go to the one who can satisfy his hunger and need. Many people today are under one negative influence or the other, but instead of “coming to themselves”, like the prodigal son and turn to the One who has the solutions to their problems, they go to places where their problems are compounded.
After considering his state that he found himself in, the prodigal son considered the options that were available to him. He swallowed his pride and decided to go back to his father and was even prepared to take up the role of a slave which was by far much better than the sate he was in. Many people may realize that they need Christ, but because of pride and what others will say about them, will continue in their hopeless state. Thus every step of a backslider/sinner in the right direction should be a step back in return to the ever loving Father. This should be accompanied with confession and genuine repentance from one’s sin, and totally confess Jesus as Lord.
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Comment on the reaction of the elder brother.
It was difficult for the elder brother to accept his younger one when he returned just as it is to accept a “straying brother” today. Those who have always been faithful or a comfort to their parents think they should have the monopoly of their parents’ favor and are quick to be hard on those who have erred. People who repent after a notorious sinful life are often held in suspicion. Like the elder brother, we are sometimes not willing to accept them; this ought not to be. Such brethren should be received back into fellowship having demonstrated genuine repentance.
However sinful a person may be, if he/she turns to the Lord, he/she shall be saved. Such a person should be well received into the body of Christ by the “elder brother” who is always there. This is the ideal thing to do in God’s family as all of us have at one time for the other played the prodigal son in different ways, Titus 3:3.
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How can we explain God’s love to a repentant sinner?
The Father in this story wholeheartedly forgave his repentant son and welcomed him back home unconditionally.
Similarly, God is always waiting for the lost to return home.
-He rejoices when the lost returns.
-He restores him back to fellowship with Him.
-He loves all His children in spite of their shortcomings.
Daily Living Application:
The Holy Spirit, Love and Compassion are very strong and necessary means of running after the backslider. We Christians must develop love and compassion for perishing souls. We must try our best, relying on the HOLY SPIRIT, and prayers, to be instrumental at making the lost to “come to himself”. As Christians, we should facilitate the return of the lost around us.
Memory Verse:
Luke 15:20b – “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”