NYM Ministries: Father of the Prodigal (from Today's Native Father #116)

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This article is from Today's Native Father, issue #108, March/April, 2000. Related articles from this issue:
Good News About Runaway Children
Communicating Faith to Teenage Children
Children of an Unloved Mother

Father of the Prodigal
A Bible Study by David Hertzler

In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus told the story of a father whose son rejected his faith and values. Read the story and answer the questions below.

1. Here are some reasons why children become prodigals. Rank them in order. Number the one that had the greatest influence on the son in this story, 1, and the one that had the least influence, 5.

Troubling, unanswered questions about God and faith.
The parents’ faith wasn’t working for the son.
Other things in life became more important than God.
He never really owned his parents’ faith for himself.
Unhealed childhood hurts left him rebellious and angry.

2. Here are some reasons why prodigal children return to faith. Rank these in order for the son in this story, as you did those in question 1.

The influence of another person.
A personal or family problem he could not solve.
An emotional or spiritual void in his life.
Concern for his children’s moral and spiritual future.
An unexpected, life-changing spiritual experience.

3. Compare the father’s response to his son with that of the older brother by writing a contrasting behaviour in each blank.

The Older Brother

a. refused to greet the returning son.

b. resented the loss of his father’s wealth.

c. pitied only himself.

d. considered his own obedience and service
more important than the restoration of his brother.

e. was willing to “celebrate with his friends” but
not willing to celebrate his brother’s return.

The Father

a.______________________________

b.______________________________

c. _____________________________

d. _____________________________
_______________________________

e. _____________________________
_______________________________

4. Using the father as a model, write a paragraph about how God treats his prodigal children who return to him.