Outline of the Sunday School Lesson

April 24

Lesson 8

Tested Faith

Devotional Reading: Luke 15:1–7

Background Scripture: Luke 15:11–32

Luke 15:11–24

¹¹ And he said, A certain man had two sons:

¹² And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

¹³ And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. 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.

²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

²³ And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

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Key Verse

This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

—Luke 15:24

The Gift of Faith

Unit 2: Restorative Faith

Lessons 5–8

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Summarize the parable of the prodigal son.

2. Identify elements of the parable that emphasize the depth of God’s grace.

3. Commit to showing grace to a modern prodigal.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A.  The Prodigal Returns

B.  Lesson Background

  I. The Fall (Luke 15:11–16)

A.  Receiving a Share (vv. 11, 12)

B.  Spending It All (vv. 13, 14)

The Worst Thing to Waste

C.  Suffering from Hunger (vv. 15, 16)

II. The Breaking Point (Luke 15:17–20a)

A.  Clear Thinking (v. 17)

B.  Resolute Planning (vv. 18–20a)

The Enabling Problem

III. The Homecoming (Luke 15:20b–24)

A.  Father’s Compassion (v. 20b)

B.  Son’s Repentance (v. 21)

C.  Father’s Joy (vv. 22–24)

Conclusion

A.  To Know Better Than God

B.  Prayer

C.  Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Deuteronomy	Due-ter-ahn-uh-me.
Isaiah	Eye-zay-uh.
Leviticus	Leh-vit-ih-kus.
Pharisees	Fair-ih-seez.
prodigal	praw-dih-gull. _____________________________ What Do You Think? What should a parent consider when deciding between saying no to a child or saying yes in order to let the child learn a life lesson? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■    Regarding relationship choices ■    Regarding recreational choices ■    Regarding financial decisions ■    Other _____________________________ What Do You Think? What lessons about money did you learn as a young(er) person that still influence you today? How do you pass these lessons along? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■    Lessons learned from the teaching or examples of others ■    Lessons learned by experience (“the hard way”) _____________________________ What Do You Think? How do we know when it’s better to go and seek out a wayward one rather than waiting for him or her to return by personal decision? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■    Considering the cause of the estrangement ■    Considering personality traits ■    Considering track record ■    Considering the danger of enabling ■    Other _____________________________ What Do You Think? How do we recognize when the return of a prodigal is genuine rather than just an attempt to manipulate? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■    Regarding spiritual estrangements ■    Regarding family estrangements ■    Other _____________________________ What Do You Think? What circumstances of repentance and return call for public confession of sin? Why? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■    Regarding sins of commission ■    Regarding sins of omission ■    Considering the extent of collateral damage caused by the sin ■    Other _____________________________ ____ _________________________