GLuke 15:11-32 Parable of the Lost Son

1. Read the whole thing first

2. Who are the characters? (Father, older son, younger son, servant)

3. Tonight we're just going to focus on the older son.

4. Little background: As we saw, there's a celebration going on in verse 24.

Fact Questions

5. Verse 25: Where was the older son? (In the field)

6. What does this tell us about what he values? (work)

7. Vs. 25: What did he hear when he came near the house? (party)

8. Vs. 26: Who does the older brother ask about what's going on? (servant)

9. What's strange about this? (Why wouldn't he know what's going on or why wouldn't he ask his father? He should have asked his father.)

10. We've identified the son's lack of awareness about what is going on. What does this tell about his relationship with his father? (He DOESN'T KNOW THE FATHER)

11. What specifically does he not understand about his father? (His father's love for the younger son. He doesn't know the reason for the party. He doesn't understand how his father can feel love for a child who goes off and wastes his inheritance. The one who lives with him doesn't know him.)

12. Who is the Father? (God. Is it possible for people to live with Him all their lives and not really know Him? Do people wander in and out of our churches, maybe family, maybe friends, who don't have a clue about God's character? They don't understand that God is expectantly waiting on the back porch for the ones He loves to come home.

13. Vs. 27: What did the servant answer? (They're having a party)

14. Vs. 28: What was the older brother's reaction to the news? (became angry, refused to go in)

15. What's he angry about? (Generosity of the father, grace, unfairness begrudging his love for son who doesn't deserve it).

16. We've already pointed out that the older son did not understand his father. What does his angry reaction reveal about his misunderstanding of the father? What is the assumption behind this attitude of anger when the father shows love? (He thinks the father's love is limited. HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND GRACE)

Mini application: Story??? Have you ever been angry when someone got something good they didn't deserve? If we're really experiencing God's grace, we'll be giving freely too and not begruding God's love and good gifts).

17. Vs. 28: What was the father's reaction to the older son? (went out to him, pleaded)

18. Vs. 29-30: The older son has a four-part response to his father. He says two things about himself and two things about his father. What are the two things he says about himself and then the two things he says about his father? (Himself: 1. I've been slaving for you all these years; 2. I've never disobeyed you; The Father: 3. You never gave me a party; 4. But you gave one to my brother)

19. Let's look at the claims about himself. 1. I've slaved for YOU. 2. I've obeyed perfectly.

20. On the basis of these two claims about himself, what does the older brother think the father should have done that he didn't do? (Give him a party, reward him)

21. Vs. 30: What are the two ways he describes his brother? (1. Calls him "this son of yours" 2. Calls him a squanderer)

22. On the basis of these two claims about his brother, what does he think the father shouldn't have done that he did do? (He shouldn't have rewarded the younger son.)

23. Based on this, what part of the father's character does the older son not understand? (HE THINKS THE FATHER'S LOVE IS BASED ON WORKS. He thinks works + obedience = reward.)

24. He claims perfect obedience. What further thing does he not understand about his father's standards of obedience? (Doesn't understand that for his father relationship = love, not rule keeping).

25. Vs. 31: What is the Father's response? (1. You are always with me. 2. Everything that I have is yours.)

26. Based on the Father's response, what was the older son missing? What does he have but doesn't know it? (He has everything he needs already, but he wants more. He's not satisfied with everything His father has).

27. If he had understood that everything the father had was his, what could he have been doing? (Partying instead of working)

28. What's the relationship of everything the Father has and being with the Father? (That's the reward.)

Application: What in this parable is speaking to you tonight? Do you identify with the older brother? Are you out standing in the father's field trying to do outstanding things to gain his love based on what you do?