This Bible study focuses on a passage in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament.

Luke 15:11-32

Objective: To understand that God gives us the freedom to

accept or reject him; to understand that God loves each of us

as a son and rejoices when we turn away from our sins and

turn to following him; to understand that God wants us to

feel joy when others turn away from evil to following him.

Introductory Question: The concept of repentance is very

important in Christianity. Repentance literally means

turning around. In Christian terms, it means turning away

from the wrong path, recognizing our sin and selfishness, and

turning to God, who forgives our sins and empowers us with

his spirit to live a life that pleases him.

Is the idea of repentance important in your culture? Can a

son who leaves his family and disgraces them with bad

behavior be forgiven and restored if he turns from the bad

path?

Introduction: Many lower class people, outcasts, and sinners

came to hear Jesus' teaching. The religious leaders of

Jesus' time complained because Jesus welcomed and associated

with these people. In response, Jesus taught that there is

joy in heaven whenever a sinner turns away from evil and

returns to God.

Jesus told a story about a father and two sons to illustrate

this point. The sons represent two different kinds of

people. As we read the story, think about which son is most

like you.

Reading the Passage: Have the group read the story as a role

play.

Assign the following parts:

Narrator

Father

Younger Son

Older Son

Have the group read the story silently to become familiar

with their lines. Then read the story out loud as a play.

Discussion Questions:

V 11-20 - Focus on the Younger Son

What is your opinion about the younger son? Why does he want

to leave home? What do his actions tell about his attitudes

toward his father's wealth? his father? life? Is he the

kind of person you would like to be with? to manage your

money?

What stages does the boy go through? What causes him to come

to his senses? What was his attitude like when he returns to

his father?

V 21-25 - Focus on the Father

Do you think the father understood what was likely to happen

when he gave the younger son his inheritance? Why do you

think he did it? What do you think he did while his son was

away? How do you think he felt?

The father saw the son returning while he was still a long

way off - do you think that this was by chance? How does the

father treat the son on his return? What is the father's

primary attitude toward his son?

V 25-32 - Focus on the Older Son

How does the older son feel about the return of his younger

brother? Do you think the father loves the younger son more?

Why or why not? Do you think the older brother is justified

in his behavior? Why or why not? What does the father want

for the older son? What are the results of the older son's

resentment? What other options does the older son have?

Thought Questions:

Which son do you identify with? Why?

Whom does the father represent in the story? Whom do the

sons represent?

Why do you think is the main point of Jesus' story? What

kind of behaviour pleases God the most? What kind of person

needs to hear this story the most?

What lessons did you learn from the story that you can apply

to your own life?

Closing: Close with a short prayer asking God to help us see

clearly the path he would like each one of us to take in our

lives.

Copyright Information:
Several questions in this study were taken from the Serendipity New Testament for Groups, InterVarsity, 1987.