Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato
Lord's Prayer -- Our Father, Who art in heaven
Luke 15:1-3,11-32
June 18, 2000

Lesson 2: The Address

Text: Luke 15:1-3,11-32

  1. Read Luke 15:1-3 and discuss the setting in which Jesus told the "Parable of the Lost Sons."

    2.  

  2. Read Luke 15:11-32 and discuss the following sections:

    1. Verses 11:19 – For what did the son ask? What did he do with what he was given? What happened to him? Why do you think this happened? (Check Hebrews 12:6) What did the young man decide to do? What moved the young man to decide to do this? (Check Psalm 51:3-6) Who does this young man represent within the setting of Jesus’ day? Who does this younger son represent today?

      2.  

    2. Verses 20-24 – What thoughts might have been going through the young man’s head as he approached his father’s home? Consider the verbs describing the father in verse 20—what do they reveal about the father’s attitude and desire for his younger son? What did the father do for the son? Who does the father represent? What can we say about the father’s love for sinners today?

      3.  

    3. Verses 25-32 – What was the older brother’s reaction to his younger brother’s return? How did the father deal with his older son? What was the nature of the older brother’s complaint? What was the nature of the father’s response? Who does the older son represent in the setting of Jesus’ day? Who does the older son represent today? What is God’s continued response to "older sons" today?

     

  3. Apply what you have discussed to our praying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven":