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ptrallan01
07-28-2011, 08:00 PM
1st Bible study lesson per the other thread. I'm doning this at work while I wait for a server to reboot so please forgive any shortcomings in the layout and thoughts. This lesson is based on Luke 15 and insights garnered/inspired by Dr. J. Vernon McGee.

1:The chapter begins with Jesus hanging out with undesirables i.e. tax collectors and sinners. The conservatives of his day complain about this and criticize Him for this activity.

2: Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep that wandered away on his own. The shepard chases him down.

3: The woman who loses the coin (equivalent to the diamond in our modern engagement rings) and tears up the house looking for it.

In each case when the lost item is found they rejoice and not only rejoice but call others to share in their joy.

He contrasts this with the two sons, both of whom were prodigal. Both of whom were lost. One wandered off like the sheep and needed to be brought back. The other lost in bitterness and the appearance of good behavior.

The implied message being that the tax collectors and the sinners were like the first son who now had come home and the pharisees were like the son who never left and was as lost in the house as his brother was lost in the world.

Discuss at your own desire. Consider the previous chapter and his messages to the Pharisees about gentleness, heeding the call of God and what it cost to be a disciple and the following chapter particularly the story of Lazarus in view of the reward of the just(ified) and the unjust(ified).

Micter
07-28-2011, 10:36 PM
Funny, I preached this message on Tuesday evening. My point was that the parable noted usually as "the prodigal son" is named incorrectly in my understanding of theology. In taking into consideration both typology and the law of first mentions the father is the most significant. The parable is about a man that had two sons and not about either or both sons primarily. Although the sons are both characters and important to the parable it is definitely about how the father deals with both son's in their sinful state. It is also in the Hebraic mindset working in conjunction with the other two parables. In the Jewish culture it is very common to repeat the point in different ways to establish more of an attention grab. I'm not going to re-preach the message but I find it ironic as I haven't taught that portion of scripture in years.

LesStrat
07-31-2011, 04:47 AM
Grace. It's amazing.