Q2. Lost Son

[Grow~Deeper]

On 4/22/2023 at 8:57 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? What does the parable tell us about our Father’s way of operating and his values? In what ways does the older son hold his father’s values? In what ways does he lack them? What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

These parables show us that God  is  mercy, he forgive us when even sin against him.  His heart for his children is for them to be with Him to enjoy all he has, although He gives them the freedom to choose. It reminds me of when God tells the children of Israel, "I present before you life and death but please choose life". 

The older son was obedient to and served his father. He may not have fulfilled his service with love and joy based on his response, "you have never killed the fatted calf for me". But He still did obey all his father's instruction. Older son is very obedience.

The older son failed to see the father’s heart. 

 

We, as disciples should see that our Father's heart is for all His children to be saved. Therefore, we in turn should seek that which was lost and rejoice, knowing full well that it is because of His rich mercy that we ourselves find a place in His House. Regardless of how we disagreeable we find a brother or sister because of their choices, our main heart's posture should always be one of mercy towards them even as God is merciful to all who repent.

[Debra Grant]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? What does the parable tell us about our Father’s way of operating and his values? In what ways does the older son hold his father’s values? In what ways does he lack them? What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

1. When the lost is found, there is rejoicing because of God's love, grace, and mercy. He is a forgiving God.

2. The father does not look at what we have done, but what we need which is his love, forgiveness, and a relationship with him. 

3. The older son was obedient, reliable, and willing to be of good help to the father. He didn't have the concern for sinners or the lost as his father did. 

4. There was some selfishness because he looked at what he did and considered it as being more than his brother. His compassion for his brother was not good.

5. Look at the good that was done and how a sinner should be treated regardless of what wrong has been done. Understand love is greater than anything that can be given to someone. Think about the greatness and love of God that has been given to us and others. His love never changes.

[garymerkel]

Lost son:  Applications?  Were both sons "lost", one away and one at home?  One outwardly rebellious and one inwardly rebellious.  The father loved them both and it appears that the father was a just, loving father.  Both sons sinned against their father.  One outwardly and one inwardly.  Is this a picture of Christians or lost people?  These sons, growing up in a Christian home, both lost?  Or were they "saved" but "backslidden"?  Was the son at home a "Pharisee" and the son away the publican?  Does the son who left represent a lost person, knowing ABOUT God, but coming home after sorrowful repentance...saved in the pigpen, but demonstrating humble salvation by returning home with the attitude of a servant.  The father...receiving him as the Heavenly Father receives a lost person OR the Heavenly Father receiving a wandering Christian who has come home through repentance?  Are there many applications?  One main one, but several ways to apply it?

[Marcelina]

These parables highlight and emphasise Adonai's joy when a repentant sinner returns to Him. Hashem's mercy and compassion for the sinner is paramount, and He rejoices when a penitent returns, who is then instantly restored into fellowship with the godhead. Adonai does not keep a record of wrong doings since the penitent is now forgiven, set free  and covered with a  robe of righteousness, even as the prodigal's father, wraps his robe around his precious son. He is therefore, Mercy, Love and Grace, operating within the legality of His law. He is our COVERING!

The older brother is dutiful and obedient to his father. You could describe him as the perfect son. But this perfection is marred by his legalistic attitude towards his brother whom he refuses to forgive for his greed and riotous living. His anger is understandable but Hashem calls us higher, to love, forgive, overlook faults, in order to win a soul and ultimately to transform our own hard hearts, in this journey of perfection.

As disciples, we should then  have the same heart of Christ when reaching out to others by not being legalistic and unloving to others. We should not be influenced by a person's class, ethnicity, socio- economic background, education or those whom we have deemed to have lived depraved lives. It is arrogance and vanity and a direct contradiction of Yeshua's example.

[Renson gona]

Q2. (a)What this parable has in common with the other two:-

In all parables there is joy and celebrations in finding the lost.

Q2 (c) What we can learn from the parable of lost son.

>Gods unconditional love for his children.

> Forgiveness, Repentance, Humility, Gratitude, Reconciliation.

> We must accept those who repent of their sins back to flock, congregation, the sins they had committed  notwithstanding.

[Zanele Tlhakanelo]

All the 3 Parables show us God's unconditional love. God patiently waits us to humble ourselves, turn away from our wicked ways and come as we are to Him. He looks to a repentant heart and as willing to accept us just as we are. Like the Father in the Parable of the Lost son, daily, it is like going stands outside to watch from the far off land to see if He would see us coming back to Him. God will do everything to snatch us from the hand of the evil.

This parable tells us that God is just and does not give up on anyone including those who say God does not exist. He is full of grace and mercy that is why His Word says" His mercies are new for us every morning." Day in day out He shows how patient He is for us to come back so that we can enjoy the abundant love He has for us. Our Father is not a respected of men. The Pharisees thought that as teachers of Law, they can judge people but our God is Righteous. 

The older son holds his father's values by being righteous but his brother's coming back, revealed his true colors. When his father forgave him and slaughtered a fatted calf, put a robe and sandals on him and gave him a ring, he was very angry instead of enjoying that he who was lost was now found. He started complaining and felt that he did all the hard work and was never celebrated for that.

People will hurt us along the way but it is not for us to judge. We must have a forgiving heart and pray that they may see the Light. A forgiving heart is not the one that says "I will wait for the person that hurt me to apologize first but he who is hurt, must take the initiative and forgive the person nonetheless. Jesus Christ taught us when He said "Father, forgive them because they know not what they are doing." That is the attitude God wants us to display because we are here to do the Will of God. 

[Katy]

Q1. The same theme runs through this parable as it does in the parable of the  lost sheep, and the lost coin. Jesus is looking for the lost and when a person comes to faith in Jesus there is great rejoicing in heaven. 
So there are themes of lost, finding and rejoicing in all three parables. The Prodical Son was lost to his father and family, after he had squandered his father’s fortune and been in dire straits he comes to his senses and prepares his confess and what he is going to say in repentance to his father and then journeys home. Before he has time to ask forgiveness his father embraces him and calls for a celebration to be prepared. 
Q2. Our Father in Heaven is merciful and unwilling that anyone should perish. These three parables show us that Our Father is showing us that He is always seeking the lost, longing to find those who will choose to follow Him, and rejoicing when that decision is made. 
Q3. The older son is faithful to his father and has worked hard on the estate. Unlike his father he is jealous of the attention and the forgiveness his father gives to his younger brother. He is not gentle and forgiving as his father is towards his wayward brother. 
Q4. As a disciple of Jesus I should have the same heart as Jesus, with a great desire to see those that are lost come to faith in Jesus. It should be the most important task in my life to talk to the lost about the grace of Jesus and all He has done for us all.

[Zibuyile]

Q3

They both speaks of the love and compassion  of God towards the lost  

He stands on His word and whatever  He promises He keeps. In our sinful nature God still love us and forgive us all our sins

The older son knew about his father's  love and his position as the eldest son , but he failed to walk in his father's  love towards  his brother  by failing to understand  that his brother  has been  lost and has been found

 

[Lisa Wolf]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? What does the parable tell us about our Father’s way of operating and his values? In what ways does the older son hold his father’s values? In what ways does he lack them? What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry? 

Great questions!  All 3 Parables share the REJOICING over the lost being found. (Luke 15:7 & 10) All 3 tells us of our Father's vigilant search--He wills ALL mankind to come to know him. (2Peter 3:9) All 3 Parables give us a picture of God's boundless love for us! These Parables teach us that God operates in steadfast love, that He values people, that He values diligence in seeking Him, and that while He loves the lost, He treasures the found as well.  The older son persevered in maintaining the father's property, but he did not understand the value the father held for each person.  Disciples should learn that while member care and discipleship in a church is extremely important, outreach to those not saved is critical as well.  Emulating the heart and actions of the shepherd, the woman, and the father in these Parables will equip us for ministry as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

[Irmela]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32

What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin?

What does the parable tell us about our Father's way of operating and his values?

In what ways does the older son hold his father's values?

In what ways does he lack them?

What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

The common thread through the three parables is that something or someone is lost,  it is found ,  and then there is a celebration.  (be glad and rejoice)

The sheep and the coin are looked for and the prodigal son chooses to come back , as it had been his choice to leave in the first place.  The Father waits for the lost one to recognize his state, then he welcomes him back when he returns.

Our Father does not just accept the fact that someone sins and wanders away.  He searches for him until he is found , alternately waits for him to come to his senses , to return and then he eagerly welcomes him back into the fold, restores him and celebrates, not alone, but with all around him.

The older son works with what he has on the estate .  He does not squander the things he has but builds up the estate.  On the surface it looks like he is the dutiful, obedient son, but at the end one can see that there was an under currency of something that should not have been there, almost like an ulterior motive.  There was a reason for his working as he did (for show maybe, to be seen as the righteous son, as the duty bound son).  It was out of a sense of duty, not at all, because of love towards the Father.  His living is right in a way, but lacks mercy and grace towards others.  The Father in turn was full of compassion, mercy and grace for the one who had erred and had now returned.  The Father is gracious and the son is stingy and jealous.  Self-righteous in a way also.  

Through this we learn that we cannot make the decisions for the one we share the Gospel with.  Each and every person has to  make the decision for him/herself.  They cannot be bullied into a decision or coerced to make a positive decision.  

*The Father did not hold onto the rebellious son.  He let him go.  He gave him his freedom to choose.

*To come back, the son had to repent.

* He waited for the son to be convicted of his wrong action.  

*We are morally bankrupt.  We can only rely on the Father's love.

*Only because of the Father's abundant mercy we are given back the privileges of son-ship.

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to do the work through us , not to be pushy, but to pray, wait and then when the step is made , to be part of the welcoming back and celebrating.

[SFLamb520]

This parable taught me about the Father and God's power of forgiveness. Both the Father and God forgiver over and over again.  The son finds is way back to his Father and God time after time.  The lesson for me is to find a way to get back to the father/God anytime and anywhere.  One way is to meditate my way back through prayer, reflecion, and mediation.  I can find ways to connect/reconnect with God any time during the day with personal tricks to guide my way back to Him.  

[Karen11]

On 4/21/2023 at 8:57 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? What does the parable tell us about our Father’s way of operating and his values? In what ways does the older son hold his father’s values? In what ways does he lack them? What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

How much God loves us, that he will never leave us, he loves the lost and the found. he wait's patiently for us.

That no matter what a sinner has done, with true repentance God will always forgive.

The older son resents the Father's forgiveness of the younger brother.

The older brother feels he should not be forgiven, that he deserves it all because he was always around.

That there should be empathy and forgiveness.

 

[Niyonka16]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable, (The Parable of the Lost Son), have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? (The Prodigal Son)

Answer: What do the three parables in Luke 15:1-32 have in common? The three parables share a common structure: (a) something or someone considered valuable is characterized as out of place or lost, (b) it or he is found, brought, or returns home, (c) the owner, friends, family, and neighbors celebrate that what was lost is found. A relationship is restored.

What does the parable tell us about our Father's way of operating and his values?

Answer: The father of the sons represents for us our Father God which is a “God is love.” Like our Father God doesn’t forget about us. The father in the parable, waits for his younger son to see the light and come home so he could welcome him with opened arms. Some of the important lessons we can learn from this story include the importance of 1. repentance, 2. forgiveness, and 3. redemption.

In what ways does the older son hold his father's values?

Answer: The ways the older son holds his father’s valves are he was always obedient as his father displaced and consistently “slaving away (working hard).”

In what ways does he lack them?

Answer: The older son chooses suffering and isolation over restoration and reconciliation (Matthew 5:24, 6:14–15). The older son was lost because, though he was home in the body, his heart was in a distant land. And the elder son’s attitude toward his father is the same as that of the Pharisees who accused Jesus.

What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

Answer: We must recognize that sometimes, we behave like the wayward son and the Father is not angry or waiting to punish us for our insolent behavior. Moreover, we must remember that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” apart from Christ (Isaiah 64:6; John 15:1–6). It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, not by works that we may boast of (Ephesians 2:9; Romans 9:16; Psalm 51:5). That is the core message of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32)

What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin?

All three parable contain objects that were lost and joyfully found.

What does the parable tell us about our Father's way of operating and his values?

No matter what you have done, FATHER GOD's heart is after you. HE love us, HE will never give up on us. HOLY SPIRIT will always remind us who our FATHER is.

In what ways does the older son hold his father's values?

His is obedient, hard worker, reliable and love what he is doing. 

In what ways does he lack them?

By telling them how he feels about them. What he wants from them. Open up the fathers heart for them.

What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

They must have a heart reaching out for people in need. They have to discern the heart of the lost.

[George L]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? All the effort, and love put into the lost remains lost and all possibility of future value if not found.

 

What does the parable tell us about our Father's way of operating and his values? The father trusts those in the sheep fold to remain. They are protected in the standard care provisions. He believes in the return of the lost by their hearts turning and or by them being sought and found.

 

In what ways does the older son hold his father's values? He is busy atrending to business.

 

In what ways does he lack them? His heart attitude is the lost is lost. While the Father never stopped streaching out and believing the Lost could be found or come home.

 

What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?Do we understand “all you have is already yours”

[Old Jerry]

The things that are common in these Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin is that they are lost and then are found and there is a celebration after they are found. The parables tell us that the Father’s values are that He is always seeking the lost and when the lost come to Him he celebrates. The older son has always been faithful to h is Father and had done what the father has told him to do. The way that he lacks them is he no compassion for the lost. We should be on the lookout for those that are lost and to help them to come back to Jesus.

[Alex Del Rosario]

On 4/21/2023 at 8:57 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? What does the parable tell us about our Father’s way of operating and his values? In what ways does the older son hold his father’s values? In what ways does he lack them? What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?

This parable has a similar theme to that of the lost sheep and lost coin in that this son became lost. What is interesting about this parable is unlike the other two this son was lost in plain sight. Therefore, he was lost before he left to the distant land and he also unlike the other ones he the lost had to now search for the father as in the first two it was the father searching for the lost. This parable shows us the fathers way and his values are contingent on being genuine. So it is a genuine heart that will repent and ask for forgiveness of all of the lewd things that is actually the thing that allows you to no longer be lost it is when you regain your awareness. The older son holds his father's values by being obedient to the father and honoring him in the way he lives. He lacks his fathers values by not sharing in the joy of redemption, the older son was very similar to the pharisees in that he thought because he obeyed the commands and laws of his Father that he was now better than others who had not kept the command and that he was now above his brother. I believe this is a vital lesson for all of us disciples to learn in ministry that no matter how much we begin to align with the laws of God that if we do not also align with the heart and spirit of God we are ultimately also missing the mark. So it is important to follow and obey God's command but in that the action of obedience is just as important as the spirit that should be produced from the obedience. We are wrong and out of balance if we have one without the other.  

[Dove81]

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin?
They all lost something, that once’s found brought joy and celebration.

What does the parable tell us about our Father’s way of operating and his values?
Our Father loves us all, he values the saints and the sinners. His desire is for all of us to be saved and to have a relationship with him.

In what ways does the older son hold his father’s values?

He has been faithful to his father and he respects him and the love that his father has for him.

In what ways does he lack them?

He doesn’t see the bigger picture, that his father still loves his brother. Though he ran off and loved a sinful life he still cares for his son. The son that was lost has now been found, he doesn’t see its greater than the material things.

What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry? For one we have all sinned, we’ve all been were the lost son was. An God was gracious enough to forgive us. We need to meet people where they are, not be condescending but caring and in a loving manner tell them about Gods love for them. How they to can experience all that God has for them. That God is forgiving and he knew we’d mess up which is why he gave us his greatest gift. Sending his son to die on the cross for us.

[Rambo]

In each parable there are multiples of the lost, which shows me Gods love is so immense that HE loves and sees us individually. We have our own personal relationship with Him

Our Father does not just forgive without repentance. There must a change of heart and confession to God and then we receive Gods mercy. A realization that we are lost and need Him to forgive and no one else. 

Disciples would be wise to learn the grace,mercy and love that God has for us and apply the same to others as we talk to them about the gospel.