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e Prodigal God Discussion GuideCopyright 2009 by Redeemer City to CityRequests for information should be addressed to:Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530ISBN 978-0-310-32536-9All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rightsreserved.Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offeredas a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nordoes Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, orany other — except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of thepublisher.Interior design by Ben FetterleyPrinted in the United States of America09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 46/4/09 3:10:59 PM
C ONTENTS Luke 15:1 – 3, 11 – 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11SESSION ONEThe Parable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13SESSION T WOThe People Around Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21SESSION THREEThe Two Lost Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31SESSION FOURThe Elder Brother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41SESSION FIVEThe True Elder Brother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51SESSION SIXThe Feast of the Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Additional Notes: Idolatry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 710310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 56/4/09 3:10:59 PM
S ess ionO neTH E PA R A BLE I N P REPARATION If time allows, begin with some form of worship; for example, singa song or read a psalm aloud.As you begin this series, pray that God would grant you a freshunderstanding of the gospel and that you and your group would beenlightened and helped by the parable.Briefly answer the following questions aloud:What was your reason for coming to this study?Have you read The Prodigal God book?Read Luke 15:1 – 3, 11 – 32 aloud (you can find this Scriptureon pages 8 – 9 of this guide), then watch The Prodigal God Film(38 minutes). There is room to take notes on the following page.130310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 136/4/09 3:10:59 PM
14DVD NOTES THE PRODIGAL GOD Discussion Guide0310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 146/4/09 3:11:00 PM
G ROUP D ISCUSSION Q UESTIONS 1. Was there anything from the DVD that was new to you or had aneffect on you? Did you hear anything that raised questions in yourmind?2. Who do you identify with more, the younger brother or the elderbrother? Why?SESSION ONE The Parable0310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 15156/4/09 3:11:00 PM
3. How close is a great feast to your idea of heaven?4. Is there anything you would like the group to pray for you personallyor as a result of what you saw on the DVD?16THE PRODIGAL GOD Discussion Guide0310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 166/4/09 3:11:00 PM
I N C LOSING Pray for each other in light of your answers to question 4.If possible, allow time for the group to have coffee or a meal together,in order to deepen relationships with one another.Over the next five sessions we will be reading The Prodigal Godbook and discussing it together. Before the next session please readthe Introduction and Chapter One. As you read, keep track of,underline, or mark (e.g., with a “?” or “!”) anything you wouldlike to discuss, question, or comment on when we next meet. Thereis room to take notes on the following pages.SESSION ONE The Parable0310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 17176/4/09 3:11:00 PM
NOTESNOTESON THEON CI NTRODUCTIONHAPTER ? 180310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 186/4/09 3:11:00 PM
NNOTESOTESONONCCHAPTERHAPTERO?NE 190310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 196/4/09 3:11:00 PM
SESSION ONE NOTES FO R LEADERSQuestion 1Your group may have questions after watching the DVD that will be answeredin greater depth when they have read The Prodigal God book and workedthrough the questions in this guide. It is not necessary to answer all thecomments and questions in great detail at this point.0310325366 prodigal god 3ndPgs.indd 206/4/09 3:11:00 PM
Have you read The Prodigal God book? Read Luke 15:1 – 3, 11 – 32 aloud (you can find this Scripture on pages 8 – 9 of this guide), then watch The Prodigal God Film (38 minutes). There is room to take notes on the following page. 0310325366_prodigal_god_3ndPgs.indd 13 6/4/09
