Jim Batterton - That night, January 9, 1989, I paced around my room. All of the memory verses I had ever learned were racing through my mind. I knew I really needed to be saved, and as I became increasingly more upset, I was realizing that I really didn’t know how to be saved...
Memory Verse: Luke 15:18 Memory Verse Text: I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.
Point 1: The "Father" is mentioned so frequently in this story (12x). It is clearly his heart that is revealed in the good things that take place. The prodigal(s) for there really are two prodigals. Their hearts are also revealed in the things that they do. Point 2: The Prodigal takes his own selfish determined way with NOT ONE WORD of thanks or acknowledgement of all the good that the Father has provided him with all these years. *Note the eldest son is unthankful too v29. How sad that in all that time he never felt the joy of a grateful appreciation for all the Father's love. Point 3: Gathering all - he leaves. Wasting all - he earns a bad conscience. Spending all - he feels his want. Considering all - he comes to himself and faces a momentous decision. Leaving all - he turns about. Admitting all - he finds out just how gracious and loving was his father's heart. Point 4: There are those who rejoice with the Father. But the eldest son will never understand - his hear and his sin is just as bad though he never left home.
Notes: You may want to take a second week with this story since oftentimes the problem of the class (if believer's children) is that they are self-righteous like the older brother feeling they have never done anything so bad.
This Sunday School Curriculum guide is part of a 254 Sunday School lesson Book available at www.gospelhall.org. See the Downloads Section of the site for a complete copy.
Jim Batterton
