To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:
Download the “What Was He Thinking!” activity here. Make copies for every class member. Have them complete the activity according to the printed instructions. After several minutes, reveal these answers:
1=Luke 15:17, 2=Luke 15:16b, 3=Luke 15:20-23, 4=Luke 15:12, 5=Luke 15:15,
6=Luke 15:13, 7=Luke 15:18-19.
Read the entire text aloud and discuss it with the aid of the commentary.
To encourage personal application:
Quickly brainstorm a list of modern-day prodigals. Some possibilities include: drug addicts, alcoholics, AIDS patients, gang members, adult entertainers, the homeless, etc.
Say, “There are many ways we can respond to a modern-day prodigal. We can be judgmental, saying that he or she should get what is deserved. We can just be apathetic, giving an I-don’t-care attitude. We can give an enabling response that in effect encourages the prodigal to repeat bad behavior without consequence. Or we can give the compassionate response of the father in the parable.”
Take a few minutes to select a prodigal from your list. Encourage volunteers to give an example of one of the insufficient responses mentioned. Then have a volunteer give an example of a compassionate, Christ-honoring response.