Chapter 4 – Redefining Lostness
1. Create a table to help you think about the relationships between the people in the parable.
How does the younger brother view?
Himself? His brother? His father?
How does the older brother view?
Himself? His brother? His father?
2. Keep a running list of ‘elder brotherish’ characteristics as you read through this chapter.
3. “ The first sign you have an elder brother spirit is that when your life doesn’t go as you want, you aren’t just sorrowful, but deeply angry and bitter” (p. 49). What thoughts, feelings and assumptions lead to such anger and bitterness?
4. What is the difference in our thought processes between anger toward God, toward self, and toward others? Share verses on anger and insights that are helpful to you.
5. How do older brothers use superiority and competitive comparison? (p. 53). How does this create an unforgiving, judgmental spirit?
6. Quote, “People who are no longer sure that God loves and accepts them in Jesus, apart from their present spiritual achievements, are subconsciously radically insecure persons” (p. 54). Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?
7. If your motivation to do good is to earn God’s favor, how does this affect the goodness of the action?
8. How does fear based morality strengthen self-centeredness? (p. 60).
9. What might the prayer life of an older brother look like and why? (p. 64, 65)
10. How would the attitude of the older brother make it harder for the younger brother to come home? How can you prevent this from happening to the people around you? (p. 66-67).
11. Do you tend to be more of a younger brother or elder brother? Were there times in your past when you behaved more like one or the other?
12. What else in this chapter was significant to you?
13. This chapter was packed with descriptions of ‘elder brother’ characteristics. Since we all have some of this, what convicted you the most?
Action Point:
Group Challenge
4/5/10
Prodigal God, Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – Redefining Sin
1. Describe the two ways to find happiness (p. 29) and why they are so powerful. Give examples of these two ways. Which is more natural to you?
2. “You can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules or keeping them all diligently.” (p. 36-37). Explain this statement and give examples.
3. How do people seek to control God through their obedience? Can you give a personal example?
4. Create a simple chart showing younger brother characteristics, older brother characteristics, and characteristics shared by both.
Younger Characteristics Shared Characteristics Elder Characteristics
5. Where does the older brother find his significance and happiness? Where do we tend to look for our significance and happiness? Be specific. What is the connection to idolatry?
6. Do you agree or disagree that being an elder brother is a more spiritually desperate condition than being a younger brother? Why? (p. 46-47)
7. If you asked the average person on the street to define the word, ‘sin’, what would they say? How does Jesus challenge this definition in the parable?
8. What else was thought provoking to you in these chapters?
9. What has been the key point for you in this lesson?
10. Action Point:
11. Group Challenge
1. Describe the two ways to find happiness (p. 29) and why they are so powerful. Give examples of these two ways. Which is more natural to you?
2. “You can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules or keeping them all diligently.” (p. 36-37). Explain this statement and give examples.
3. How do people seek to control God through their obedience? Can you give a personal example?
4. Create a simple chart showing younger brother characteristics, older brother characteristics, and characteristics shared by both.
Younger Characteristics Shared Characteristics Elder Characteristics
5. Where does the older brother find his significance and happiness? Where do we tend to look for our significance and happiness? Be specific. What is the connection to idolatry?
6. Do you agree or disagree that being an elder brother is a more spiritually desperate condition than being a younger brother? Why? (p. 46-47)
7. If you asked the average person on the street to define the word, ‘sin’, what would they say? How does Jesus challenge this definition in the parable?
8. What else was thought provoking to you in these chapters?
9. What has been the key point for you in this lesson?
10. Action Point:
11. Group Challenge
Prodigal God, Chapter 2
Chapter 2 – The Two Lost Sons
1. Describe the scene, the actions and emotions of the son and father in the homecoming. What is most impacting to you?
2. When a parent reacts to a child’s behavior with, ‘after all I’ve done for you, how can you do this?’ what is at the core? Contrast this with the father in the parable. What do you learn about God?
3. The younger brother believes he is no longer worthy to be called his father’s son. What does this tell us about his view of what it takes to be loved and accepted? Is this view prevalent today?
4. Parents seen to have an overwhelming temptation to bring up the past failures of their children. (Can you think of an example?) Would the father in the story have the same temptation? Why not?
5. “There is no evil that the father’s love cannot pardon and cover, there is no sin that is a match for his grace.” (p. 24) How can this be seen in the parable, in other stories from the Bible, and in your own life?
6. If God’s grace is absolutely free and we cannot earn it or merit it in any way, what motivation is there to live an obedient life? What Bible verses come to mind?
7. As we turn to the elder brother, what are some of the poisonous thoughts, emotions and attitudes that come from him?
8. Action Point:
1. Describe the scene, the actions and emotions of the son and father in the homecoming. What is most impacting to you?
2. When a parent reacts to a child’s behavior with, ‘after all I’ve done for you, how can you do this?’ what is at the core? Contrast this with the father in the parable. What do you learn about God?
3. The younger brother believes he is no longer worthy to be called his father’s son. What does this tell us about his view of what it takes to be loved and accepted? Is this view prevalent today?
4. Parents seen to have an overwhelming temptation to bring up the past failures of their children. (Can you think of an example?) Would the father in the story have the same temptation? Why not?
5. “There is no evil that the father’s love cannot pardon and cover, there is no sin that is a match for his grace.” (p. 24) How can this be seen in the parable, in other stories from the Bible, and in your own life?
6. If God’s grace is absolutely free and we cannot earn it or merit it in any way, what motivation is there to live an obedient life? What Bible verses come to mind?
7. As we turn to the elder brother, what are some of the poisonous thoughts, emotions and attitudes that come from him?
8. Action Point:
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