Parable of the Lost Son
(who became a pig farmer)
July 5
Think About It …
• What kinds of things can be lost but are worth
finding?
• What does it take to find one of these lost
items?
• Why would you not go looking for something
that is lost?
Listen for what became lost.
Luke 15:11-16 (NIV) Jesus continued: "There was
a man who had two sons. [12] The younger
one said to his father, 'Father, give me my
share of the estate.' So he divided his property
between them. [13] "Not long after that, the
younger son got together all he had, set off for
a distant country and there squandered his
wealth in wild living.
Listen for what became lost.
[14] After he had spent everything, there was a
severe famine in that whole country, and he
began to be in need. [15] So he went and
hired himself out to a citizen of that country,
who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. [16] He
longed to fill his stomach with the pods that
the pigs were eating, but no one gave him
anything.
Sinful Behavior
• What did the younger son ask his father to
do?
• Why do you think the younger son wanted to
leave home and go out on his own?
• What do the son’s actions reveal about his
character?
Sinful Behavior
• What possible words or phrases might express
the father’s attitude or feelings at this turn of
events?
• What did the younger son do after arriving in
the distant country?
• Some people today similarly “decide to be
lost.” In our spiritual journeys, what could we
identify as a “distant country” that younger
(or even older) people get into?
Sinful Behavior
• What was the end result of this trip of
independence?
• Note the Jewish attitude towards pigs:
– Jewish law declared pigs as unclean animals, so Jews
did not raise pigs or eat pork.
– Anyone who ate pork was banned from the Temple.
– Therefore, the pig came to symbolize paganism.
• In light of his Jewish background, what thoughts
do you think the young man had?
Listen for how the young man starts
thinking straight.
Luke 15:17 – 20a (NIV) "When he came to his
senses, he said, 'How many of my father's
hired men have food to spare, and here I am
starving to death! [18] I will set out and go
back to my father and say to him: Father, I
have sinned against heaven and against you.
[19] I am no longer worthy to be called your
son; make me like one of your hired men.' [20]
So he got up and went to his father.
Sincere Repentance
• What made the younger son decide to return
home?
• What would be the difference in the attitudes
of hating your circumstances versus having
true repentance?
• What are some
ways in which a person
Hate Your
True Repentance
demonstrates
true
repentance?
Circumstances
Listen for how the father responds to
the return of his wastrel son.
Luke 15:20b – 24 (NIV) "But while he was still a
long way off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion for him; he ran to his son,
threw his arms around him and kissed him.
[21] "The son said to him, 'Father, I have
sinned against heaven and against you. I am
no longer worthy to be called your son.' [22]
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick!
Bring the best robe and put it on him.
Listen for how the father responds to
the return of his wastrel son.
Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
[23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have
a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found.' So they began to celebrate. . [25]
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.
When he came near the house, he heard music
and dancing. [26] So he called one of the
servants and asked him what was going on.
Listen for how the father responds to
the return of his wastrel son.
[27] 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and
your father has killed the fattened calf because
he has him back safe and sound.' [28] "The
older brother became angry and refused to go
in. So his father went out and pleaded with
him. [29] But he answered his father, 'Look! All
these years I've been slaving for you and never
disobeyed your orders.
Listen for how the father responds to
the return of his wastrel son.
Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I
could celebrate with my friends. [30] But when
this son of yours who has squandered your
property with prostitutes comes home, you kill
the fattened calf for him!' [31] " 'My son,' the
father said, 'you are always with me, and
everything I have is yours. [32] But we had to
celebrate and be glad, because this brother of
yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost
and is found.' "
Reconciliation with God
• How did the father react to the return of his
son?
• Why would someone rejoice over a child (who
had given them all that grief) coming back
from one of these “distant country”
experiences?
• What was wrong with the older brother’s
reaction to his brother’s return?
Reconciliation with God
• What kinds of feelings do we sometimes have
when we see someone honored who has
returned from God after an escapade into sin?
• Why is self-righteousness such a subtle sin for
us to deal with?
• How can we keep this attitude of selfrighteousness from interfering with our
response to sinners who have repented?
Application
• We tend to respond with different levels of
compassion to different kinds of people.
– Think about how much God loved them (the same
as He loved you)
– Consider how much heaven will rejoice when that
person comes to Jesus (same as when you came
to Jesus)
Application
• If someone you know has recently come to Jesus,
or you know of the anniversary of their salvation
experience …
– Help them celebrate
– Fellowship with them
– Have a meal together … what about a spiritual
birthday cake!!
– This might be especially good for a young person
– Might be even better for an elderly person who came
to Jesus!
Application
• Start a prayer list of people you know who
need Jesus
– Pray for them daily
– Ask God for an opportunity to share the gospel
message with them
– Join others in a witnessing ministry in your church
– Prepare to celebrate when Jesus answers your
prayers!
Parable of the Lost Son
(who became a pig farmer)
July 5