Lesson: The Prodigal's Path

Outline #1 - The Prodigal's Path
By Chuck Sprayberry

Luke 15:11-24 - The story of the prodigal son.

The Son's Story
1. The son started with access to all the father's riches.
2. The son made a conscious decision to leave the father

• Fellowship was lost
• Provision was lost
• Protection was lost

3. The effects of absence from the father began to mount - He had fallen as far as he could possibly fall

• He did not foresee the fall
• He did not intend to fall
• He did what he could to stop the fall
• The process was gradual but continual

4. The son then realized the need for the father.

The son recognized the problem was sin and he was willing to do whatever was necessary in order to restore his fellowship.

The Father's Story
1. The father was left at home, his child had left him.
2. He had another son, but never stopped loving the one that left.
3. He never stopped hoping and looking for the son to return.
4. As soon as the son did return he did four things for him.

• He accepted him (the kiss)
• He cleansed him (the robe)
• He marked him as a child (the ring)
• He marked him as amember of the family (the sandals)

Once a son - always a son. The father never gave the son the option of returning as a slave. He had been and always would be his child and he treated him accordingly.

A robe - not work clothes
A ring - not the yoke of slavery
The sandals of a son - not the bare feet of a slave

According to historical tradition, once a son was granted his share of the inheritance he had to renounce all further claims to the estate. Upon his return, the father had every right to reject the son and refuse to allow him to return. But he chose not to. The father loved the son more than the law.

Man's Story
1. At creation we had access to all the father could offer.

• Fellowship
• Provision
• Protection

2. Through a conscious and willful act mankind gave it all up.
3. The effects of sin began to destroy us.
4. When we realize our condition (Holy Ghost conviction,) it is our choice whether we return to the father or not.

God's Story
1. The father never stopped loving us - we were still his creation.
2. He immediately began to prepare a way for our fellowship to be restored - Calvary.
3. He desires for us to return

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay.

The blessings are in the father's house - The burdens and bondage are in the pig pen.

Copyright 1997 - Chuck Sprayberry - All Rights Reserved.

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