The father who ranLuke 15:11-24Length: Standard

1 Eat

Read the passage slowly, read it again, then retell it in your own words. If you can't retell it, read it once more.

• Read
• Reread
• Retell

2 Digest

Answer from what the passage actually says — stay in the text.

1. What does this passage show me about God?

   • What does the father do when he sees his son still a long way off? What does that tell you about God?
   • The son had a speech ready. How much of it does the father let him finish?

2. What does it show me about people — and about myself?

   • The son planned to come back as a hired servant. In what ways do you come to God like a servant hoping to be paid, rather than like a son or daughter who is loved?

3. What will I obey this week? (a concrete step, with a day)

   • Write a short prayer to God this week that begins, "God, I want to learn to love you for who you are…" When will you write it?

4. Who will I tell?

   • Who feels too far gone to come home to God? When will you tell them about the father who ran?

3 Grow

Growth is God's part, not yours. Do the cycle faithfully and trust Him to give the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).