Group Chat Week 3: The Prodigal Son | March 24th, 2024
bible reading: Luke 15:25-30
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
devotion:
Today's passage introduces us to the elder brother, whose resentment and sense of entitlement cloud his recognition of the love and provision already present in the father's house. As we examine this character, let us confront our own attitudes of entitlement or self-righteousness. The Sermon invites us to embrace a heart of gratitude and to recognize the blessings inherent in our relationship with God.
Questions for reflection:
In what ways can you relate to the elder brother's feelings of being overlooked or unappreciated? How can you cultivate a spirit of gratitude for God's constant presence and provision?